The charities JSense and JADDS, both of which exist to improve the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), have agreed a merger.
The merger will combine the charities’ expertise and create a one-stop-shop for parents and schools in improving the lives of SEND children/ pupils in the Greater Manchester Jewish community.
JSense was established in 2013 to develop the skills of staff in Jewish schools and nurseries and provides schools with consultancy services to help develop their policies and systems for SEND. Jewish Autistic & Deficit Disorders Support (JADDS) was established in 2012 to providing support for children and parents of children that have ADHD, ASD, dyslexia and other conditions. JADDS has successfully run monthly support groups for parents as well as brought in speakers for awareness sessions for parents and carers.
The merger will give the new charity a fresh focus to deliver holistic provision for the child with SEND needs, working with parents, schools, professionals and local authorities and health services. The aim is to ensure everyone with SEND aged under 25 has the best possible help to maximise their individual educational achievements and acquire the life skills to reach their potential. While the newly merged charity will continue to be known as JSENSE, this will build on the previous success of the individual charities.
To mark the merger, JSENSE has been speaking to parents and carers across Salford, Prestwich and Whitefield to understand their views as service users on what services have worked well and what they felt the community is missing. These discussions took place across three evening events and were attended by parents from across Greater Manchester. The outcome of these discussions has been analysed and built into a proposal for the future direction of the newly merged JSENSE.
JSENSE will also be publishing a SEND Directory of Services in the near future, which will be made available publicly. Recent discussions with parents reaffirmed the need for this directory, as parents fed back that they didn’t know what help was out there to engage with qualified professionals in SEND.
“In the future JSENSE hopes to develop services that provide both advice and advocacy to parents and carers. This link with parents will also be translated into other partnerships we are establishing with other community organisations, rabbinic leaders and statutory services,” explains Sophie Behar, JSENSE’s project director.
“JSENSE will continue to consult and engage with parents and carers, as well as professionals, on a regular basis to ensure the best outcomes for our future generations.”
For more information, contact Sophie Behar on 0161 850 3330, or email sophie.behar@jsense.org.uk.