After six and a half years, I made the difficult decision earlier this year to leave the FLARE group and decided that I wanted to reflect on the opportunities that I've been very fortunate to take part in, and also to have some self-reflection on what being a member of FLARE has done for me personally. So, I decided that I'd love to do a Q&A about my time in FLARE and answer some questions based on my own experiences.
When did you join FLARE and what made you want to become a member of the group?
I joined FLARE back in November 2020, and had my first meeting, albeit a virtual one in January 2021. I wanted to join the group because I was passionate about the voices of children and young people, especially those who are disabled or have special educational needs, being a priority. It all stemmed from my own lived experience and me wanting to make a difference and to try to ensure that real change was made for children and young people in the future.
What has it been like being a member of FLARE?
In one word, amazing. When you join FLARE, you see from day one how similarly passionate all the members are, and at the same time, you also get to hear other people's views about topics. That is something I've really enjoyed: listening to others’ views on topics and hearing what others have to say.
What kind of activities have you taken part in since joining?
I've been so fortunate to take part in a very wide range of activities throughout my time in FLARE. I think one that really sticks out to me was the most recent opportunity I was given, which was to co-chair the inaugural Council for Disabled Children’s (CDC) SEND Awards. As someone who has been fortunate to see co-production through both lenses, it was truly inspiring to be able to celebrate the achievements of others, especially those who have been unrecognised before for their efforts. In terms of other activities and opportunities I've taken part in, I've been fortunate enough to sit in on interview panels for various positions at CDC, deliver training to professionals across the country, and also take part in four Youth Voice Matters conferences over the years. It's safe to say, FLARE has kept me very busy over the last six and a half years!
What have you enjoyed most about being part of the group?
Can I say everything? I don't know if I can, but I’m going to. Making so many friends over the last six and a half years has been a real joy, as well as being able to see other people's viewpoints has been inspiring. I've also really enjoyed improving my own knowledge about the SEND sector and learning more about how decisions are made.
What have you learned?
An absolute lot. I owe an absolute lot to the FLARE group. Being able to develop my interpersonal skills so much over the last six and a half years has been absolutely amazing. I've also learned to be a lot more confident in myself, and trust my confidence more. There's a lot in my own life that I feel more confident in now, for example, becoming a lot more independent - that was a massive thing for me in-particular.
Is there anything you are particularly proud of?
If you had said to me six and a half years ago that I'd have done the things I've been able to do as a direct result of becoming a member of FLARE, I probably wouldn't have been able to believe that. And to be able to have that sort of thinking is something I'm extremely proud of, because it means that FLARE has made such a huge difference to my life, that I'm not the same person I was six and a half years ago.
To conclude, I'm really grateful for the opportunities I've been given over the last six and a half years, and I'm really proud of all that I have given to the group. I just want to take this opportunity to thank the Participation Team at CDC for all of their support over the last six and a half years, I am truly grateful for the opportunities and I'll always remember my time in FLARE with such joy.