The following is a list of some of the local parent support groups in Scotland. These groups are all members of the Contact a Family local parent support group network. They have all given permission for their details to be included on our website.
Before going along to any meetings, please get in touch with the named contact to check times, dates and venues as these might have changed.
Please note Contact a Family is not responsible for the content of any external websites that are linked through these pages. If you know any of these details are incorrect, please let us know.
Contact a Family has details of other local support groups throughout Scotland. If you can't find a group near you listed below please contact us, Tel: 0131 475 2608, e-mail: scotland.office@cafamily.org.uk, and we will do our best to help.
Arran Parents Support Group
Carolanne Anderson
Tel: 01770 850 264
e-mail: carolkilbrannan@yahoo.co.uk
Support group open to parents and carers of children with any physical, mental and/or learning disabilities. Meets in Copperwheats Café at the pier in Brodick.
Area(s) covered: Isle of Arran
Borders Asperger and Autism Group Support (BAAGS)
Derek Purvis, 1 Cotgreen Road, Tweedbank, Galashiels TD1 3SG
Tel: 01896 668 961 (evenings)
Web: http://www.baags.co.uk
e-mail: abaagsmail@yahoo.co.uk
Parent support group meeting on last Monday of each month at 7.30pm in the Kings Arms Hotel, Melrose. Information evenings, speakers and social events. Resource library with books, videos and dvds as well as a range of specialist toys and equipment. Also have the CARER-VAN, an 8 berth caravan at Berwick Holiday Park available for short breaks and holidays.
Area(s) covered: Scottish Borders.
Brighter Days
Avril Sinclair
Tel:07813107969
e-mail:brighter_days@rocketmail.com
Web:www.brighter-days.com
Brighter days is a support group for families and carers living with ADHD. It's a group of people who either have ADHD children of who have ADHD themselves. They meet up once a month in Crofthead Community Centre, Livingston, to share ideas, literature and new information and most importantly to support each other. Each month they highlight the deeds and achievements of children in the group and organise outings.
Area(s) covered: West Lothian and Edinburgh
Buddies Club/Playscheme
Jane Hook, Netherton Community Centre, 358 Netherton Road, Glasgow G13 1AX
Tel: 0141 434 0201
e-mail: Buddies@buddiesglasgow.org.uk
Play and leisure for children and young people (5-35) with additional support needs in the north and west of Glasgow. After school club and Sunday club during term times, playschemes during school breaks, groups for young adults, outings and adventure breaks.
Area(s) covered: North and west Glasgow
Children Inc
Angela Cusack, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, 19 West Pilton Grove, Edinburgh EH4 4BU
Tel: 0131 551 2460
e-mail: children.inc@email.com
Information and support for parents of disabled children in the Greater Pilton area of Edinburgh. Run an afterschool club on Mondays and Tuesdays for children aged 5-12. Group of parents and children with higher support needs visit The Yard every Friday afternoon. Staff are available to support the children play while parents have a chance to get together.
Area(s) covered: Greater Pilton, Edinburgh
Clydebank Special Needs Forum
Ann McGee, 43 Attlee Avenue, Linnvale, Clydebank G81 2SQ
Tel: 0141 562 4358
e-mail: ammcgee@hotmail.com
Support and information for parents and carers of children with any special need. Meet on first Monday of every month at Dalmuir Community Education Centre. Afterschool project, youth club, arts and drama groups.
Area(s) covered: West Dunbartonshire
DeafVision
Claire Unwin
Tel: 01387 268 161
e-mail: claireunwin31@deafvision.co.uk
Web: www.deafvision.co.uk
Bi-monthly activities and outings for deaf children, young people and their families.
Area(s) covered: Dumfries & Galloway
Down's Syndrome Scotland - West of Scotland Branch
Morna Lawson (Chair)
Tel: 01505 863 030 (after 3.30pm)
e-mail: westofscotland@dsscotland.org.uk
Web: http://www.dsscotland.org.uk/branches/west_of_scotland
Offer a range of activites for children and adults with Down’s Syndrome including swimming, gymnastics and ten pin bowling. Run a Family and Toddler Group which meets at Albertslund Community Centre. Westacres Road Newton Mearns G77 6WW. This is open to parents, children and siblings. Come along for a chat and a coffee.
Area(s) covered: West of Scotland
East Ayrshire Branch, National Autistic Society
Jan McFarlane
Tel: 01563 820 342
e-mail: NASEastAyrshire@aol.com
The group meeting on the second Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm at the Carers Centre in Kilmarnock. It has an extensive library and provides support, information, family outings and a monthly newsletter.
Area(s) covered: East Ayrshire mainly (also North and South Ayrshire)
Fife Action on Autism
Web: http://www.fifeactiononautism.org.uk
Information and support for families affected by Autism Spectrum disorders, as well as awareness raising. Meets monthly at 7.30pm on Thursdays at Rothes Hall, Glenrothes. Open to all. Also has a book library and a monthly newsletter.
Area(s) covered: Fife
Friends of Gordon Cottage
Tel: 01383 822 349
e-mail: laffoley@yahoo.co.uk
Support for families of pre-school children with additional support needs.
Area(s) covered: Fife
Grampian Autistic Society
Ruella-Maria Matson
Tel: 01224 277 900
e-mail: playscheme.gas@classmail.co.uk
Web: www.grampianautisticsociety.co.uk
Provides a range of services for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders including assessment and diagnosis, outreach work and playschemes.
Area(s) covered: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray
Highland Developmental Co-ordination Disorders Group (HDCD)
Arlene Maxtone, Unit 6, 15 Lotland Street, Inverness IV1 1ST
Tel: 01463 709 907 (10.30am-1pm)
e-mail: hdcd.org@tiscali.co.uk
Web: http://www.hdcd.org.uk
Provides support and information for parents. Holds regular evening meetings at Birnie Child Development Centre, organise talks and social events, produce a newsletter and run a swimming group for children with DCD.
Area(s) covered: Highland (but also have members from other parts of Scotland)
Highlands and Islands Autism Society
Isobel Geegan
Tel: 01463 241 469
Meet on the last Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm (except July and December) at MacKenzie Centre, Calduthel Road, Inverness. Also provide family outings/activities and have a library of books on Autism Spectrum disorders.
Area(s) covered: Highlands and Islands
Lothian Autistic Society
Unit 22, Castlebrae Business Centre, 40 Peffer Place, Edinburgh, EH16 4BB
Tel: 0131 661 3834
e-mail: office@lothianautistic.org
Web: http://www.lothianautistic.org
Supports families of children with Autism Spectrum disorders and professionals working with them. Provide information and support, run a parent-to-parent support network, holiday playschemes, short breaks, befriending, siblings club and help with childcare.
Area(s) covered: Edinburgh, Mid and West Lothian
PAGES (Parents Advisory Group for Education and Socialisation)
Alison Leighton (Chair)
Tel: 01358 743 946
e-mail: pages2002@hotmail.co.uk
Web: www.pagesaberdeenshire.com
PAGES provides summer and after school activities for children with additional support needs and their siblings. The group also provides support and information to parents and carers.
Area(s) covered: Aberdeenshire
PRT Carers Centre Parents Group
Jenni Fulton, PRT Carers Centre, 5 Newmarket Street, Falkirk FK1 1JQ
Tel: 01324 611 510
e-mail: jennifulton@centralcarers.co.uk
Web: http://www.carersfalkirk.org.uk
Group for parents and carers of children with any disability or additional need. Meet on the first Tuesday evening and first Friday morning of the month during term times at the PRT Carers Centre. Parents meet to chat, share information and support one another. Information and support is available at the groups or individually on request, including form filling and help to attend meetings.
Area(s) covered: Falkirk (and some Clackmannanshire)
Parents Group
Child Development Centre, Beatlie Campus, Livingston EH54 5EJ. Louise Jarman
Tel: 01506 777 598
e-mail: louise.jarman@wlt.scot.nhs.uk
Web: http://www.beatliecampus.org.uk
The group offers support to parents of pre-school children with any form of developmental delay, particularly neurological disorders. Meetings are held on Thursdays from 9.30-11.30am at the Child Development Centre. The programme varies but includes signalong every month, advice on behaviour management and benefits, etc.
Area(s) covered: West Lothian
Parents of Children who have Epilepsy Support Group
Gina Freeman
Tel: 01506 464 446
e-mail: gina@epilepsywestlothian.co.uk
Web: www.epilepsywestlothian.co.uk
This group meets monthly at Epilepsy West Lothian. It offers support, counselling, workshops and visiting speakers.
Area(s) covered: West Lothian
Sunshine Toddler Group
Mary Bulmer, PRT Dumfries Carers Centre, 2-6 Nith Street, Dumfries DG1 2PW
Tel: 01387 248 600
e-mail: mary.bulmer@btinternet.com
Group for parents of very young children who have additional needs. Parents can enjoy time out with their child as well as the chance to talk to others in a similar situation. Meet every Wednesday during term time 10am-12noon at Dumfries & Galloway Carers Centre in Nith Street.
Costs: £1.50 per family - siblings welcome.
Area(s) covered: Dumfries & Galloway
Spotty Zebras
Carrie McKnight
Tel:07950773899
Email: carriemcknight@btinternet.com.
A parent run support group for families of children with significant additional needs, e.g. needing 1:1 support to get out and about. They meet on a Sunday afternoon once a month, near Ayr. The children, including siblings, enjoy fun activities such as bouncy castle, sports, art and crafts, while parents mingle and share support and ideas.
Area(s) covered: South Ayrshire but open to those willing to travel.
Tuesday Parent Group for Children with Communication Difficulties or Autism
Rhona Watt or Louise Jarman, Child Development Centre, Beatlie Campus, Livingston EH54 5EJ.
Tel: 01506 777 598
e-mail: louise.jarman@wlt.scot.nhs.uk
Web: http://www.beatliecampus.org.uk
Meets weekly during term time in the Child Development Centre on Tuesdays from 9.30am-11.30am. A crèche is available. There is access to a lending library on autism and speakers are arranged as required.
Area(s) covered: West Lothian
The Happy Club
Tracy Steell
Tel: 0141 774 8799 or 07536024797
e-mail: thehappyclub@btinternet.com
Web: www.the-happy-club.co.uk
Offers sports and arts activities to children with any disability or additional need, and vulnerable children, along with their siblings. The group also offers support, information and training to parents/carers. Meet every Tuesday and Thursday evening, 7pm-9pm, at Our Lady of Peace Primary School, Hallhill Road, Glasgow
Area(s) covered: Glasgow and surrounding area
Woodlands Carers Group
Elaine Flaws, c/o Woodlands Resource Centre, Limecraigs Road, Campbeltown PA28 6JJ
Tel: 01586 553 226
Group for parents/carers of adults with various special needs. Meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the Resource Centre. Mainly offers mutual support but have also been involved in fundraising and taking up issues of concern, e.g. transition from school.
Area(s) covered: South Kintyre
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