Support Groups for Parents and Carers

Supportive Parents


Offers a monthly support group held alternately at Mendip Green School, Worle, Weston Super Mare on a Tuesday and at The Folk Hall, Portishead on a Thursday 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. and are run by the local co-ordinator, with parental supporters in attendance. Interested professionals are also welcome to attend.
For dates please see Supportive Parents’ website  www.supportiveparents.org.uk 
or phone 0117 9897725

ADHD Parents’ support group: This group is open to any parents/carers of children with a diagnosis of ADHD and is run by the assistant psychologist and the clinical assistant in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health team every second Wednesday of the month in the Children’s Services at Drove Road, Weston-super-Mare. For further info contact Amy Savile (Asst. Psychologist) or Claire McGinty (Clinic Asst.) on 01934 629660

ASBAH (Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) www.asbah.org.uk
Contact Ann Gillard 01275 331407 or email anng@asbah.org

Black Carers’ Project: This support group for black and ethnic carers (adult and young carers) is not funded for work in North Somerset but has a website which can be accessed at www.blackcarersproject.co.uk  Contact Project Manager on 0117 914 4491/2

North Somerset Black & Minority Ethnic Forum: The Badger Centre, 3-6 Wadham Street, Weston Super Mare, BS23 1JY, Contact 01934 414455. Website: http://www.srec.org.uk

Bristol & Avon Chinese Woman’s group: St Agnes Church, Thomas Street, St Pauls Bristol BS2 9LL Tel no: 0117 9351462

CLIMB - Children Living with Inherited Metabolic Diseases: Provides family support and information helpline. Contact Kate Wall 01761 472380 or go to  www.climb.org.uk 
National tel no: 0800 6523181

Contact a Family
A national charity working across the UK to support families caring for children with any disability or special need.
National contact 0808 808 3555 www.cafamily.org.uk  or email helpline@cafamily.org.uk
North Somerset contact: Jan Seamer 01275 462550.

Crossroads: North Somerset Crossroads Carers Support Service
The Carers Centre, 1 Graham Road, Weston super Mare, BS23 1YA
Tel: 01934 411855 www.nscrossroads.org.uk
Crossroads publishes a newsletter, offers individual appointments
for carers to talk about their needs and find out about services and
support available. Free counselling, courses, outings and advocacy service.

Disability Information Services - DISS is a disability information service. It gives free, confidential and impartial information on anything to do with living with disabilities. Tel: 0808 808 5252

Downs Syndrome Association North Somerset
See ‘The Firs’ below under Social/leisure/support groups for details of DSA coffee mornings.

Downs Syndrome Support (BADSS Bristol Area)
A local charity for Parents and guardians of children with Downs Syndrome or their friends and family who would benefit from help and support from other Parents. Contact Andrew King on 0845 6422377 or www.badss.org.uk or e-mail info@badss.org.uk

Dyslexia:  Support Group for adults and for parents of children with Dyslexia or Dyspraxia. Contact Sue Bond 01934 511557 or wdds@hotmail.co.uk

Dyslexia Centre: 10 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 2XH (tel; 0117 973 9405).

Dyslexia Action: 2nd floor office suite, 14 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PP (tel 0117 923 9166) with lessons in Portishead and other areas of Bristol.

Dyspraxia Foundation (Bristol): This support group no longer meets. Parents can contact the national organisation on 01462 454986 www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

Dyspraxia and Occupational Therapy: see entry for The Skills Club, below

Sensory Processing Support Group: For parents of children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Down’s Syndrome runs 3rd Monday of every month from 7-9pm at Therapy Space, The Park Opportunity Centre, Daventry Rd, Knowle, Bristol BS4 1DQ . Contact Linda Plowden (OT) on 0117 9079189.

ERIC (Enuresis Resource and Information Centre) www.eric.org.uk

Family Information Service   (Formerly Children’s Information Service)
Provide a one-stop source of information for the benefit of children, young people and families, and those who work with them, within North Somerset.
Email: cis@n-somerset.gov.uk  Telephone: 01934 426 300

Family Centre for Deaf Children: Cranleigh Unit, Frome House, Cranleigh Court Road, Yate, S. Glos. BS37 5DE       
Tel. 01454 315404, Minicom. 01454 315405. www.fcdc.org.uk.

Gifted & Talented: Support group for families who have a child who is gifted/talented. Contact Helen Gilmore for details on 01934 414877

Headway:  Headway House, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay, Bristol BS16 1LE
Telephone 0117 975 3771. Provides information, support and services for people with head injuries, families and carers.

KHAAS: St Werburghs Community Centre, Horley Road, Bristol, BS2 9TJ
Information for Asian parents with children who have disabilities or special needs. Contact 0117 9554070

Look West: Support group for families with blind or visually impaired children.
Contact the RNIB, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol on 0117 9537750 www.rnib.org.uk/parents  or contact Philippe Cazalis:  0117 9341704.

National Autistic Society – North Somerset Branch: Support groups are held at: Springboard, 2a Princes Road, Clevedon on the last Thursday in the month 10am – 12 noon during term time. Contact Liz Kelly for details on 01934 628287

NAS Lynx Centre: 14/15 Lynx Crescent, Weston super Mare, the second Wednesday of the month 7 - 9pm.  For further information call Liz Kelly (Branch Officer) on 01934 628287

The NAS nationally also offers a Befriending scheme: contact 08450704004, or refer to www.autism.org.uk

NORTH SOMERSET COUNCIL 
For information on children and young people’s services - www.n-somerset.gov.uk

PACE: (Parents & Carers of Children with Epilepsy)  www.epilepsy.org.uk (national)
No confirmed contact details available at this time for local group. Ring Supportive Parents on 0117 9897725 for update.

SCOPE:  Parent telephone support groups for parents/carers of pre-school
children with cerebral palsy. Tel no: 0808 800 3333   www.scope.org.uk

SENSE, Avon:  www.sense.org.uk (national) 
Support group for children with single or dual sensory impairment Woodside Family Centre, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8DG email: woodside @sense.org.uk. For details of parent support groups contact Senior Family Support Worker 0117 9670008.
South West Children’s Heart Circle: A charity that supports children with heart conditions and their families in the units where they receive care www.heartcircle.org.uk  0870 1252307

Springboard Opportunity Group: run specialist, structured play sessions at our friendly and welcoming purpose-built centres in Clevedon and Weston super Mare and in partnership with the South Weston Children’s Centre. Also offers Stay & Play sessions each week for families with very young children, who may need extra support and a first step to Springboard.
Tel: 01275 341113
Email: info@springboardweb.org.uk
Springboard, 2a Princes Road, Clevedon, North Somerset BS21 7SZ

Tourettes Syndrome Support:  Support group for families with a child who has Tourette’s Syndrome. For further details contact Carol Bale on 01275 472607 www.tourettes-disorder.com (national)


Social and Leisure Support Groups for Parents, Carers and their children with additional needs/disabilities.

The Firs Resource Centre: Manages a range of out of school and daycare provision such as specialist playschemes in Weston and Portishead, a variety of outings thoughout the year based on age, ability and friendship groups. The activities are generally available to children with additional needs/disabled children and the team support relevant programmes used by children and young people in our care regarding independent skills, behaviour management, toileting and personal care programmes. Planned trips are also tailored to a child's individual needs.  Events include:
Cubs & Beavers – Thurs Beavers 6-7pm, Cubs 7.15-8.15pm
Downs Syndrome Association Coffee Morning – Last Tues of month 10am-12pm
Parents' Coffee Morning – Mondays 10am – 12pm (crèche included)
Saturday Club – Term time only 9.30am-12.30pm, (need to book).
Sing Up – Singing club for school years 4,5,and 6 – Mondays 4-5pm (need to book).

After school clubs for additional needs children 11 yrs +
• Locking/St Georges, Locking Methodist Church – Mondays
• The Barn, Clevedon - Tuesdays
• Nailsea Youth House – Tuesdays
• Weston Escape Club – Wednesdays 6.30 – 9.00pm
• Friday Fun Club, Portishead Youth Centre – 6.30-9.00pm

They also set up and manage Buddy support for Out of School clubs, youth activities and uniformed organisations as well benefiting from the help and support of 85 young volunteers who may progress on to becoming paid Buddies.
For more information or to book places telephone The Firs: 01934 632 538.
89a Drove Road
Weston-Super-Mare  
BS23 3NX 

Kingsmour Playground Club – Kingston Seymour: This is a specialist playground for children/young people with additional needs.
Family Fun days are also held in July and August.
Charges:  there is a one-off charge of £2.50 on application for membership to cover the cost of an access key.  More information on the rules and conditions for using Kingsmour Playground Club are provided with the application form.  These are available from:The Secretary, Yeo Valley Lions Club, c/o 3 Chescombe Court, Chescombe Road, Yatton, Bristol BS49 4JZ

National Autistic Society – North Somerset Branch: Support groups are held at: Springboard, 2a Princes Road, Clevedon on the last Thursday in the month 10am – 12 noon during term time. Contact Liz Kelly for details on 01934 628287

Out of School Club for children and young people with Asperger syndrome
The club meets in Nailsea on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm - 9:00pm

NAS Lynx Centre 14/15 Lynx Crescent, Weston super Mare. The Lynx Centre hosts a number of social clubs: The Internet Cafe – Weds, Walking Group – Sats,  Lynx Fun Club, 8-13 yrs,– Sats,  Activity Club, 16-25 yrs – Sats, for further information regarding these clubs please call 01934 412575 or email:- nikki.edwards@nas.org.uk

The Skills Club - led by an Occupation Therapist: St. Paul’s Parish Office
Walliscote Road, Weston, BS23 1EF
   Skills Clubs provides a relaxing environment to learn and develop skills and offers children and families an opportunity to join others who have similar difficulties. Families who belong to the club are also invited to join us for outings, events and parties. Individual assessments are also available. Parents stay with children. 1st Saturday in every month - 10:00 - 12:30 Telephone: 01934 419 822

Summer Wonder North Special Needs Playscheme for Under 8's: 
Held in Weston Super Mare and Nailsea, for more information contact: Gill Stokes
 Email: gill.stokes@n-somerset.gov.uk or call 01934 632 538

 

 

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