What is My Important Stuff
Every child and young person should know what activities and support are available in Somerset. You can find information, advice and support here on Somerset’s SEND Local Offer.
The My Important Stuff document gives you a way to keep and share your important information with key people in your life.
How do I use My Important Stuff
This personalised paper document gives you the opportunity to write down information about yourselves in one place. This includes people, groups and organisations that can support you. You can carry ‘My Important Stuff’ wherever you go, know who to contact and help others understand your needs.
You can download it below or call the Contact Centre on 0300 123 2224. They will print one off and send it to you.
A place to record people, groups and organisations that can support you. Know who to contact when, and help others understand your needs.
You may like to have support to fill this in from:
- Your parent/ carers,
- Somebody from your school,
- Somebody from your local library.
One Page Profile
You may wish to fill in your own ‘One Page Profile’ in the document. This gives an overview of what is important to you and how you want to be supported. You can use words pictures, or both.
A one-page profile is not really detailed. It provides information to use as a starting point for discussions about you, your family and your life.
You can use your one-page profile to let people know how you communicate best, by sharing when you meet a new professional. The simple way that a one-page profile presents this information means that it can be understood and acted upon quickly.
Circles of support
When we need help, we often ask our family and friends, then our neighbours and community. After that, we may speak to professionals or local organisations. These are the layers or circles which support us in our lives. Circles of support may often start small but as you try more things and build more relationships, circles often grow.
- Me
- People I see often, for example, family or friends, teacher, PA or carer, neighbours
- People I see sometimes, for example, GP, occupational therapists or social worker
- Places I can go, for example, community groups, libraries and transport options
- People who can help me but don’t know me, for example, NHS 111, SENDIAS, Kooth and Mindline
It is important to know who is in your circle and how to contact them. This document records your circles of support.
How was My Important Stuff created?
My Important Stuff was first developed by Harry Tavare, a Young Person’s Champion, in 2016. Harry consulted with young people, parent carers and practitioners while creating ‘My Important Stuff’ to make sure it was fully co-produced and user-friendly. The name ‘My Important Stuff’ was chosen by young people.
Harry said:
Creating ‘My Important Stuff’ meant a lot to me.
I wanted children and young people with SEND to have the opportunity to write down information about themselves in one place.
This includes people, groups and organisations that can support them.
Children and young people can carry ‘My Important Stuff’ wherever they go and help others understand their needs. This will help them feel listened to.
We noticed in 2022 that people hadn’t been downloading the ‘My Important Stuff’ document as much. You told us that was because no one had told you about it. It also wasn’t very attractive to look at or fill in.
Alice Crockett, a Young Person’s Champion, worked with The Unstoppables in 2023 to improve it. They tested it out and talked about ways to make it work better. It is now more colourful with pictures and space to doodle, to make it appealing to use. The document takes you on a journey thinking about the people close to you that you see every day, things to help you access your local community, and the services that won’t know who you are but can still help you. And also support for getting around more independently. We have given descriptions of what services are rather than expecting young people to guess from the name.
If you would like to email us with your thoughts about using the ‘My Important Stuff’ document you can email localoffer@somerset.gov.uk.