Regional UK Support Organisations

Capability Scotland

Capability has earned a reputation for providing the very best support to Scotland's children with the most complex health, care and learning needs, from the start of their lives. Whether you need advice, the opportunity to meet up with other parents, some respite or more specialist placements we could have the expertise to help.

Telephone - 0131 337 9876 Website - www.capability-scotland.org.uk

Lothian Autistic Society

Lothian Autistic Society is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people with an Autism Spectrum Condition and their families and carers by providing accessible high quality autism-specific support services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Telephone - 0131 661 3834 Website - www.lothianautistic.org

Visual Impairment Scotland

V.I.Scotland is an organisation to support children with visual impairment and their parents that live in Scotland.

Telephone - 0131 651 6078 Website -www.viscotland.org.uk

The Grenfell Club

A "Youth Club" for children with special needs in Cleveland. Members can enjoy a wide variety of activities including, arts and crafts, cookery, computing, a multi-sensory room, regular discos, a coffee bar, soft play facilities and a snooker & pool room.

Website: www.grenfellclub.org

Telephone: 01642 471747

Talbot House

Support centre and play scheme in Manchester for parents and carers of children with special needs. Well established organisation run by parents for parents. Their motto is 'Supporting Families of people with Learning Disabilities'.

Website: www.talbothouse.org.uk

Telephone: 0161 203 4095

BUZZ Youth Group

aimed at disabled children between 8 - 18yrs (with ANY disability). Weekly sessions cover the whole of Cheshire East. Each week the children will take part in exciting activities and go on regular trips to places like Chill Factor or Alton Towers. They also provide domiciliary care for the sessions. They also have a buddy scheme for children between 5 - 18yrs. In this scheme the children are pared with a buddy who will accompany them to activities e.g. football /swimming etc. They work with the club which the child attends to enable them to sustain the relationship with the child.

Contact:01270 500660 or email donna.perry@cheshirecil.org

Aycliffe ADHD Support Group

They are a NEW voluntary organisation that offers support to those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their families in the County Durham area. They have a close connection with the local CAB and offer Quarterly out reach sessions for their members. The first meeting for supporting parents in County durham for children with ADHD / ADD and other behaviour problems is being held on Thursday May 26th 2011 at 18:30 - 20:30. The location is Greenfield community centre, Newton Aycliffe. Please visit their website for further information as they are keen to welcome new members and grow their friendly support group.

Coming Soon

Saturday Morning Play Scheme

SMPS is a play scheme for children aged 8-12 with special needs. Staffed entirely by student volunteers, they run trips to local attractions. The scheme is free and they are able to provide transport to children living within Birmingham.

Meeting times: 10am - 1pm every Saturday during University term time.

Guild of Students, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2T

Email: smps@guild.bham.ac.uk Telephone: 07796863656

ADHD Family Support Group, for Beds, Bucks and Northants

They are a parent led support group for persons affected by the condition known as ADHD (ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER) and its co-morbities, which can include, Dyslexia, Autism Asperger's Dyspraxia. We open from 11am - 1.30 Monday - Friday.. we have drop ins on Wednesday, although you can contact any time.

Telephone -  01908 676779 / 01908 675110

Disability Cornwall

They provide a range of services to empower, assist and facilitate independent living and when necessary, act as a representative voice for disabled people, their families and carers.

Telephone - 01736 756655 Website - www.disabilitycornwall.org.uk

Their aim is to gather information from Parent Carers and using these unique shared experiences, we take part in consultations and participation work which helps us to shape the development and delivery of services to our children.

Telephone - 01736 756037 Website - www.parentcarercouncilcornwall.org.uk

Disabled Parent Support Group Cornwall

Disabled Parent Support Group is a self help group where people can come in, sit down and talk on equal grounds.

Telephone - 0844 2492919

Torbay Saturday Club Devon

Provides varied programme of activities and outings for children and young people with learning and physical disabilities. Covers ages 8-10 years and 11-17 years. 12 places a week available. By referral from care managers, health or other agencies

Telephone - 01803 402757 Website - Click Here

These three support groups are each held once a month, details are given about their locations on the website address shown below

For Yeovil Telephone Steve Coles on 01935 421295

For Gillingham Telephone Kirsty on 01747 823562

For Blandford Telephone Kevin Anthony on 07776472766

This support group is for parents or carers of children with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) or Additional Needs. The group is run by parents for parents or carers and is a very friendly group. They have Specialists and Professional Speakers who have accessed this group, such as Coping with Chaos, Parentlink, The Gap Project, Educational Psychologists, Behaviour Management, Parenting Course, that is to name just a few!

Parents are welcome to come and discuss any concerns or worries as well gain help from other organisations affiliated with the group.

Email - asdbmouth@yahoo.co.uk

CHAT Charity

The CHAT (children, health and therapy) charity is a small children’s charity based in Buckinghamshire. They work with registered nursing agencies to provide much needed short term respite care at home, for families with children who have complex or ongoing health needs. They aim to provide up to a maximum of 20 hours initial short term care for each family and work with a number of reputable agencies, ensuring that the families’ needs are met. Each application is assessed on a needs basis rather than being means tested.

Contact: The Sue Nicholls Centre, Bierton Road, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1EG

Telephone: 01296 566085 (Answer phone out of office hours)

If you are a family living in Buckinghamshire and are in need of some short term respite care (this may be on top of any other care package you are receiving) download an application form from the website www.chat-charity.org.uk and read some of the feedback they have received from some of the families they've helped. Maybe they could help you too.......

Cheeky Monkeys Family Support Group Norfolk

They meet every Monday morning during term time. 9.30 - 11.30am at St Francis Hall, Rider Haggard Road, Heartsease, NORWICH, Norfolk. We are a voluntary organisation supporting children with special needs and also their parents who are often forgotten. Everyone is welcome.

Telephone - 01603-486863

Coming Soon

Autism Northern Ireland (20 groups in NI)

A support group mainly for parents, carers and people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), although they welcome parents and carers of children, young people and adults with any disability who need support. The organisation provides support and information, access to literature, access to others in similar circumstances, regular family days out, speakers and attendance at conferences.

Telephone - 028 9040 1729 Website - www.autismni.org

Carmarthen Breakthro'

Provide leisure activities for children and young people with severe learning disabilities. Hold Saturday clubs throughout the year and playschemes during school holidays, drop-in days, coffee mornings, family outings and support for families. All referrals must go through the Family Support Team.

Telephone - 0845 4500389 Address - Liz Halls, Station Road, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire

Dash

They offer age and ability appropriate leisure schemes for children and young people between 4-23 years who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and their siblings.

Telephone - 01545 570951 Address - London House, Alban Square, Aberaeron, SA46 0AJ

An informal support group that meet on the second Thursday of the month at 10.30am. They also run three monthly sessions specifically for foster parents or disabled children. Based in Cardiff, although people welcome from all areas.

Telephone - 029 2053 6814 Address - Alison Greig, St Davids Children's Centre, Cowbridge Road, Cardiff

Y Bont

Parent-led children's resource centre covering all disabilities (mainly under 5's). Offers a variety of groups and services for parents including a play group and drop in.

Telephone - 01656 646013 Address -