What is a Parent Carer Forum?

A Parent Carer Forum consists of parent carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs / Disabilities and have a wide range of experiences in due to their children’s wide range of needs.

A Forum’s primary aim is to gather parent carer voices and represent these at strategic levels within the Council, to ensure any policies and changes relating to SEND that take place represent parent carer views.

Our Mission

Our primary objective is to gather parent carer voice.

We aim to influence and improve services across the Bradford & Airedale district by ensuring that the voices of parent carers are heard and considered in decision-making processes.

Here’s how we primarily support SEND families in the district.

Listen

We gather your views through school outreach, social media, spotlight events and case studies. We are also commissioned to run the Annual SEND Survey, amplifying the experiences of families across Bradford.

Support

We hold peer support sessions in schools and at our office to allow parent/carers a safe space to share their stories. Our staff advise and sign-post parents to relevant organisations who can support them in their journey. As well as this, our EHCP workshops are incredibly popular and provide families with knowledge and confidence.

Share

Our Parent Involvement Partners are parent representatives who sit on various Local Authority and Health meetings, where they share parent/carer views to ensure local SEND policies are inclusive.

Influence and Impact

We influence policies and practices around SEND, develop new services and promote inclusion across education, health and social care. We also run the Parent Involvement Partners, with the aim of amplifying parent carer voices at a strategic level. As well as this, we facilitate the Parent Carer Network (PCN) where we gather feedback from local SEND groups/ organisations to represent parents across the district. Representatives sit on strategic boards across health, education and social care.

Contacting Us

Just a heads-up – our office days can vary from week to week, so it’s always best to drop us an email at supportnews@uj5.e82.myftpupload.com with your contact details and a quick rundown of what you need help with. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

You can find us at:

Parents Forum for Bradford and Airedale
Unit 73,
Carlisle Business Centre,
Carlisle Road,
Bradford,
BD8 8BD.

Give us a ring on:

01274 397396

For anything Max Cards-related or if you need info in a hurry, just pop us an email at supportnews@uj5.e82.myftpupload.com,and we’ll sort you out!

By Road:

Follow the Ring Road (A6177), as shown, look out for the red brick Marlborough building and take the turning on that side of the road, into Conduit Street. Take the second turning on the right, Church Street, and the Carlisle Business Centre car park is on the right. There is more parking available on the surrounding streets, but this is the main car park for the building.

Click for Google Map
By Bus:

The map shows the bus services that are closest to the Carlisle Business Centre. (take no notice of service 99, this only operates twice a day!) We recommend that you check times before you set out, and this can be done on the link below, or by telephoning 0113 245 7676.

Click here for Bus timetables.
By Train:

The closest railway station is Bradford Forster Square, and Bradford Interchange is slightly further away. They are 1 mile and 1 ½ miles away respectively. Taxis can be found outside both stations, or, if walking from the station, follow Manningham Lane until the traffic lights where you turn left and follow Marlborough Road, then Carlisle Road which is straight ahead.

Click for Train Timetables
Resources/Useful Info
National Organisations
Max Card
Get Your Max Card – Unlock Discounts Across the UK!

The Max Card is the UK’s top discount card for children and young people (up to 25) with additional needs or who are looked after. It gives families amazing discounts at 3,000+ attractions across the UK—think theme parks, zoos, scinemas, and more!

Who can apply?

Live in the Bradford Council area Your child/young person receives DLA or PIP (any level).

How much does it cost?

£5.50 for 2 years from 1st April 2025 (payment made via bank transfer only).

How to get yours:
  • Choose from the options below and fill in the form and upload the first page of your child/young person’s DLA/PIP entitlement.
  • Make sure to pay straight away (our bank details are on the form).

If you have any questions about the form, payment enquiries or would like to access the form in an alternative format, please email supportnews@uj5.e82.myftpupload.com.