In this issue:
Mission EmployAble - unique training opportunities for young adults (aged 18+)
Do you know a young adult looking to gain training and work experience in the local community?
Mission EmployAble is a charity based in Chorleywood which was founded 4 years ago to train young adults, aged 18-25 with a learning disability, to become employable. 
Their supported interns work from the training centre based in the Café on The Common, Chorleywood and are trained in a variety of skills including hospitality and catering inside the café as well as other outside work experiences that form part of their work employability training course.
Mission EmployAble will be accepting applications after Christmas for internships starting in September 25.
Read more about the supported internships in the Guest Blog on the Local Offer
Countdown to the young people's #SENDtakeover2024
For International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) this year, on Tuesday 3 December, children and young people from across Hertfordshire and the East of England will be taking part in the #SENDtakeover2024.
Our social media channels will be used to amplify the voices of young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Hertfordshire. On this day, between 9am - 5pm, we will be sharing content from schools, partners and youth councils. The theme for the day is 'This is Me'. We want our young people with SEND across the county to have a platform to share what it is important to know about them.
Young people can get involved by sharing content and using #SENDtakeover2024.
There'll also be 2 live Q&A sessions (10-11am and 2-3pm) on the Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer facebook page with leaders from the council answering questions from young people about what's important to them. Young people can tune in live to ask questions, or send them in advance to our participation lead Sarah Stevens at sarah.stevens2@hertfordshire.gov.uk by 1 December 2024.
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SEND Young People's Health and Wellbeing survey (ages 11-25)
In 2023 16,300 young people in mainstream secondary schools completed the Hertfordshire Young People’s Health & Wellbeing Survey (YPHWS). The survey includes questions about home life, wellbeing, diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, drug use, sexual health, mental health, bullying, and safety.
This year the team has produced an accessible SEND survey to run alongside the main survey so that the needs of all children and young people with SEND can be reflected equally and taken into account in commissioning and planning future services.
The survey has been launched as a pilot and is intended to be more user friendly for children and young people with SEND who attend special school or are home educated. Some young people with SEND may need help to fill out the pilot survey. The Youtube video below tells you more about the SEND survey.
Fill in the SEND Young People's Health and Wellbeing survey (children and young people aged 11-25 attending special schools or home educated)
Fill in the Young People's Health and Wellbeing survey (children and young people aged 11-25 in mainstream settings)
Booking open for winter HAPpy Camps (ages 4-16 receiving benefits-related free school meals)
HAPpy Camps are back once again for the winter school holiday. Children and teens living in Hertfordshire who get benefits-related free school meals can attend this FREE holiday activity provision.
As ever, HAPpy Camps will offer a wide variety of activities for children with a hot lunch included too! 
Every camp is inclusive and able to meet the needs of most children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), provided the right information is supplied with their booking. There are also SEND-specific camps which are better for children with higher support needs.
The HAPpy Camps winter programme runs from 23 December to 3 January.
Book a HAPpy Camp for your child
Moving in or out of Hertfordshire with an EHCP survey (all ages)
Have you recently moved in or out of Hertfordshire with a child who has an EHCP? The Local Offer team are hoping to create a new webpage which will provide parents and carers with information and guidance about what to do if you're moving into or out of the county with a child who has an EHCP.
If you have experience in this area, we'd like to hear from you! Your responses will help us know what information we need to include on this page. Please do feel free to share the survey with friends and family too.
Complete the survey (the survey will stay open until 31 December).
Events
View all courses and activities
Take a look at Christmas activities
Family Centre Service - SEND playgroup, Hitchin (ages 0-5)
Mondays 1pm - 2.30pm, British Schools Museum, Hitchin
Come along and meet other families whilst your young child can play in a safe and inclusive environment.
NESSie in Ed - Bullying webinar
Thursday 5 December, 9.30am 11.30am, online
This early intervention webinar aims to share helpful tools and strategies to support your child to develop confidence and resilience in order to manage dealing with bullying.
SPACE: Festive parent/carer pottery painting session
Monday 9 December, 7pm - 9pm, St Cuthbert's Church, Hoddesdon
Relax, chat, enjoy some 'me' time with likeminded parents and carers and learn a few new skills along the way.