Groups and organisations offering help

Support groups

Support groups are an ideal way to meet other parents and carers in a similar situation, for friendship, for opportunities to socialise and to share information. Some groups are open to parents and carers of children with any disability, whilst others are for those whose children have the same condition.

Every group is different according to the needs and interests of their members in the area they live.

Is there a support group in your area?

Search the Norfolk Community Directory to find a local support group. Or visit Contact who are in touch with hundreds of groups across the UK. Call their freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 or send them an email.

Is there a national support group for your child's condition?

Search for your child's condition on the Contact website.

Need help to set up your own support group?

If you find that there is no national support group for your child's condition or local support group in your area, you might decide to set one up yourself. You can download a guide to setting up a group from the Contact website, or search for Group Action Pack in their resource library. You can also download the resource pack for advice on planning and reviewing the information you give to other parents.

Organisations offering help, information and advice

The following organisations offer help to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. They give information, advice and support.

Care help, information and advice

Carers Trust is a registered charity who work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. Together with their network partners they provide:

Access to desperately needed breaks
Information and advice
Education, training and employment opportunities

Website: www.carers.org/
Telephone: 0844 800 4361
Email: support@carers.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carerstrust

Norfolk Carers Support is a registered charity providing specialist support to unpaid carers in Norfolk. With services for young people (ages 6-16), young adults (16-24 years old) and adults. They offer:

Support services
Information and advice
Administrate small grant applications on behalf of the Carers Agency Partnership
Host events for carers

Website: norfolkcarerssupport.org/
Telephone: 01603 219924
Email: admin@norfolkcarerssupport.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/norfolkcarerssupport

Carers UK is a national charity for carers, both supporting carers and raising the awareness of carers. They:

Offer expert advice, information and support
Connect carers through carers groups and volunteers
Campaign for carers
Work with local authorities and other organisations to improve services for carers

Website: www.carersuk.org/
Advice Line: 0808 808 7777
Email: advice@carersuk.org
Facebook www.facebook.com/carersuk

Education help, information and advice

Norfolk SEND Partnership, Advice, Information and Support Service is an impartial service providing information and support for young people with special educational needs and / or disabilities and parents and carers of children with special educational needs. They offer:

Confidential telephone support and information
Written information
The support of a trained volunteer Independent Parental Supporter wherever possible
And/or put parents and carers in touch with other voluntary groups and people who may be able to help

Website: www.norfolksendpartnershipiass.org.uk
Helpline: 01603 704070 Monday to Friday 9am-5 pm
Email: sendpartnership.iass@norfolk.gov.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NorfolkSENDPartnership/

Norfolk SEN Network can help parents:

Apply for an EHC plan
Ensure that the provision outlined in the EHC plan is adequate to meet their child's needs
Support families who wish to take their case to a tribunal hearing

Website: www.norfolksennetwork.org
Helpline: 01603 300178 (Monday - Friday)
Email: norfolksennetwork@hotmail.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/norfolksennetwork/

Independent Parental Special Educational Advice (IPSEA) is a registered charity offering:

Free and independent legally based information
Advice and support to help get the right education for children and young people with all kinds of special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities

Website: www.ipsea.org.uk
Helpline: 0800 018 4016 or 01799 526771 for reduced charges if using a mobile phone (check website for opening hours as these vary)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IPSEAcharity/

Contact - For families with disabled children supports families with disabled children across the UK. They provide:

Information
Advice and support
Bring families together so they can support each other and campaign to improve their circumstances, and their right to be included and equal in society.

Website: https://contact.org.uk/
Helpline: 0808 808 3555 Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5pm
Email: helpline@contact.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/contactfamilies

The Information, Advice and Support Services Network (IASS Network) also supply a list of SEND Information and Advice Providers.

Children's Education Advisory Service (CEAS) within the Ministry of Defence, provides advice and guidance to service parents, educational establishments and local authorities on educational issues relating to service children with SEN.

The most effective way to contact the CEAS team is via email: dcyp-ceas-enquiries@mod.gov.uk
Helpline: 01980 618244 or 94344 8244

Health help, information and advice

NHS UK the official website of the National Health Service in England. Providing information on:

Conditions
Living well
Care and support
Electronic referrals
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Website: www.nhs.uk/pages/home.aspx

Mind is a registered charity supporting people experiencing a mental health problem. They offer:

Information and support
National and local support networks
Legal advice service provides information on mental health related law

Website: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/
Infoline: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/mindforbettermentalhealth

Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional body responsible for education, training raising standards in psychiatry. They offer: