FLARE is the Department for Education’s national young SEND advisory group.
FLARE, which stands for Friendship, Learning, Achieve, Reach and Empower, is a diverse group of disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs (SEN), up to the age of 25 from across England who work together to share their views and experiences with the Department for Education and other organisations, helping them understand how disabled children and young people and children and young people with SEN want to receive the support and services they need.
FLARE members are passionate about ensuring disabled children and young people have an equal say in the policies and practices that affect them and their families. FLARE and our other young people involved in regional groups within the programme play a key role in ensuring the voice and experiences of disabled children and young people are fully included in this work.
FLARE members regularly write blogs on issues and experiences that matter to them to read these please click here.
FLARE won The Children’s Achievement Award at the Children and Young People Now Awards 2023. The Children and Young People Now Awards celebrate the people and organisations working with children, young people and families, and the award provides recognition for those working to improve the lives of children and families.
Before FLARE, I would never have imagined delivering training to professionals or co-chairing conferences but thanks to FLARE, I’m not only happy now to do these things but I’m also more confident in daily life (I don’t have problems with independent travel and I’m now involved in my local community).
Young person
I feel really supported to participate in FLARE. There’s a really non-judgemental atmosphere.
Young person
For a summary of all of FLARE’s advisory work please see the infographic below
