Who is a Parent Carer? - Anyone who provides care and support to a child under 18 who is ill, has a disability or any additional needs.
As a parent caring for a child with disabilities and/or special needs and requirements can be very rewarding. But even when you willingly take on the task it's still hard work.
You may have times when there is too much to do. Not enough time to do everything. Not enough money. No social life or time for yourself. And not enough sleep or relaxation.
Herefordshire Carers Support offers a wide range of help, advice and support specifically targetted to meet the needs of Parent Carers.
By registering with us you will meet people with similar challenges and also strengthen the Herefordshire Parent Carer Voice - a forum of Parent Carers who contribute to the planning of future services in Herefordshire.
Herefordshire Carers Support provides
- Access to our Parent Carer Support Worker
- A regular newsletter
- A telephone information line - 01432 356068
- Access to Parent Carer Group meetings
- Involvement with developing services through the Herefordshire Parent Carer Voice Parent Forum
- Parent Connect - befriending service
- Social outings and events (including our very popular pamper days)
- Signposting to a wide variety of other services
Herefordshire Family Information Service
Herefordshire FIS is the first point of call for those wanting to access information on any topic related to raising a family. FIS is there for any parent or family with children from 0 - 19 years (up to 25 years for those with special needs). Visit there website at http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/fis.
PARENT CARER GROUPS
Support Groups are run by our Support Worker. Carers meet up to socialize and also to be able to discuss their feelings and experiences with like minded people. We sometimes have speakers, or arrange to meet in a cafe or pub for lunch. All groups are for parents of children aged 0 - 18.
Parent Together meetings, support groups for Parents or Carers who have children with special needs are held on a regular basis in Hereford. For more details phone Cathy Hayes on 01432 356068.
What the Parent Carer Group means to me
The Tuesday morning coffee mornings have been an absolute "life- saver" for me. Not only can life be extremely lonely when you have a child with a disability but as a new comer to the country. I have found that the group has not only helped me to connect with other people who "know" what you are going through, this has been a wonderful opportunity for me to meet and integrate with the people of this country in a way, I never thought was going to be possible. For the first two years of being here, I was really very isolated and lonely. On a day when I was feeling as low as I had ever felt, I finally plucked up the courage to give HCS a call and spoke with Cathy who suggested coming to the group. Needless to say I was very nervous!! On arriving at the group that first morning, I was absolutely overwhelmed at how accepting and welcoming the other parent carers in the group were. Honestly, looking back now, I only wished I had picked up the phone sooner. The Tuesday morning group, is the high light of my week and it is just so wonderful to be amongst others who know what you are going through and the support amongst us all is just absolutely fantastic!! We laugh together and sometimes even had the odd tear together...truly a wonderful group!! |
All Carers are welcome to come along to our groups - details are given below. If you want to find out more about our Support Groups then phone us on 01432 356068 and ask to speak to Cathy Hayes. If you need some help with either travel or alternative care to allow you to come to a group please contact us - ask to speak to Rachel (01432 356068). We want to make sure everyone who wants to come can do so.
| Parent-Carers Cathy Hayes | Weekly, every Tuesday during term time | 10 - 12 | The Cafe, Point 4, The College for the Blind, Venns Lane, Hereford | Ledbury Parent-Carers Cathy Hayes | Every 3rd Wednesday of the month during term time | 12:30 - 14:00 | Market Theatre, Market Street, Ledbury. For more details contact: Cathy Hayes on: 01432 356068. |
| ADHD and Related Disorders | First Thursday of the Month (Term Time only) | 10:30 - 12:00 | At thePoint4 cafe at the RNCB, Venns Lane, Hereford Facilitated by: Cathy Hayes - Parent Carer Support Worker for Herefordshire Carers Support and Keith Baldwin - Family Support Worker. For more details contact: Cathy Hayes on: 01432 356068. |
PARENT CARER VOICE
Minutes from the meetings of the Herefordshire Parent Carer Voice - the voice of Parent Carers involved in service planning can be downloaded below. For more information about the work of Parent Carer Voice call Sue Black 01432 356068. Also see our list of issues and details of our work to date on the download link below:
Parent Carer Voice Work Plan 2011
PARENT CONNECT BEFRIENDING SERVICE
In Herefordshire parents who have a child with a disability themselves have formed, with help from Herefordshire Carers Support, a network of friendship and support for other parents of newly diagnosed children.
Our Parent Befriending Service brings you in touch with other parents who have had similar experiences. All befrienders are trained to enable them to give the best possible support to other parents. They remember how difficult it was, how they had wanted to talk to someone who could understand what they were feeling at the time.
Parent Connect befriending service is informal, flexible and free. For information please phone Cathy Hayes on 01432 356068.
Resources List
We have listed some of the main sources of help and support for those caring for children with disabilities and special needs. Please click here for the full list.
For a list of useful numbers and websites for organisations that can provide support and advice for Parent Carers download this document.
Dimensions - Autism Friendly film screenings at Odeon
Dimensions have arranged a series of screenings of films at Odeon cinemas across the country which are designed to be autism friendly. For more information click here.
Real Parental Choice for Autism and SEN e-petition
Far too many children with autism in England are not getting the quality education they need and deserve. Too many parents have to fight the system to make it work. Parents are saying they have waited over a year to get the right support for their child and some parents more than two years. More and more parents have had to go to tribunal to get the right support for their children. The government speaks about parental choice this is not happening in the majority of cases. Parents want a real choice of educational provision.This means an education which meets their child's needs. And choice means more than one option being available for every child locally and a system that works with the parent and not work against the parent.
To support this petition click here.
Holiday childcare crisis for parents of disabled children - KIDS & Mencap Childcare Survey Results
Some parents have contacted both KIDS and Mencap over the summer holidays to talk about difficulties they have had accessing childcare for their disabled children. Earlier this month KIDS and Mencap ran a survey on this issue and the results can be found here.
Children with a Disability Sports Survey
In May this year Herefordshire Carers Support sent out about 400 surveys to Parent Carers, asking: what activities their children already enjoy; and what activities would they like to do more of? We had an excellent response from Parents.
Herefordshire Council has responded to the initial survey results by identifying over 30 different clubs which are willing to work with children who have a disability.
If you are a Parent Carer and you missed the survey the first time round, we still want to hear from you.
Just click here to take survey and complete the questions on line, simple!
NAS help! First Steps Autism Seminar - Gloucester FREE SEMINAR
The National Autistic Society are running a help! First Steps seminar in Gloucester on Wednesday 18th January 2012 (for parents and carers of children with a fairly recent diagnosis of autism aged up to 11 years)
The seminar will support families to;
- Develop an understanding of autism
- Discuss experiences of getting a diagnosis
- Identify how autism can affect families
- Explore practical ideas for developing communication strategies
- Be aware of support they may be entitled to and ways to access this
We still have a number of places on the seminar - to apply for a place please download and complete this form.
** Please note that due to funding gained by the NAS this help! seminar is FREE to parents/ carers who have a child who has a diagnosis of autism **
Download a flyer about the event here.