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Amaze and West Sussex Parent Carer Forum announce merger in 2026

12th November 2025

We are excited to announce that from April 2026 Amaze will host West Sussex Parent Carer Forum (WSPCF) in the same way that we do Brighton & Hove Parent Carers’ Council (PaCC) and East Sussex Parent Carer Forum (ESPCF). This will make all three forums more resilient and ensure the voice of Sussex parent carers is heard loud and clear amidst coming changes in SEND and local governance. As WSPCF is a charity, they will merge with Amaze, but the relationship will be identical to the way we host PACC & ESPCF. The forums retain their individual identity, activities and goals, but Amaze provides their back-office, and support where needed.

What is a parent carer forum?

A parent carer forum is a group of parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities who work with local authorities, education settings, health providers and others to make sure that the services they commission, plan and deliver meet the needs of disabled children and families. Forums listen to and gather the views of other parent carers to make sure they represent as wide a range of parent carers as possible.

Why merge now?

Sally Polanski, Amaze CEO, says: “The three parent carer forums (PCFs) are already working closely together and have formed Sussex PCF Collaborative to help them speak with a coherent and unified voice.  This is a strategic and considered response to local government reforms, devolution and the coming together of NHS Sussex and Surrey, which require different ways of working.  Each PCF will maintain its unique local focus and ensure different experiences and issues are worked on across Sussex as needed. We are all excited by the opportunities that will come from us being stronger and more resilient together, in these ever-challenging times”.

What does hosting mean?

Being hosted by Amaze means that all three Sussex parent carer forums can focus on representing parent carers of children and young people with SEND, relieved of the responsibilities of running an organisation, with Amaze providing back-office support with things such as finance, HR, IT, as well as the legal and policy framework for their operations. The hosting arrangement is set out in a Memorandum of Understanding between each PCF and Amaze.

The steering groups for each of the forums remain responsible for decision-making around priorities and workplans. The role and remit of each forum in providing the voice of local parent carers is separate to Amaze’s focus on service provision.

Read more about Amaze’s relationships with Parent Carer Forums 

What happens when?

  • Nov 2025 – April 2026: Amaze and WSPCF – we will be carrying out due diligence checks, preparation and planning.  Sussex PCF Collaborative will be in development and operating 
  • Nov ongoing: Sussex PCF Collaborative will be in development and operating 
  • April 2026: WSPCF merges as a subsidiary of Amaze 
  • April – June 2026: staff consultation likely leading to TUPE transfer 
  • July 2026: full transfer of WSPCF to Amaze and wind up of WSPCF as a charity  

What is not happening?

This merger does NOT mean that Amaze is now offering services for families in West Sussex. WSPCF and other charities in West Sussex continue to offer information, advice and support and the SENDIAS service continues to be offered by West Sussex County Council.  

However, through the merger, we will work together with WSPCF to identify what’s missing for SEND families in West Sussex and how services, including Amaze, might help to fill those gaps.

We want to reassure families and stakeholders in West Sussex that Amaze is scrupulous in maintaining its strategic separation from the PCFs we host. Amaze has over 20 years’ experience hosting PaCC and ESPCF whilst enabling them to set their own distinct priorities and activities. We are happy to answer any more detailed queries about this. Email [email protected] or [email protected] 

What is the difference between Amaze and the parent carer forums?

Amaze provides services for families with children and young people with SEND in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex. The parent carer forums gather and represent the views of parent carers of children and young people with SEND to the people who commission and plan services.

We work closely together because we know that families get better services and support when their views are placed at the heart of the planning and delivery process. We call this co-production.

Please do get in touch if you’ve queries or would like to find out more about our work.

Thanks, and best wishes

Sally and Rowan