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Peer support for parents
Published
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum will be hosting more 'Listen to Me' coffee meet ups in June and July for parent carers in Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum is a group for those with lived experience of being a parent carer (so, being a parent and/or a carer of child or young person with any disability, SEN, condition, impairment or additional need).
Here a parent carer tells of her positive experience at 'Listen to Me' focussed session on form filling
Parent carer meet-ups across the county, some with themed support: Form-filling
Join other parent carers in our friendly Facebook support group, on free training courses and for opportunities to share your experiences to influence decision makers. Our coffee morning βListen to Meβ meet-ups take place around the county and your first cuppa is free!
One mother recalls how going along to a focused Listen to Me event around form-filling, has resulted in success in receiving benefits for her disabled daughter.
"I attended a six-week course for parent carers and Tamsin from the Parent Carer Forum came to talk to the group. That was November 2023 and from January 2024, I started to go to a Listen to Me coffee morning whenever time allowed that month.
The meet-ups are great and a chance to swap stories with other parent carers and hear tips and ideas from the volunteer staff. Staff told me of a form-filling drop-in they were running in November. I had been advised to apply for DLA and took along the 45-page form to the five-hour drop-in session. There were others there with renewal forms, carersβ allowance applications and staff came to sit with each of us to give tailored help with wording and expectations. Many came with digital forms and were able to use the wifi at the venue to complete forms online
I would not have been able to complete the form without the help of the Forum. In April, my family received high-rate DLA and it has transformed our lives."
The friendly and welcoming sessions also aim to reduce the isolation that many families experience when caring for a young person with SEND. Join us and other parent carers at one of our scheduled events:
'Listen to Me' dates for June:
Look out for focused sessions in June:
π Friday, 6th June - Brockworth (replacing The Chamwell)
πToby Carvery, Brockworth, Shurdington Rd, Brockworth, Gloucester GL3 4PH
β± 9.30am -11.00am
π Monday, 16th June - Quedgeley
π Gloucester Garden Centre, Bath Road, Gloucester GL10 3DP
β± 9:30am - 1:00pm
π Tuesday, 17th June - Traumatised Child / Adoptors
π GL3 Community Hub, Cheltenham Rd East, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 1HX
β± 9.30am -11.00am
π Friday, 20th June - Cirencester
π Dobbies Garden Centre, Cirencester, GL7 6EU
β± 10:00am - 11:30am
π Friday, 27th June - Cheltenham
πRedgrove Harvester Hatherley Ln, Cheltenham, GL51 6TA
β± 9:30am - 11:00am
π Monday, 30th June - Child to Parent Violence
π GL3 Community Hub, Cheltenham Rd East, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 1HX
β± 9.30am -11.00am
July dates to follow shortly β always check the SEND Local Offer