Support for parents and carers

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Parenting | Women | Advice, information and support | Other

PARENTING

On Track
This is a project for children aged 4 to 12 and their families. They offer help and support to families and children who are experiencing difficulties such as:

• Loss, separation and bereavement
• Behavioural difficulties or problems at home and/ or at school
• Domestic violence
• Family problems and breakdown
• Difficulties experienced as a parent
• A range of supportive services are offered such as:
• Out of school activities
• Links between home and school
• Health promotion including drug and alcohol awareness
• Group work
• Supporting parents and families
• Family therapy
• Crime prevention

On Track works with children aged 4 to 12 in North Washington (Springwell, Donwell, Usworth, Concord, Sulgrave, and Albany) and their families, who live or attend school in the area. Families can contact On Track direct or professionals can make referrals on a family’s behalf. On Track produce a Regular newsletter and leaflet.

For more information contact:

On Track, 34 Elliot Terrace, Concord, Washington, Tyne and Wear, NE37 3AE.
Tel: (0191) 219 3460
Fax: (0191) 219 3461

SunGate Parenting Programme
SunGate offers support to families whose children are offending or are at risk of developing offending behaviour, by running parents programme both for individuals and in groups.

For more information contact:

SunGate, 11 John Street, Sunderland, SR1 1HT
Tel: 0191 565 4888

Fax: 0191 565 7004

Bridge Project
The Bridge Project was set up in 1985 to provide education and training for local women, which incorporated quality childcare to enable them to gain qualifications. Bridge aims to increase women’s self esteem, confidence and support their personal development to enable them to be independent and have control over their own lives and learning activities. A range of courses and activities are on offer including English and maths, confidence building, deaf awareness, introductory courses, arts and crafts, alternative therapies, childcare courses, computers, and lots more. For more information contact

Bridge Women’s Education Centre, Grasmere Terrace, Columbia, Washington, NE38 7LP,
Telephone: 0191 417 2445
or e-mail info@bridgeproject.org
or visit their website at www.bridgeproject.org/main.html

Wearside Women in Need (WWIN)
Problems at home? When you are too scared to leave and too scared to stay. There are people who can help you.

Domestic violence is:

• Widespread: it affects 1 in 4 women at some point in their lives
• More than physical violence: it often includes threats, sexual assault, being put down, being controlled, being kept short of money, being blames for what’s happening
• Bad for your mental health: it can lead to feelings of shame, helplessness, depression and isolation
• Wrong: you have the right to live your life free from violence, fear and intimidation
• Something you can escape: the police and other services are ready to offer support and advice when you ask for help.

Who can help you during the day?

• Police (main switchboard) will listen and respond positively to your needs. Tel: 0191 454 7555
• Wearside Women in Need can offer refuge and support all year round. Tel: 0191 416 3550
• Housing Department (housing advice unit) can help with all your housing needs. Tel: 0191 553 1610
• Social Services can advise you on local services. Tel: 0191 566 1404
• Victim Support can offer support and help. Tel: 0191 567 2896
• Reach can help if you have been sexually assaulted. Tel: 0191 565 3725

Who can help at anytime, day or night?

• Police. In an emergency or when you need to reach a place of safety. Tel: 999
• Wearside Women in Need have 3 telephone lines:
•        24 hour helpline (Washington): 0191 415 1506
•        24 hour helpline (Sunderland): 0191 514 1972
•        24 hour helpline (for young women): 0191 514 1964
• Social Services, Out of Hours Emergency Service: 0191 553 1991
• Samaritans (24 hours a day): 0191 567 7177

Safety Planning Information:

It is difficult to plan in a crisis. If you are thinking about leaving, even for a short while, then you may need to take:

• Personal ID papers e.g. drivers license, passport, birth certificates
• Legal papers e.g. mortgage papers, rent book, benefits book, insurance document, court orders/ injunctions, divorce papers, work papers/ visas
• Medication needed by you and your children
• Other items: money, bank/ credit cards, house and / or car keys, toiletries, change of clothes for you and your children, pictures of you and your children.

Sunderland Women’s Centre
The centre offers a range of courses and activities, with a crèche provided for pre-school children.

For more information, contact:

Sunderland Women’s Centre, 8 Green Terrace, Sunderland, SR1 3PZ
Tel: 0191 567 7495
Fax: 0191 514 2050
e-mail: swc@btclick.com

Flexible working for parents of disabled children

Did you know that from 6th April 2003 parents of children under 6 or disabled children under 18 have the right to apply to work flexibly, and employers have a duty to consider the request seriously? 

For more information contact:

Website: www.dti.gov.uk

Sunderland Carers' Centre
Sunderland Carers' Centre offer confidential information, advice and support to carers living in the City of Sunderland, including Washington, Houghton-le-Spring and Hetton-le-Hole including:

• support at meetings with social workers, consultants, psychiatrists etc
• running courses and support groups
• organising social activities for carers
• producing a range of publications including a free newsletter every two months

Click here to view their newsletters.

Two support groups of interest to parent carers of disabled children include:

• The Next Level Group (formerly the Parents Gripe Group): for parents/carers of children with behavioural difficulties caused by learning disabilities. The group meets on the first Monday of each month, at Sunderland Carers' Centre, between 10am and 12noon.
• Parent Carers Group: for parents/carers of children (under 18) with special needs and disabilities. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month at Sunderland Carers' Centre, between 10.30am and 12noon .

The Young Carers Group is for young people who care for a family member (including a brother or sister who is disabled). The group gives young carers the chance to meet new friends and try new things.

Sunderland Carers Centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. If a carer is unable to go to the Carers Centre, a member of staff can usually arrange to visit them at home.

For more information, please contact:
Sunderland Carers Centre, 12 Toward Road, Sunderland, SR1 2QF

Tel: 0191 567 3232

Fax: 0191 567 8536

E-mail: info@sunderlandcarers.co.uk

Website: www.sunderland.nhs.uk/carers/index.htm

Sunderland Parents Network

Do you have a child who has special educational needs (SEN)? Would you like to know where to get information, which will help you get the best support for your child? Or would you simply like to talk to other parents who have a child with special educational needs?

If your answer is yes to any of the above questions then welcome to the Sunderland Parent's Network. We are a group of parents who like you have a child with special educational needs.  We can offer support and information about special educational issues as well as explaining procedures and attending meetings with you.  We believe that children with special educational needs are entitled to support based on their individual needs and not the resources available.

We are currently building up a network of parents and gathering your views on education, as well as organising events for parents to hear from guest speakers about services for children with SEN.  We aim to keep parents up to date with changes affecting the support of children with SEN and use the network as a collective voice for parents to influence the direction of Education in Sunderland.

We can be contacted by phone on 07986611001.  Please leave your name, address and telephone number and we will get back to you. Alternatively, e-mail us at sundparentsnet@netscape.net

Autism-In-Mind (AIM)
Sunderland parents Carole and Terry Rutherford have two sons with a diagnosis of autism, they understand that living with autism can sometimes leave them and their sons feeling isolated and cut off from the real world. Many children with a diagnosis of autism now attend mainstream schools and parents rarely have the opportunity to meet up with other parents who understand the problems that they face in their daily lives. Carole and Terry know from firsthand experience what this feels like, and also how difficult it can be for our children with autism to mix and enjoy social activities and outings. Autism-in-Mind (AIM) is keen to hear from any families who feel isolated or need a listening ear. AIM has been up and running in Sunderland and Washington for 3 years and we now have around 100 families who attend our meetings and also our social activities. We hold meetings in Sunderland and Washington and also offer internet based support.

AIM would like to help improve the lives of families living in Sunderland by giving parents and their children the chance to work together to provide some out of school activities for the children, and support and information for their parents.

We enjoy our outings to the Fun Shack, the Cinema, we go bowling and also arrange trips out. We are aware that some children with autism do not like these activities and we are hoping to improve the range of activities that we can offer.

For further information please contact:

Tel: 0191 549 0898 (Carole and Terry Rutherford), please leave a short message and we will return your call.

E-mail: aim1voice@btinternet.com

The Access Project Sunderland (TAPS)

TAPS is a new project designed to increase access to services and increase employability among all minority ethnic communities in Sunderland.  TAPS will be assisting Black and Minority Ethnic Communities with analysing why some services and employment are difficult to access and finding solutions to this, helping people with job search, training, and supporting Sunderland with cultural awareness issues.  People needing the support of TAPS can call into their office.

For further information contact:

TAPS, 20 Hylton Road, Millfield, Sunderland, SR4 7AA

Tel: (0191) 565 3198

Fax: (0191) 565 6978

SHARP (Shiney Advice and Resource Project)
SHARP is an independent community project providing welfare rights advice through drop-in sessions. They also run a drop-in specifically for young people. They have an Advice Centre and a Resource Centre.

For more information contact:

SHARP, 17 Beatrice Terrace, Shiney Row, Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 4QW
Tel: 0191 385 6687
Fax: 0191 385 6687
E-mail: l.equi@shineyadvice.org.uk

Website: www.shineyadvice.org.uk

Sunderland Support for Parents with Disabilities (SSPD)
SSPD is a voluntary organisation of disabled people or people with long-term health needs such as epilepsy, asthma, heart problems and many other illnesses who are parents or hope to become parents. Being a parent is never an easy job, but having extra worries about being unwell or how to cope with practical and emotional worries can affect your role as a parent. SSPD can offer support and understanding, information on existing services, parents group meetings, social outings and family activities and volunteering opportunities.

For more information contact:

SSPD, Independent Living Centre, Claymore Road, Leechmere Industrial Estate,

Sunderland, SR2 9TF

Tel: 0191 566 2158

FAITH (Focusing on Autism In The Home)
FAITH is a local support group which has been set up to support families with children with Autism and to introduce them to home-based education programmes using different approaches.

For more information contact:
Tel: 0191 511 0235

Sunderland for Autism “Autistic Spectrum Disorder – a Guide for Parents”
A booklet has been produced for parents of children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Parents will now be given this booklet at the point of diagnosis, with the aim of giving them a head start in understanding the diagnosis, and knowing what services are available to support them.

This booklet is available to download here ( 508kb)

For more information contact:

Jan O’Neill (Educational Psychologist) on (0191) 553 2240.

Cerebra (for brain injured children and young people)
Cerebra is an organisation which campaigns around issues relating to children with brain injury, and supports parents in caring for them. Cerebra estimate that one in four babies born every year in the UK has some form of neurological problem, which can manifest itself as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, learning difficulties, attention deficit, behavioural and emotional problems or developmental delay. Parent Support is Cerebra’s information, contact and support network for mums and dads, grandparents and other carers. Parent Support will try and answer all your questions, have a postal lending library, produce a regular newsletter, and organise events.

For more information contact

Cerebra, FREEPOST SWC3360, Carmarthen, SA31 1ZY
Freephone: 0800 32 81 159
Textphone: 01267 244220

Website: www.cerebra.org.uk

Face2Face

Face2Face is a one-to-one befriending service for parents who have recently learned that their child has a disability. They offer you the chance to talk to another parent who understands what you are going through and can offer emotional and practical support.

For more information contact:

Face 2 Face Network, Scope, P.O. Box 554, Worcester, WR4 0WL

Tel: 0844 800 9189

E-mail: face2facenetwork@scope.org.uk

Website: www.face2facenetwork.org.uk

Carers UK

Carers UK is the voice of carers. Carers UK is here to improve carers' lives by fighting for equality and recognition for carers. Carers UK campaigns for changes that make a real difference for carers and provides information and advice on carers' rights and how to get support.

For more information, contact:

Carers UK, 20-25 Glasshouse Yard, London,  EC1A 4JT 
Tel: 020 7490 8818
Fax: 020 7490 8824

E-mail: info@carersuk.org

Website: www.carersuk.org 

WearAble
A local charity within Sunderland offering a range of information and support services for disabled people, their families and carers.

For more information, contact:
WearAble

St Mary and St Peters Community Project

Springwell Road
Sunderland SR3 4DY

Tel: 0191 522 9913
E-mail: wearable@tiscali.co.uk

Website: www.wearable.me.uk

OTHER

Pennywell Neighbourhood Centre
This is a community based project in the heart of Pennywell and has loads of things going on for all members of the community. Facilities include courses and activities, childcare, café, youth activities, family support services, and young people’s mental health project.

For more information contact:

Pennywell Neighbourhood Centre, Portsmouth Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, SR4 9AS
Tel: 0191 5341477
Fax: 0191 5344143

Website: http://www.pennywellneighbourhoodcentre.co.uk/.

Carers Emergency Contact Scheme
This was developed in partnership between Social Services and Sunderland Carers Centre. To join the scheme a parent carer needs to register their details. Once registered parent carers get a credit card sized card to keep with them. In the event of an emergency, where the carer is prevented from returning home, the card provides a 24 hour telephone contact point and a unique reference number. Calls are received by Social Services Community Care Alarm Service who will then take appropriate action by contacting a family member, a neighbour or if necessary carrying out a home visit. Registration with the service is free of charge to all carers of vulnerable people regardless of age.

For more information contact:

Care Alarm Service, 7 Camberwell Way, Moorside Park , Sunderland, SR3 3XN

Tel: 0191 528 2485

Sunderland Carers' Centre, 12 Toward Road, Sunderland, SR1 2QF

Tel: 0191 567 3232

Fax: 0191 567 8536

24 hour Racist Incident Reporting Line (tel) 0191 567 1123:
This is a phone line staffed by the City of Sunderland Council. Do you know someone who has been the victim of a racist incident? Please help us to reduce racist crime in the City by letting us know. Remember we mean anything which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person e.g. verbal/physical abuse, damage to property, threatening behaviour, graffiti, etc.

The Sunderland Refugee & Asylum Seekers Support Network

For information, advice and support contact:

Riverview House, West Wear Street, Sunderland, SR1 1XD

Tel: 0191 565 8686

Fax: 0191 565 8008/568 0740

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