YMCA East Surrey
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Face2Face parent support

Caring for a child with disabilities is emotionally challenging and can be extremely isolating. Parent carers often find themselves struggling through a maze of information and services. Support for parent carers is essential to help them navigate complex systems, access necessary services, develop advocacy skills, and reduce social isolation.

Our Face2Face service provides free support and advice to parent carers by offering one-to-one support focussing on achieving identified outcomes and ensuring parent carers feel empowered to make informed decisions about all aspects of their child’s life.

Parent carers can self-refer to access this service or a professional working with the family can make the referral on their behalf. This service will provide support for a period of 8-10 weeks, offering up to five meetings. The support will include drawing out a support plan, identifying the key outcomes, sharing of information to empower the parent carers, identifying and helping them access other services if not already involved and any other support as required.

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Face2Face hosts regular coffee mornings, which offer informal opportunities for parent carers to meet each other, exchange information and talk to others who understand their situation. We also offer a regular programme of sessions delivered by professionals, covering topics relevant to parent carers offering vital information and practical advice. These sessions are held in-person or online offering a flexible option to suit different needs.

Drop-in Coffee Mornings

An informal, free get-together and an opportunity for parents/carers to meet each other, exchange information and talk to others who understand. No need to book, just turn up.

Wednesdays | 10:30-12:30
15 April, 29 April, 6 May, 13 May & 20 May

Venue: YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA

Workshops

Nourishing Neurodivergent Children: Practical Nutrition Strategies for Calm, Focus and Wellbeing,
Wednesday 22 April 2026 | 10.30am to 12.30pm | YMCA Sovereign Centre, Reigate RH2 8HA
Sandrine Olmi is a Registered Nutritional Therapist and Certified Mind, Body, Eating Coach who specialises in supporting families of neurodivergent children. As both a practitioner and a mum of a neurodivergent child, she understands the daily challenges of food refusal, meltdowns, anxiety, and exhaustion.
In this session, she will share evidence-informed guidance on how nutrition can support children’s mood, focus, sleep, digestion, and emotional regulation. Parents will learn simple ways to improve meals and eating habits—even for sensory eaters—along with practical steps to support gut health. The session will also cover how parents can nourish themselves to maintain energy, resilience, and patience.

Please contact sandhya.gulati@ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk to register and additional details will be shared ahead of the session.

Find out more

At Face2Face, we are committed to providing comprehensive support that helps parent carers feel connected, informed, and empowered, improving quality of life for both children and their families.

To find out more or to attend one of our sessions, please contact Sandhya Gulati, Face2Face Coordinator.

T 01737 222859
E Sandhya.Gulati@ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk

Funded by