Young disabled people in Sefton have joined forces to create an app which provides information and support for anyone under 25 with additional needs.



The Sefton Savvy app has been developed by a group of youngsters in conjunction with Sefton Council’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) & Inclusion service, Atomic Productions and Rix Wiki.

A key part of the technology is the opportunity for the young people to share ideas or feedback on local services with their peers, as well as simplifying the information on Sefton’s Local Offer website.

Topics of interest range from being active and having fun to advice on healthy eating and personal hygiene.

In addition to the app, a number of short films and animations have also been created by the young people to highlight what services are available and explain more about the Education Health and Care Plans.

To showcase all of the work, two special screenings have been planned for next month to officially launch the products to parents, carers, professionals and special schools.

Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson will be in attendance to officially launch the Savvy app at the Salvation Army Centre, Shakespeare Street, Southport on Thursday, November 2 at 11.30 am.

In addition, a second premier will be held at The Plaza cinema, Crosby at 11.30am on Thursday, November 9.

Councillor John-Joseph Kelly, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member Children, Schools and Safeguarding, said: “Seeing how the young people have been involved in this creative exercise and what has been achieved is very inspirational.

“They have taken a complex subject matter around SEN reform and made a user-friendly resource, which I am confident will become a vital one stop shop for information and advice.

“Now that the app is available, I know that our SEN and inclusion service will be working hard with families and partners to make sure that young disabled people in Sefton can use the app as part of their everyday lives.”

Adele Hoskison-Clark, SEN and Inclusion Policy Development Officer at Sefton Council, added: “I am really proud of the creative talents shown by our young people in the borough – which shows genuine partnership working with Sefton Council, the young people and their families.”

The Savvy app can be used on all mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. It can be downloaded free from iTunes and the App Store by searching for Sefton Savvy.

Anyone interested in attending the events is asked to book their place in advance by calling 0151 934 2296 or emailing Adele.Hoskison-Clark@sefton.gov.uk.

You can find out lots of information within the Local Offer at seftondirectory.com/localoffer