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🌟 Welcome from Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum 🌟
Published
Welcome to this month’s update from the Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum (GPCF). We are a friendly group of Parent Carers who have children and young people with additional needs or disabilities. We work to make sure your voices are heard by local services; help influence decisions that affect families; and offer opportunities to connect; share experiences; and access support. Whether you’re looking for information, a listening ear, or a chance to meet others who understand, we’re here for you.
Welcome!
July has been a busy month with all the end-of-school-year activities; we hope youโve been able to enjoy some of them with your children and young people. It's certainly been hot, and we know that some of our children and young people have struggled with that. Our Facebook group has some hints and tips from other parents you might find helpful.
Over the summer we tend to slow things down slightly, as we manage our own caring responsibilities. Our regular schedule of โListen to Meโ will be back in September when the schools return. We appreciate that can feel like a long way off, so this year weโve scheduled a few peer support sessions in the Gateway Children and Family Centres. You are welcome at any of these sessions, regardless of where you live, and these are suitable for younger children too.
This year weโre out and about across the county at various HAF events, and Summer Fun Days hosted at Children and Family Centres. Do pop by and say hello if you see us, we love to catch up. Weโ were in Beechenhurst last week and at the end of the month, will be in Pittville Park for another of our regular summer stay and play/picnic sessions on Thursday, 27 August.
These are lovely, chilled events that offer a safe place to catch up with friends. Weโll have the gazebo and some outdoor games with us for shade and gentle activity.
We hope the summer is kind to you all, and that you are able to enjoy some downtime. We look forward to seeing you, if not over the next few weeks, when things return to a more regular routine in September.
๐ Where you can find the GPCF team in August
๐ Peer Support events in August
We host several Peer support coffee mornings around the county. They are informal drop-in sessions where Parent Carers can chat with us in a relaxed setting over a coffee. Itโs your chance to share your experiences, raise concerns, and meet other Parent Carers in a relaxed environment. Younger children are welcome at these sessions.
๐ Monday, 10 August
Gateway Peer Support Group
River Children and Family Centre, Naas Lane, Lydney, GL15 5AU
๐ Drop in 1.00pm โ 2.30pm
๐ Tuesday, 11 August
Gateway Peer Support Coffee Morning
The Beacon Children's Centre, Valley Gardens, Gloucester, GL2 2AR
๐ Drop in 9.30am โ 11.00am
๐ Tuesday, 18 August
Gateway Peer Support Coffee Morning
The Lighthouse Children and Family Centre, Linden Road, Gloucester, GL1 5HE
๐ Drop in 9.30am โ 11.00am
๐ Wednesday, 19 August
Gateway Peer Support Coffee Morning
Hilltop Children and Family Centre, Latimer Road, Cinderford, GL14 2QA
๐ Drop in 10.00am โ 11.30am
๐ค Other GPCF Events in August
Weโll also be hosting and attending a range of friendly, supportive sessions across the county including Stay and Plays, suitable for children with additional needs and their siblings.
๐ Thursday, 27 August
Stay and Play for young people with additional needs and their siblings (0-25yrs)
Pittville Park, Prestbury, Cheltenham GL50 4SH
๐ Drop in 10.00am โ 2.00pm
For additional sessions, please check out our website or Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/Gloucestershireparentcarers/
๐ Weโd love to see you!
Whether you pop along for a quick chat or stay for the whole session, youโll always receive a warm welcome. Joining the forum is completely free, and as a member, youโll get our monthly newsletter. Plus, if you come along to one of our peer support sessions, your first cuppa is on us! You can sign up here: https://www.glospcf.org.uk/become-a-member ๐