New Redbridge Local Offer to help young people with SEND access more support, opportunities and information

Published: 06 October 2026

Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Redbridge will have easier access to support, services, opportunities and activities through a redesigned Local Offer website, being created with their input.

We are working alongside children and young people with SEND to shape every aspect of the new website, ensuring it reflects what they need, how they access information and the opportunities that matter most to them. Developing a Local Offer website co-designed by young people, will improve the accessibility and content of the wider Local Offer. The work builds on Redbridge's recognition from UNICEF UK as a Child Friendly Borough, where listening to children and young people and acting on what they tell us is central to how services are designed and delivered. 

To put young people's voices at the heart of the project, a series of engagement sessions brought together children and young people of different ages and abilities.

Rather than completing a traditional survey, young people shared their views through creative booklets developed with support from Barkingside Art Club. Participants could draw, write, choose from options or express their ideas in the way that worked best for them.

They told us they want easier access to information about activities and events, volunteering, work experience, employment opportunities and building confidence for the workplace. Follow-up focus groups explored these ideas in more detail and helped shape the next stage of the project.

Councillor Lloyd Duddridge, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education said, "This is an example of how we’re building young people’s views and life experiences into services as they are designed, and is core to our Child Friendly Redbridge commitment.

“The feedback young people have shared has been thoughtful, honest and incredibly valuable.

"This is just the start. Young people have told us they want clearer information, more opportunities and better support as they move towards adulthood. Their voices are already shaping the next phase of this work and will help us create a stronger Local Offer and better support for young people with SEND across Redbridge."

 

Watch the video from the sessions