The Children and Young People Self Advocacy (CYPSA) project – a forum for young people aged 10-25 years with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) – have received second place in the National SEND Best Practice Conference 2024.

Representatives from CYPSA attended the awards, which took place in London earlier this year. The group, which has just come to the end of its first year in operation, was praised for the work it does to improve the lives of young people in Somerset and the South West, including advocating for change to improve health outcomes for young people.

Josh Lancaster, a member of CYPSA, said:

It was an absolute honour and privilege to be able to go and represent the children and young people of the South West with SEND. To be nominated for such an award in the first place when there were such worthy shortlisted candidates was a real honour, let alone to be selected as the runners up.

It was a privilege to be there on the day as the winners picked up their awards and it was truly fantastic to hear about some of the work that is going on up and down the country to improve the lives of children and young people with SEND and their families.”

The Youth Service SEND and Multi Schools Council’s ‘Voices of the East’ project was awarded first place.

For more information about CYPSA, please contact CYPSA@somerset.gov.uk