Children’s advice service extended to young adults

Tower Hamlets Council is expanding the reach of the services available at the Parents Advice Centre. For the past 20 years, the Centre has been offering expert advice, information and support to parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. It currently helps 600 children each year in Tower Hamlets.

From the start of September the service will:
•extend the upper age limit of young people to 25, from the current 16-19 range;
•cater for young people themselves as well as their parents; and
•launch a new youth forum for young people to share their experiences and express their views.

The changes aim to bring the Council’s service in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the new nationwide Special Educational Needs Code of Practice.

Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “I hope these changes will make a real difference to the lives of local young people. This council is committed to helping every child and young person reach their potential, regardless of how complex their needs may be. We are proud to be expanding this service.”

The services offered by the Parents Advice Centre, based in Greatorex Street, include leading information groups, a mediation service and offering one-to-one sessions to help prepare young people for making the transition to the next stage of education. The services are aimed at improving young people’s access to health, social care, education and leisure opportunities.

Cllr Gulam Robbani, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “The staff and volunteers at the Parents Advice Centre work tirelessly to help hundreds of families in Tower Hamlets. They have been consulting with young people and their families on the expansion of the service and everyone is delighted with the improvements it will bring.”

The first full meeting of the Young Person’s Forum will be held at the Centre on Tuesday, 30th September, at 4pm. New members are welcome.

•For more information, contact the Parents Advice Centre on 020-7364 6489 or go to www.towerhamlets.gov.uk. Drop-in sessions are held every Tuesday and Friday from 9.30am till 3pm.