Welcome to Devon’s SEND Ambassador Volunteer Programme 

We connect parents, carers, and practitioners supporting children and young people with SEND across Devon.

Find an Ambassador become an Ambassador
an illustration of the Ambassador Volunteers

What is the Ambassador Volunteer Programme?

Life with a child or young person with SEND can be full of ups and downs, challenges, and constant change. Families often need: 

  • Guidance they can trust
  • Connection with others who understand
  • A way to influence services and shape better support for the future

Ambassador Volunteers help make all of this possible. The Ambassador Volunteer Programme connects parent carers within their own communities and across Devon. It provides trusted SEND information, peer support, and opportunities for families to influence how SEND services develop locally.

The programme is run in partnership by Devon Information Advice and Support (DIAS) and the Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD). Together, we help ensure families feel supported, informed, and heard.

Who are the Ambassador Volunteers?

Ambassador Volunteers live and work in communities across Devon. 
They may be:

  • Parent carers with lived experience
  • People who run peer support groups
  • Practitioners who work closely with SEND families, children and young people

What they all share is an understanding of what life with a child with SEND is like and a commitment to helping children and young people with SEND achieve their full potential.

“The programme has been great for me to build a support network for myself and to enable me to support others. I am learning new skills due to being part of the project and expanding my network.”

What do Ambassador Volunteers do?

Ambassadors choose activities that suit their interests, availability, and community needs. Their role may include:

Sharing information

  • Passing on local and national SEND information
  • Sharing updates on social media, in local groups, and through school networks
  • Helping families find the right support and services

Building community support

  • Providing peer support to help families access support and services
  • Starting or running SEND support groups
  • Linking with existing parent carer groups
  • Working within schools, charities or community organisations

Giving families a voice

  • Sharing parent carer lived experience with PCFD to help shape policy and services
  • Highlighting trends and needs to DiAS so families receive the right support and information

Get support or get involved

Whether you want to connect with an Ambassador Volunteer or join the network yourself, we’d love to hear from you.

Email Us
  • Parent Carer Forum Devon
  • Devon Information Advice Support