"A2ndvoice aims to bridge the gap between grassroots and corporate groups meeting the needs of the autistic community and their families. Supported by a local charity, offering advice/support for youth, parents, and professionals looking at a range of topics around autistic girls and young women, keeping safe, cultural awareness programmes and online support. I am a mother of three children, the two youngest are diagnosed with Autism and ADHD."

Membership and Achievements

Officer/Chair of National Autism Society Lambeth Branch and member of Croydon Safeguarding Children with Disabilities Priority Group, The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism Advisory Group and Lambeth Autism Action Forum.

Videographer and co-author to book 'Girls and Autism'.

Speaker on BBC and Premier Radio, and at National Autistic Conferences. Featured in Sunday Times Magazine, Voice Newspaper and the Guardian.

"Since retirement, I have continued to have a voice in the community and to influence the delivery and design of local services. I believe in collaboration, bringing everyone together to make things work better for those who need it. I am currently a Health Watch Advisor, influencing delivery and design of local services by gathering patient views and experience, a Social Prescribing Group Volunteer (this programme gives individuals the opportunity to better manage their own health and wellbeing), a Safeguarding Children Partnership L&D Programme member, a GP Patient Participation Group Member and a Croydon One Alliance champion. I have previously served as a school governor (13.5 years) at a special educational needs school in Lewisham."
Status: This board is currently not meeting, reps will attend SEND forum until these meetings start.
Email - Elsie Sutherland

"Supporting families in Croydon since 2002, Jubilee Parenting remains committed to ensuring the very best outcomes for each child. We have a proven track record of advocacy, courses, workshops and weekly support groups that empower parents and significantly improve outcomes for children, including those with additional needs. Croydon Council has commissioned Jubilee Parenting services for over 10 years. The emotional Well-being of both parents and children is our priority. It is the foundation on which a family stands. A little bit of timely support given to a family can turn round a situation. It is better to build a strong foundation than try to repair things later, although we know repair is always possible. We have always supported young families and have seen the devastating impact of poverty first hand. I have supported voluntary sector furniture projects, debt counselling and helped homeless families to get rehoused."

Email - Jane Carey

"The best way to safeguard children is to educate the adults around them’. I want to be the voice of the voluntary sector who at the moment are under-represented yet work with very vulnerable children. Unlike schools with big teams of senior leaders devising robust policies and procedures, the voluntary sector does not. We have to acknowledge this gap and attempt to redress the balance whilst rewriting the rules around the important part learning and development plays in keeping children safe. When children receive a late SEND diagnosis they already feel different, rejected, overwhelmed, misunderstood and are without access to specialist, targeted support. Many will have been excluded from formal education and their life chances avoidably compromised. We must do more to raise awareness and understanding of SEND to be in a position for children's needs to be identified early and the 'assess, plan do and review' cycle to commence. I currently sit on Croydon's Autism Partnership board and have a personal interest in this area as I have 2 children both with SEND."

Email - Susan Taylor

"I am a confident communicator and I have the ability to debate effectively without bias. I grew up participating in youth-related crime but was fortunate enough to turn this negative outlook into a positive one by creating a successful community organisation. I now support over 60 young people on a sports/mentoring basis. I can identify closely with the issues young people face and I am therefore able to base opinions from a young person's point of view. I am pleased to be re-elected so that I can continue to help shape the future for young people."

Email - Raymond Bascombe

"For ten years I have run Croydon’s specialist mentoring team, Ment4, supporting teenagers involved in crime, abuse, exclusions and vulnerable to trauma. I have worked with numerous Council officers and have represented the voluntary sector on boards for several years. I also founded the 'Parental Army (an association of organisations that support families affected by trauma and crisis) and I also help lead Croydon Youth Localities Partnership. I have been involved in leading anti-slavery campaigns and global commercial risk management. I am the founding member of the International Anti-Trafficking Group. My passion is to help the voluntary sector work well with the local authority and for the sector to be recognised for their devotion and expertise."

Email - Peter Stanley

"The best way to safeguard children is to educate the adults around them’. I want to be the voice of the voluntary sector who at the moment are under-represented yet work with very vulnerable children. Unlike schools with big teams of senior leaders devising robust policies and procedures, the voluntary sector does not. We have to acknowledge this gap and attempt to redress the balance whilst rewriting the rules around the important part learning and development plays in keeping children safe. When children receive a late SEND diagnosis they already feel different, rejected, overwhelmed, misunderstood and are without access to specialist, targeted support. Many will have been excluded from formal education and their life chances avoidably compromised. We must do more to raise awareness and understanding of SEND to be in a position for children's needs to be identified early and the 'assess, plan do and review' cycle to commence. I currently sit on Croydon's Autism Partnership board and have a personal interest in this area as I have 2 children both with SEND."

Email - Susan Taylor