Young people leading real change across South Tyneside
South Tyneside SEND It Youth Forum have been championing a more accessible future and their latest project is already making a huge impact. The forum consists of students across South Tyneside who access specialist education. Each year they complete projects with the aim improving the lived experiences of young people with SEND across the borough.
This year, the group focused on symbol‑based communication, exploring how clearer, consistent visual symbols can make public spaces easier to navigate for everyone - including people with learning disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, people with communication difficulties and those who don’t use English as a first language.
As part of the project, the forum created a powerful video setting out their recommendations and sharing their lived experiences of navigating public spaces. The group also identified where they wanted the video to be shared to maximise impact. This included GP surgeries, hospitals, shopping centres, transport providers, parks and roads, event organisers, cinemas, libraries, leisure centres, and other public and community settings.
The video prompted positive interest across the borough. After viewing, both the Children’s Day Unit at South Tyneside District Hospital and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) invited support to begin implementing symbol‑based communication.
The group worked closely with Karen Conlin, Nursery Nurse in the Children’s Day Unit at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and following their visit on 06/05/26, the unit officially gave the green light to implement the work. This marked an important step in turning the young people’s ideas into real, practical change within healthcare environments.
The SEND It Youth Forum said it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the impact of the SEND It Youth Forum and to gather early feedback on how the changes are supporting patients and families.
The approach will be replicated at Sunderland Royal Hospital, helping to ensure greater consistency and accessibility across the trust. This work highlights the value of listening to young people with lived experience and demonstrates how their voices can shape more inclusive services for everyone.
