Edna at the Palace! - Unique - The Rare Chromosome Disorder ...

carers
Caring with Confidence
Caring with Confidence aims to help carers
make a positive difference to their life and that
of the person they care for. Carers can mix
and match how they further develop their
knowledge and skills – by taking part in one
or more free, local group sessions, by using
self-study workbooks or by accessing online
sessions. Caring with Confidence enhances the
training already available and helps to provide
learning opportunities for carers where there
is currently little available. It is not designed to
replace existing provision. Caring with
Confidence sessions will:
■ help you build on your strengths as a carer
■ give you the opportunity to share
experiences and learn from others in similar
situations
■ give you useful information, ideas and tips
about looking after someone
■ help you decide what you might like to
change about your caring role
Each session lasts three hours and includes a
refreshment break.
Caring with Confidence
Carrwood Park, Selby Road, Leeds LS15 4LG
Tel: 0113 385 4491
Email: cwc.info@caringwithconfidence.net
www.caringwithconfidence.net/
Home Dad
An interactive web site for dads bringing up
their children. Dads can meet up, offer advice
and support and share their experiences of
hands-on fathering. The site has news, features
and information, details on starting a playgroup
and how to find other home dads. There is a
bulletin board for messages and regular chat
room sessions.
homedad.org.uk/
New parenting site launched
– One Space
One Space is a new parenting site for single
parents whether they are pregnant, have
toddlers or teenagers, are separated, divorced,
widowed or have chosen to go it alone.
On the site, parents can get support from
experienced parenting experts, encouraging
them to take part, share their views and build
confidence in parenting alone successfully. You
can join online groups, chat, watch video clips
and share the ups and downs of life, at
www.onespace.org.uk.
A new website for
parents of teens
Parentline Plus is currently developing a social
networking website for parents of teenagers
entitled www.gotateenager.org.uk.
Launched in September 2008, the site will
be a space for parents of teens to share
experiences, swap tips and support one
another through the challenges and successes.
Aside from message boards, blogs and
Q&As, a number of features are planned such
as e-learning modules, Web TV Shows, an
online comic strip and a ‘teen-speak’ jargon
buster. For anyone with a teenager in their life.
Join for parent-to-parent support, informal
advice, useful information and a community of
other parents dealing with the same issues as
you.
Online relationship
help launched
One Plus One, the UK’s leading relationship
research organisation has launched
a new online service for parents.
thecoupleconnection.net is targeted at all
parents, but includes specific information for
fathers and parents of children with disabilities.
The site provides a developing range of articles,
self-assessment tools, activities and exercises to
help you to improve your couple relationship.
Much of the site is interactive, with a forum
which is visited regularly by trained relationship
supporters.
thecoupleconnection.net/
USA families
Find special needs and respite caregivers
in your area, for both children and adults
www.care.com/special-needs-p1162.html.
Useful web links for siblings
www.sibs.org.uk/
Sibs is the UK charity for people who grow up
with a disabled brother or sister.
www.youngcarers.net/
www.youngcarer.com/
showPage.php?file=index.htm
Australian sibling website
siblingsaustralia.org.au/
New Zealand sibling support
www.parent2parent.org.nz/start.htm
money matters
Disabled children to benefit
from record levels of
investment in services
Contact a Family is delighted with recent
confirmation in the Child Health Strategy of
GB£340 million additional funding to improve
health services for disabled children. Claire
Pimm, Director of Policy and Communications,
said: “High standards of healthcare for disabled
children are vital to improving not only their
health, but the entire quality of life for them
and their family.
“We are delighted that the government has
announced this substantial extra funding to
improve the experience of disabled children
and their families with health services. Due to
the complexity of their health needs, disabled
children and their families come into regular
contact with health services and need
confidence they are of the highest quality
and working to meet their needs.” The funding
was announced in the publication of the
government strategy Healthy lives, brighter
future: the strategy for children and young people’s
health. The GB£340 million will enable local
areas to work together to support children
with disabilities and their families and invest in
palliative care and end of life services, short
breaks, community equipment and wheelchair
services through Community Children’s
Nursing services. Another measure in the
strategy to benefit disabled children and their
families is a commitment that by 2010, all
children with complex health needs will have
an individual care plan.
www.rarechromo.org
Read the report in full at
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/
Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/
DH_094400?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=
184218&Rendition=Web
Source: Contact a Family e-Newsletter February 2009
Free childcare
scheme launched
The Department for Children, Schools and
Families has launched a £75million three-year
free childcare scheme which will help 50,000
low-income families in England. As part of the
scheme, childcare costs of up to £175 per
week per child (or up to £205 per week per
child in London) will be paid directly to the
childcare provider. This is to enable parents,
where only one partner is working or in some
Page 23