Bristol parent carers is a non-profit organisation based in Bristol, consisting of volunteer parent carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As a pan-disability charity, providing information and support to all families, regardless of their child’s type of need or diagnosis status.

Bristol parent carers work with local SEND services to ensure that the support and services they offer suits the needs of families. By working together it ensures families, children and young people get the right support, at the right time, and in the right way. It aims to empower families by keeping them informed of the full range of local support options available to them, so they can access the resources they need.

As parent carers themselves, they understand the importance of having a voice. That’s why they are dedicated to listening to families and ensuring their thoughts and experiences are taken into consideration. By sharing your experiences with them, you have the opportunity to help shape services that truly meet the needs of families just like yours.
 

Support for parent carers

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Bristol Parent Carer Forum covers the A-Z of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Bristol. It provides information to all SEND families, with or without a diagnosis. The page was created to bring together all of the support that Bristol has to offer. For a calendar of SEND events in Bristol, please visit their webpage.

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It is essential to realise that your child, or the child you care for, does not usually need to be diagnosed in order for you to access support and advice. It’s really important that you seek help and support as soon as you feel you need it.

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Many of the organisations on the page are run by parents and carers. They know exactly what it feels like to wait for a diagnosis; they will make sure you feel welcomed and included. That’s not to say that diagnosis isn’t important, they believe that it is, but also believe that lack of diagnosis should not be a barrier to accessing the right support, at the right time and in the right way, for each family.

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You can find details of each organisation listed in their SEND leaflet, along with a short description of the group, who they aim to support and how they generally operate.

 

Bristol Parent Carers Resource Library  - full information on the above website

 

A-Z of SEND

 

What is a parent carer Forum?

 

Information on local special educational needs and disability support organisations

 

Information on local health services and courses

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Support for parent carers

Webinars, support courses and events

Benefits

Bristol Pink Card

Carers Support Centre

Families, Local Offer, Resources and Advice (FLORA)

The Local Offer

Listening Ear

​Murmuration Community Therapy

Self Care

Siblings

 

Support from organisations that are pan disability – this means they support families, children and young people with any type of need or disability

Bristol Parent Carer Forum

Bristol EHCP Experiences

Barton Hill Activity Club

Extraordinary Links

Incredible Kids

Nothing Special

SEND and You

 

ADHD Support

The Community Children’s Health Partnership

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Autism

Bristol, North Somerset and South Glos Parent Carer Forums

Autism Independence

Bristol Autism Support

Bristol Autism Project

The Community Children’s Health Partnership

Neon Daisy

 

Down Syndrome

Ups and Downs South West

 

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and Dyspraxia

The British Dyslexia Association

Understood.org

Dyspraxia Foundation & Movement Matters

Dyscalculia Information Centre

 

Ethnic minority Groups

Bristol Black Carers

Khaas

The Somali Resource Centre

 

Hearing Loss

Family Centre for Deaf Children

 

Learning disability

Brandon Trust

Bristol Community Arts

 

Occupational Therapy

Community Children’s Health Partnership

 

Sight Loss

Sight Support

Bristol Sight Loss Council

Macular Disease Society

 

Speech and Sensory needs

The Community Children’s Health Partnership

The Autism Page

North Somerset Parent Carer Forum Sensory video

 

Social Emotional and Mental Health

Leading Lights

Off The Record (OTR)

Happy Maps

Kooth

On My Mind

PAPYRUS

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Information on support & breaks away from you child or accessing community events

In School Support
Education Health and Care Plans

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