It is our policy to only link here to organisations working specifically in the West Midlands. UK wide organisations are listed on our links page and condition specific organisations are listed in our Directory.
Carers organistations
CASI (Carers Advice Information Service)
Web: http://www.birminghamcarers.org.uk/
Tel: 0121 675 8170
Carers coffee mornings, every Monday, 1pm-3pm. Come and meet other carers, healthcare professional and ask your questions at the Carers Centre, 130 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 3AP. Drinks and light refreshments are provided in a relaxed, peaceful environment.
Holiday & Equipment Grants for carers
Tel: 0121 675 8000 (CASI-Carers Advice Support Information)
Tel: 0121 442 3468 (Carers Support Initiative)
Grants are available from Social Care & Health to assist carers who provide substantial and regular care. For the Equipment Grant the maximum initial amount is £300 in any two year period and £200 in subsequent two year periods. Applications can be for any item of equipment, activity or other support to help the carer take a break. The Holiday Grant is £250 and again is paid in any two year period. The grant can be used for a break with or without the person cared for. For more information or to obtain an application form, contact CASI, Carers Support Initiative or your local Neighbourhood Office.
Education
Dudley College: The certificate in personal development and learning for unpaid carers
e-mail: elizabeth.rasheed@dudleycol.ac.uk
Web: http://www.city-and-guilds.co.uk/learningforliving
Tel: 01384 363 628
This course, offered at Dudley College allows carers to obtain a formal acknowledgement of the skills they have developed while caring. The Certificate is the equivalent of a Level 2 NVQ or a GCSE. Contact Liz Rasheed, course tutor.
For general information contact, The City & Guilds Learning for Living, Freepost Lon 13578, London, EC18 1HS. Web: http://www.learning-for-living.co.uk/
Telford College of Art and Technology
Tel: 01952 642 237
e-mail: studser@tcat.ac.uk
Web: http://www.tcat.ac.uk/
Offers short courses for teachers, parents and carers of children with special educational needs. Topics include Dyslexia, Introduction to ADHD, Dealing with Dyspraxia and The Psychology of the Teenager. All courses run for 10 weeks and are free to people claiming working tax credit, income support, job seeker's allowance, disability tax credit, housing/council tax benefit, state retirement pension, disability living allowance, or incapacity benefits. To register for a course, contact Student Services.
Conductive Education Programme
Tel: 0121 449 1569
e-mail: schooladministrator@conductive-education.org.uk
Web: http://www.conductive-education.org.uk
Conductive Education is a form of special education and rehabilitation for children and adults with motor disorders. It is appropriate for conditions where disease or damage to the central nervous system affects a person's ability to control movement. In childhood these conditions include cerebral palsy and dyspraxia, and in adulthood, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and those who have had a stroke or head injury. Children between 0-3 years are offered free places by the Foundation for Conductive Education, Cannon Hill House, Russell Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8RD. For further information contact Lyn DeBono.
E-learning course for parents and carers of brain injured children
Tel: 0800 328 1159 (Parent Helpline)
Web: http://www.cerebra.org.uk
This online course covers a variety of subject areas ranging from Anatomy and Physiology to Legal Rights and Welfare Benefits. Students will be able to study from home using a PC and e-mail/internet links, and the course will be available free of charge to parents and carers.
Leisure
The REP - Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Tel: 0121 236 4455
Textphone: 18001 0121 236 4455 (Type talk)
e-mail: access@birmingham-rep.co.uk
Web: http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
The REP offers BSL sign language interpreted and audio described performances. The have also recently introduced "Touch Tours" before every performance at which an Audio Description is provided. This enables blind and visually impaired audiences to gain a clearer idea of the set, costumes, and dimensions of the stage or even meet some of the actors. Booking for "Touch Tours" through Box Office is essential. If you would like a copy of their "Accessible Performance" brochure listing productions in either print, audio or Braille contact the Box Office.
Wolverhampton Early Years Partnership: Play & Leisure Activities
Tel: 01902 555894
Fax: 01902 555889
e-mail: early.years@wolverhampton.gov.uk
For further information about activities for children and young people with special needs contact the Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton WV11 3HT. All events have an activity/suitability rating and must be booked and paid for in advanced.
S.N.A.P. (Special Needs Adventure Playground)
Tel: 01543 579286
Fax: 01889 271885
e-mail: info@snap95.co.uk
Web: http://www.snap95.co.uk
This has outdoors adventure play equipment, including an aerial runway, cycle track with specially adapted bikes, a sand pit (with diggers), and indoors soft play area, craft room and a multi-sensory room it is the only one of its kind in the Chase and West Midlands areas. For any further information, please contact Carla, SNAP, Pye Green Road, Cannock, WS11 2RW.
Card Scheme for the Cinema
Tel: 0845 123 1295
Fax: 0845 123 1296
Minicom: 0845 123 1297
Web: http://www.ceacard.co.uk
People in receipt of DLA and registered blind can get a national card allowing anyone accompanying them to the cinema to have a free ticket. Costs £5 and lasts three years.
The Living Paintings Trust
Web: http://www.livingpaintings.org
e-mail: lpt@livingpaintings.org
Tel: 01635 299771
Living Paintings is a unique national charity that helps blind and partially sighted adults and children by offering a free library service. By providing pictures that can be “felt” in Albums and books, with audio commentary, Living Paintings enables people who cannot see to enjoy a wide range of visual treats, be they popular children’s books, science, history, famous works of art, the natural world, city tours, gardens, topical themes or great buildings. Membership is free - every item in this charity’s library is loaned and posted for free.
Solihull Leisure Opportunities Integrated Arts Groups
Tel: 0121 788 3469
Fax: 0121 788 3372
e-mail: info@solihullsolo.co.uk
Web: http://www.solihullsolo.co.uk
Groups for 14-25 year olds with and without disabilities meet once a week in Solihull and Chelmsley Wood and have activities ranging from stage lighting to belly dancing, with mask making, drumming and much more.
Billesley BOATS: Special Needs play opportunities
e-mail: info@billesleyboats.org
Web: http://www.billesleyboats.org
This is a group of local families that all have children with specific needs. Their children are affected by autism, behavioural disorders and a range of other conditions that understandably can make lives a little more complex. Children with specific needs may necessitate extra help with play and as such are often excluded from local mainstream play facilities. By learning through play and making sense of the world, they may then experience greater opportunities to become part of their community. Billesley BOATS works to provide children with specific needs the same range of play opportunities as other children and are continually working in partnership with other groups to facilitate such access. For more information contact Rebecca Kent - Group Co-ordinator, Tel: 07794649915. Billesley BOATS, c/o 2 Vicarage Road Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7RA.
Local support and information services
Birmingham Community Children's Centre
Tel: 0121 507 9500
Monthly parents forum aimed at supporting parents of disabled children and has a proven both popular and beneficial to those parents that attend. For further details contact Claire Neale at The Birmingham Community Children's Centre, 61 Bacchus Road, Winson Green, Birmingham.
Advice and Advocacy Service: Birmingham Community Children’s Centre
Tel: 0121 507 9500
The centre provides an advice and advocacy service to disabled children (aged 0 to 19 years) and their families, covering the Ladywood and Perry Barr constituencies. They have information on resources, services and support available to disabled children and their families, both locally and nationally. They also advise on disability benefits. For more information contact Selina Galsinh, Advice & Advocacy Co-ordinator, Birmingham Community Children's Centre, 61 Bacchus Road, Winson Green, Birmingham B18 4QY.
Dudley African Caribbean Carers and Disability Support Group
Tel: 01384 813900
e-mail: katthompson73@yahoo.co.uk
A support group for carers at The Claughton Centre, Blowers Green Road, Dudley DY2 8UZ.
SCROLL: A network for families and children with disabilities
Tel: 0800 389 2896
Web: http://tinyurl.com/5kfsfv
Set up by Worcestershire County Council, this network provides access to information, advice and support and training for carers such as emergency first aid, manual handling, stress management etc. Members will also receive a regular newsletter keeping you up to date with new initiatives. To be eligible to join, your child needs to be under 19 years of age. For more information contact Sian Price at the Carers' Unit.
Childhood Cataract Network (Telford)
e-mail: egroup@childhoodcataracts.org.uk
Web: http://www.childhoodcataracts.org.uk/
This is a parent and patient-led UK support group for those affected by childhood cataracts. They provide medical and parenting information, links to other sources of support and advice, plus the chance to get to know others affected by childhood cataracts. Membership is free and is also open to friend’s professionals and others with an interest in childhood cataracts and to people from outside the UK.
Local voluntary organisations
Relate - Time for You: Youth Counselling
Tel: 0121 643 21638
Web: http://www.relate.org.uk
Are you aged 10-20 years old and have family or relationship problems? School or exam worries? Peer pressure? Parents divorced or separated? Free and confidential counselling, supporting young people is available in Birmingham. Trained counsellors will offer you the chance to talk in private, listen to you and help find ways to deal with changes in your life at home and at school/work.
Birmingham Crossroads: Moving & Handling and First Aid training
Tel: 0121 622 2445
Web: http://www.xroadsbham.org.uk/movingandhandling
The purpose of this certificated scheme is to provide Moving & Handling and First Aid training for family members and friends (carers) who provide substantial and regular care for an adult or child who has a disability, limiting long-term illness, mental health problem, or frailty due to age, and who lives in Birmingham. The service is available to carers in Birmingham and FREE of charge. For more information please contact June Niner, Monaco House, 118-156 Bristol Road, Birmingham B5 7AS.
Freedom Counselling & Training Services
Tel: 07786 073898 or 0115 9566730
e-mail: debs@freedom-counselling.co.uk
Web: http://www.freedom-counselling.co.uk
Workshops cover subjects such as loss and bereavement, assertiveness techniques, anger management, stress and relaxation. If you would like more detailed information contact Debbie Franks, Psychological Counsellor.
Community First Malvern: Funding Advice
Tel: 01684 312730 (Malvern)
Fax: 01432 267820 (Hereford)
e-mail: info@comfirst.org.uk
Community First’s funding advisory service is open to charities, voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises. They can help you find grants and maximise your income. Please note they do not advise businesses or individuals.
We do not accept links to commercial sites. Our full policy on links can be viewed here.
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