Please see below useful links to organisations and support networks for families. Please let us know if you hear of any others that would be worth sharing here.
Some parents/carers have created What’s App groups. They use these to share top tips and organise get-togethers in locals places with Changing Places facilities. These often happen during PD days. If you would like to join a group, get in touch with one of the Co-Principals and they will put you in touch with the relevant parents.
Parents also host a Mailchimp group. This is like Parentmail but is run entirely by parents. It avoids the GDPR issue of sharing email addresses and is used to share top tips and information. Please contact one of the Co-Principals if you would like to register who will put you in touch with the relevant parents.
The Local Offer website provides information about support services and local opportunities for children and young people with SEND in Suffolk, all in one place. This video explains what the Local Offer is.
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) is a free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support service on issues related to Special Educational Needs and disability.
Activities Unlimited provides short breaks and leisure activities to disabled children aged 0-25 in Suffolk. You will need to register your child and ascertain whether your child is eligible for a personal budget with which you will be able to purchase services.
Contact a Family is a national organisation that supports families with disabled children by providing best possible guidance and information, by bringing families together to support each other and by campaigning, volunteering and fundraising to improve life for people with diabilities and their families
Suffolk Young Carers provide support for sibling-carers, a young person who is affected by a brother or sister’s disability, illness or additional need. To find out more visit their website.
Suffolk Family Carers is the parent organisation of Suffolk Young Carers and is another route into connecting with other families and finding out what support is out there.
KIDS provides ‘a wide range of services nationally for disabled children, young people and their families.’
SIBS is a charity specifically for the brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults.
I CAN is a children’s communication charity, who are ‘experts in helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world’.
Scope is a national disability equality charity in England and Wales.
The Mencap charity’s ‘No-nonsense information and resources will help you get to grips with learning disability’