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Gerry Mitchell
Community Project Researcher and co-author of Uncomfortably Off
Gerry Mitchell is a community development researcher at IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice), an organization that provides legally-based information, advice, and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).13
Professional Background
Gerry Mitchell joined IPSEA as part of a 3-year project aimed at expanding the organization's reach to more families, carers, and young people who may not currently have access to their services.1 With over 20 years of experience in community development, Mitchell brings valuable expertise to this role.3
Areas of Focus
As a community outreach researcher, Mitchell's work likely involves:
- Identifying underserved populations in need of special education advice
- Developing strategies to connect with these communities
- Researching effective methods for providing support and information
Personal Interests and Advocacy
Gerry Mitchell is described as:
- Neurodivergent
- Passionate about reducing inequality
- A former UK Labour parliamentary candidate2
These personal characteristics and experiences likely inform Mitchell's approach to their work at IPSEA and their commitment to improving access to special education resources.
Role at IPSEA
At IPSEA, Mitchell contributes to the organization's mission of helping children and young people with SEND receive the education they are legally entitled to.4 Their research and community outreach efforts are crucial in expanding IPSEA's impact and ensuring that more individuals can benefit from the charity's services.
Highlights
Whether we have children or not, and whether they have special education needs or not, most of us are aware of the crisis in SEND provision in this country. The availability and quality of SEND provision has long-term effects on the quality of children and young people's lives.
This is why I am so pleased to be joining IPSEA, an independent provider of legally based information, advice and casework support for children and young people with SEND and their parents and carers in England.
IPSEA recognises that some children and young people are more likely to have unidentified and unmet SEND than their peers (e.g. looked after and former looked after children, and children in penal detention). Additionally, the SEND system is heavily reliant on parents and carers advocating for their children. This places children and young people without a parent able or willing to advocate for them at a significant disadvantage. They face barriers both in accessing special educational provision and obtaining advice on rights and entitlements under the SEND legal framework.
I will be supporting IPSEA's community engagement work to drive forward their efforts in reaching community target groups of care experienced children, migrant children, children in penal detention, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities (GRT) and those with families for whom English is a second language. IPSEA will then deliver a targeted outreach programme to raise awareness of its services with the target groups identified and develop our advice services offering in a way that best meets their needs.
Please get in contact if you work with any one of these groups and could put me in contact with those who would benefit from IPSEA's services.
Vanessa Boon will be hosting 3 discussions on implementing the socio-economic duty in England. It is crucial that the new government embrace this in their reforms … so if you are free, please go along to learn more.
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