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Cards allowing discounts and access for families with SEND
Published
There are several opportunities that make caring for a child or young person with SEND, especially during the holiday period, a little easier. If you are planning activities for your family this summer – consider the Carer Aware Discount Card, the Access Card, the JAM card, the Carers Card UK, the Max Card and the CEA card – read on to learn more. With thanks to Mollie and the SEND parent carers at Springbank CiC for their advice along with members of the Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum.
Carer Aware Discount Card from Gloucestershire Carers Hub
Gloucestershire Carers Hub is working hard to establish links with local businesses in the community to offer valuable discounts for you as a Carer.
Get discounts around the county
The Carer Aware Discount Card allows parent carers to access discounts as well as being a discrete way for Carers to identify themselves to registered discount providers or to access other concessions.
Businesses and employers who are ‘Carer Aware’ can recognise Carers, support them within their organisations and signpost them to Gloucestershire Carers Hub.
If you would like a Carer Aware Discount Card you must be a registered Carer with Gloucestershire Carers Hub. If you are not already registered please visit the Gloucestershire Carers Hub record on the Local Offer.
If you have a Carer Aware Discount Card you can access a number of discounts around the county. View the list of current discount providers part of the Carer Aware Discount Card scheme.
The Access Card is designed to streamline the process of communicating access needs.
Unlock access requirements
The physical card acts as a photo ID that can be used to easily communicate access requirements to events and venues – like difficulties standing and queuing, needing level access, having urgent toilet needs, limited moving short distances, requiring an essential companion, difficulties accessing visual or audible information and miscellaneous (for supporting other needs).
It also works online with other platforms like ticketing systems, to unlock the access facilities your family may need.
The Access Card app provides you with a personalised directory of venues, with first-class accessibility information to help you plan your trips.
It costs £15 for 3 years – for more information, please visit the Access Card on the SEND Local Offer
"It makes quality family time possible again. My daughter can now have the same experiences as the rest of the family. The worry/anxiety she would go through with queues and crowds are much more manageable with the Access Card.” Lauren, parent carer
The Max Card is the UK’s leading discount card for families of children with additional needs. Families can use their Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission.
Carers Card UK – Carers ID Card
The national carers card provides ID and reassurance with emergency contact details. Available to all unpaid and paid carers. Families can access exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources, free giveaways, a supportive community, and more — through the Carers Card UK app. Save money, feel supported, and stay connected.
JAM (Just a Minute) Card
The JAM Card and JAM App is the FREE, easy and discreet way to let others know that you need ‘Just A Minute’ of patience and support. JAM Card is a simple yet effective tool for people with invisible disabilities to overcome communication barriers.
Show your JAM Card when your child or young person need a little extra time or help to reduce stress in social situations such as public transport, shopping, hospitals, or in the workplace.
CEA (Cinema Exhibitors' Association) card
The UK Cinema Association (UKCA) and its members want to make visiting the cinema an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all. They fully appreciate that some disabled people face barriers at the cinema as a result of the effect of their disability. They are working hard to identify and remove these barriers.
Some disabled people need to be accompanied by someone else to enjoy the cinema experience. To make being accompanied as easy as possible the UKCA operates the CEA Card scheme.
Carer – free of charge
The scheme allows a Cardholder to be accompanied by someone, free of charge, when they purchase a ticket to visit a participating cinema with that person.
The CEA Card scheme is intended to benefit everyone who might face barriers that require someone’s assistance when visiting the cinema, such as barriers that result from sight or hearing loss, having limited mobility or being neurodivergent. These are just examples – disability and its effects are very wide-ranging. The focus of the CEA Card Scheme is on removing, or at least minimising, some of the adverse effect of disabilities by providing for someone to accompany a disabled person.
Whilst the CEA Card is one of the ways cinemas can provide support to disabled people who face barriers when visiting the cinema, it is not mandatory, and cinemas still need to provide reasonable adjustments to address any effects of disability that create barriers for disabled people – whether or not they have a Card.
The CEA Card Scheme has straightforward eligibility criteria and there are three ways to apply. Further guidance on the scheme is readily available if you contact the UKCA. Their aim is to make the Card application process as straightforward and inclusive as possible.
For more information on the CEA card and accessible screenings in Gloucestershire, please visit the CEA (Cinema Exhibitors' Association) card page on the SEND Local Offer
This card is great for people who need to use the toilet in cafes, shops and pubs to discretely explain to staff without having to tell them in front of a place full of customers.
It is available as a physical card or also as a downloadable App (iPhones only so far).
The Just Can’t Wait card is now completely free of charge when ordered online. Fill out a few details and they will post your Just Can’t Wait card to your home.
If you have any suggestions for other cards allowing discounts and access for families with SEND that you would like to share with the SEND community in Gloucestershire, please contact us via email familiesinpartnership@gloucestershire.gov.uk and we will share recommendations in future newsletters. We really value co-production. Thank you.