Our services Hear Us Heroes July 2026 Notes From Hear Us Heroes HEAR US HEROES Wednesday 1st July 2026 | Meeting Notes ๐ฆธโ๏ธ๐ฆธโ๏ธ ๐ Wednesday 1st July ๐ Welcome ๐ 55 people came to the meeting. ๐ฉ Victoria Braithwaite introduced Joanne Sutcliffe the Steering Group Volunteer. ๐ฉ Joanne Sutcliffe was leading the meeting and welcomed everyone. ๐ค Today we heard speakers from: ๐๏ธ Blackburn with Darwen Council ๐ฑ Spring into Action ๐ Refresh and Wellbeing Team ๐ช Sliding Doors ๐ป SEND Local Offer ๐ฉ Anne-Marie Carden and ๐ฉ Diane Price talked about the SEND Local Offer. ๐ The new website started in May 2025. The Local Offer is now called SEND. ๐ The website is for children and young people aged 0–25. ๐ฑ The website: โ๏ธ Is easy to use. โ๏ธ Looks like the Blackburn with Darwen Council website. โ๏ธ Links to the Adult Social Care Directory. โ๏ธ Has information about local services. ๐ Services must make sure their information is correct and up to date. ๐ฌ The team said they would like the Hear Us Heroes feedback. They want to know: โ Is any information missing? โ Is it easy to understand? โ Is it helpful for young people? โ It can help young people transition - move from primary school to high school? ๐ Hear Us Heroes members – volunteered to give feedback about the SEND Local Offer Website. ๐ค Friends of the Local Offer ๐ฉ Diane Price talked about the Friends of the Local Offer. ๐ They meet every school term. Everyone is welcome: ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง Parents and carers ๐ง Young people ๐ฉ๐ผ Professionals ๐ฃ๏ธ Everyone's voice matters. ๐ก They work together to make the Local Offer better. ๐ฒ Meet n Match ๐ฉ Samantha Nott from Spring into Action gave an update. ๐ She listened to the feedback from Hear Us Heroes last month. ๐ A new venue has been found: Geek Retreat ๐ They hope to meet: ๐๏ธ Once every month โฐ Thursday evenings ๐ 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm ๐ Food and drinks will be available. ๐ท The group suggested a ticket price of £5 . The ticket will include: ๐ฅค One drink ๐ฎ Activities will include: ๐ฒ Board games ๐น๏ธ Video games ๐ท Some extra games may cost more. ๐ Lucy Wilding offered to help with the board games. ๐ Alina Shaukat offered to write about the event on her website. ๐ข Everyone was asked to help share the event. ๐ฏ Refresh and Wellbeing ๐จ George Keen showed everyone a fun game. ๐ The game helps improve: Eye coordination Reactions ๐ Everyone enjoyed having a go. ๐ช We Are Undefeatable ๐จ Anthony Carr talked about We Are Undefeatable. ๐ฅ We watched videos about people with health conditions. ๐ The videos showed how exercise can help people: โค๏ธ Feel healthier ๐ Feel happier ๐ช Stay active ๐ฌ Anthony would like to make a new video with people who have a learning disability. ๐ If you would like to take part, tell Victoria Braithwaite. ๐บ The videos have been shared across Blackburn with Darwen. ๐ Posters have also been displayed around the town and at bus stops. ๐ Sliding Doors ๐ฉ Julie Astley and ๐จ Brad talked about their activities. ๐ชฉ Every Thursday there is a disco at the Blues Bar. ๐ Around 60 to 70 people attend each week. Other activities include: ๐จ Lads Club ๐ต Women's Over 60s Group ๐จ Arts and Crafts ๐งต Sewing ๐ต Music and Dancing ๐ค Singing and Karaoke ๐ Trips and Days Out ๐ Weekends away (including Blackpool) ๐ฉ๐ณ Cooking Classes โญ Talent Competitions ๐ฃ๏ธ Young People's Voices Committee โค๏ธ Everyone is welcome. ๐ Julie shared leaflets. ๐ Free taster session vouchers are available. ๐ Well Done Victoria welcomed: ๐ Samantha Nott๐ Jack Murphy Samantha works for Spring into Action and Jack is a fabulous volunteer. They organise: ๐ต Social events ๐ค Friendship clubs โค๏ธ Dating events ๐๏ธ Meeting Information ๐ Hear Us Heroes meetings are on the first Wednesday of every month๐ Starts at 10.30am (please arrive at 10:15am) ๐๏ธ Next date๐ Wednesday 5th August 2026 โ Upcoming Dates: 2nd September 7th October 4th November 2nd December Visit our Hear Us Heroes main page Click here to find information on our new Hear Us Heroes Mystery Shopping Group