In the South West of England, our local services are provided through a team of home-based family workers and volunteer parent representatives.
Family workers
Our family workers offer parents one-to-one help and support through times of need.
- Senior Family worker, Bristol, Bobby Owen,
Tel: 0117 914 0543, e-mail: bobby.owen@cafamily.org.uk
- Family worker South/West Cornwall, Janice Jenner, Tel: 01209 614 588, e-mail: janice.jenner@cafamily.org.uk
- Family worker North/East Cornwall , Liz Farmer, Tel: 0785 244 5132, e-mail: liz.farmer@cafamily.org.uk
Free national helpline 0808 808 3555
Our freephone helpline can give you information, support and advice.Our advisers can help with:
- benefits or tax credits issues
- assessments and statements of special educational needs
- details of local parents support groups
- information about your child's condition
- how to access help with getting a break from caring
- details of charities which give grants to families with disabled children
- advice and information on any other aspect of caring for a disabled child
- the helpline has a registered immigration adviser who can give basic advice in immigration matters.
We also have access to over 170 languages through our interpreting service
Volunteer parent representatives
Our volunteer parent representatives are all parents of disabled children and offer peer support and local signposting.
- Cornwall, Anna Walker, Tel: 01209 315661, e-mail: anna.walker@cafamily.org.uk
- Devon, East & South East, Margaret Ladbury, Tel: 01392 459720, e-mail: margaret.ladbury@cafamily.org.uk
- Devon, North, Julia Forrester, Tel: 01237 429 453, e-mail: julia.forrester@cafamily.org.uk
Other ways we can help
Helpline
If we don’t have a local contact in your area, our freephone helpline can give you information, support and advice.
Information for families
We also hold lots of useful local information for families, including details of your nearest:
- Children’s centre – a centre offering a range of information, support and activities for children under 5 and their families.
- Family information service – free and impartial information on childcare and family services for parents of children and young people aged 0-19.
- Parent partnership service – free and impartial information, advice and support for parents of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN).
- Parent support group – a group of parents meeting regularly to offer each other mutual support and information.
These are just some of the services offering support to families of disabled children – for more information about the full range of services in your area, contact our helpline.
Information for professionals
If you are a professional worker and would like to make an enquiry please contact our library and information team.
Information on starting a local group
If you are interested in starting a local parents group, we are happy to advise and help. See our supporting groups section for details of how we can help.