Health Innovation Manchester (HInM) recently worked in partnership with Tameside colleagues to deliver a focused engagement session with members of the SEND Youth Council, as part of the Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme (InHIP).

The session brought together children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), alongside parents and carers, to gather feedback on a range of asthma education resources and explore whether these materials are accessible, meaningful and effective for SEND families. The aim was to understand what works well, what doesn’t, and how existing resources could be improved or adapted to better support asthma management for this community.

During the session, participants were invited to review and discuss several different asthma resources, sharing honest feedback on elements such as language, layout, imagery and overall usability. Their insights will help inform future decisions about which formats best support SEND children and families to understand asthma and manage the condition with confidence.

Amy Brooke, specialist nurse, joined the session to provide clear, accessible advice on managing asthma safely and confidently. Key tips included:

• Stick to your preventer inhaler routine – Taking your preventer inhaler every morning and evening is essential. It helps reduce swelling in the airways and minimises flare-ups.
• Inflammation isn’t always visible – Even when symptoms aren’t noticeable, the airways can still be inflamed, making it important to follow your treatment plan consistently.
• Attend regular reviews – A face‑to‑face asthma review with your GP at least once a year ensures that medication and action plans stay up to date.
• Know your triggers – Everyone is different, so understanding personal triggers is key to managing asthma day to day.

Young people played an active role throughout, asking thoughtful questions and sharing reflections based on their own experiences. Parents and carers also contributed valuable perspectives on what information is most helpful when supporting a child with asthma, particularly where additional needs are involved.

Faye Stafford, Project Manager, Health Innovation Manchester spoke of the event saying: “It was really valuable to attend this session and meet members of the Youth Council and their families. Hearing their honest feedback on existing asthma resources has been crucial in helping us understand what works – and what doesn’t – for families with special educational needs. These insights will help shape future resources so they are more accessible, relevant, and truly tailored to the needs of SEN families.”

The session forms part of HInM’s wider partnership work with Tameside through InHIP, which focuses on tackling health inequalities in childhood asthma by working closely with local communities and listening directly to those most affected.

Participants said they valued the open and inclusive nature of the session and welcomed the opportunity to shape resources that could benefit other SEND children and families in the future. The feedback gathered will now be used to inform the next stages of work, ensuring asthma resources are better aligned to the needs of SEND communities in Tameside.

The SEND Youth Council continues to create a supportive space where young people can learn, ask questions, and shape positive change within their community. This asthma awareness session was a great example of the power of informed conversation – and the value of listening to young voices.

Amy Brooke, Specialist Asthma Nurse at Tameside and Glossop Intergrtaed Care NHS Foundation Trust spoke of the event saying: “Sessions like this are so important because they give us direct insight into how asthma information is experienced by children and families with SEND. Hearing their honest feedback on the resources helped us understand what works well and what needs adapting to be clearer, more accessible and more meaningful in everyday life. Working alongside partners through InHIP means we can shape support that’s not only clinically accurate, but genuinely useful for the families we’re here to help.”

Young people played an active role throughout, asking thoughtful questions and sharing reflections based on their own experiences. Parents and carers also contributed valuable perspectives on what information is most helpful when supporting a child with asthma, particularly where additional needs are involved.

Faye Stafford, Project Manager, Health Innovation Manchester spoke of the event saying: “It was really valuable to attend this session and meet members of the Youth Council and their families. Hearing their honest feedback on existing asthma resources has been crucial in helping us understand what works – and what doesn’t – for families with special educational needs. These insights will help shape future resources so they are more accessible, relevant, and truly tailored to the needs of SEN families.”

The session forms part of HInM’s wider partnership work with Tameside through InHIP, which focuses on tackling health inequalities in childhood asthma by working closely with local communities and listening directly to those most affected.

Participants said they valued the open and inclusive nature of the session and welcomed the opportunity to shape resources that could benefit other SEND children and families in the future. The feedback gathered will now be used to inform the next stages of work, ensuring asthma resources are better aligned to the needs of SEND communities in Tameside.

The SEND Youth Council continues to create a supportive space where young people can learn, ask questions, and shape positive change within their community. This asthma awareness session was a great example of the power of informed conversation – and the value of listening to young voices.