HY5! – a group for young people aged 11 to 25 with additional needs and disabilities – was honoured at the SEND Awards 2026, organised by the Council for Disabled Children, after being shortlisted in the Excellence in Co‑Production Award category.
The national awards, held at the University of Birmingham last month, brought together leading organisations and partnerships from across the country to showcase best practice in SEND services.
HY5!’s inclusion among the nationally recognised entries highlights the strength and impact of the group’s work in Wolverhampton.
Meeting every fortnight at the Cherry Street SEND and Sensory Hub, HY5! champions meaningful and inclusive youth voice. Members use a wide range of accessible tools – including drawings, voice notes, photo prompts and feelings cards – to ensure every young person can contribute in a way that feels right for them.
Group members work closely with Wolverhampton’s SEND and Inclusion Partnership Board, helping to embed the voices of young people within the city’s SEND and Inclusion Strategy. By sharing lived experiences and constructively challenging decision makers, the group has helped influence policy and practice at a strategic level.
The award nomination highlighted HY5!’s significant impact over the last year, including shaping improvements to the Local Offer, informing the city’s approach to Early Help, influencing post‑16 pathways, and supporting the development of new resources for families. The group has also delivered its Inspiring Change training to more than 60 professionals across education, health and social care.
Beyond local systems change, HY5! continues to drive wider youth voice participation across schools, regional forums and national initiatives. This includes contributing to Government consultations and co‑producing the national Youth Voice Manifesto.
Megan, Expert By Experience and Chair of HY5!, said: “It makes me proud that HY5! has been recognised and able to share our work to inspire others. We also heard what others are doing so we can learn from them.”
Vice-chair Harman added: “It made me very happy to be a finalist; we will keep speaking up and working together and we will keep making change happen.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We are immensely proud of HY5! and the national recognition they have received.
“Their passion, honesty and creativity are transforming the way services listen to and work with young people. Being recognised on a national stage reflects the strength of their leadership and the real difference they are making for children, young people and families across Wolverhampton.”
HY5! has been recognised previously for its work, including winning the NHS England Special Recognition Award for Children and Young Person Voice for Change. In addition, 4 HY5! members have been Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year Award finalists in recent years. To find out more about HY5! and how young people and families can get involved, visit Wolverhampton SEND Local Offer.
