My name is Esther Fletcher and until recently I was the chair of the National Autistic Society Cheshire West and Chester Branch. I was invited to join the PCF steering group by Angela Steadman (IASS) during its inception over 10 years ago. My daughter is 36 and has a diagnosis of autism and was educated initially overseas and later at Dee Banks School and then at Brondyffrn Hall in Denbigh because of the lack of autism provision in Cheshire at that time.

Over the last 30 years I have been a member of various strategic groups that have driven change in our authority as well as working with NAS nationally. I was awarded an MBE in 2016 for my contribution to education.

Like all groups, the PCF steering group has evolved and there has been changes of membership. Several parents have moved into paid employment as a result of skills learnt and confidence gained during their time on the steering group. Angela chaired this group until 2018, when a number of parents underwent extensive training and felt confident to take over the running of the Forum.

The termly forums for all parents have been the main-stay of the PCF and have always attracted a large number of parents and the support of IASS staff helped greatly in terms of admin before and during the Forum meetings as well as the steering group meetings.

The highly successful annual transition to adult services that was initially run jointly by IASS and the PCF and now by the former, attracted a wide audience. These were often parents who did not engage with any other events during the year. This also applied to the transfer to high school events.

The Forum steering group has always been fortunate to have been supported by a range of professionals who have worked together with parents to ensure there were opportunities for them to give their views and shape services.