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 5 meetings. The support will include drawing out a support plan, identifying the key outcomes, sharing of information to empower the parent carers, identifying and help accessing other services if not already involved and any other support as required.
Face2Face also 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.
Wednesday 18 September | 10:30-12:30
Wednesday 2 October | 10:30-12:30
Wednesday 16 October | 10:30-12:30
Wednesday 23 October | 10:30-12:30
Venue: YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
Information Sessions
Information session with Laura Kerbey on PDA and Barriers to Education
Wednesday 25 September | 10:30-12:30
YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
Laura Kerbey, is the founder of PAST and co-founder of KITE, Author & public speaker providing training and support on Neurodiversity Home. This session will cover an introduction to PDA, understanding anxiety and autonomy, effective support for individuals with PDA and understanding the barrier to education that are associated with PDA with time for dedicated Q& As.
Cost: £10. This event will be a ticketed event for a small charge to allow us to fund future information sessions with specialist speakers. Please email sandhya.gulati@ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk to register and payments for the session can be made over the phone.
Information session with SEND Advice Surrey
Wednesday 9 October | 10:30-12:30
YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
SEND Advice Surrey is Surrey’s statutory Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities Information, Advice and Support service for children and young people aged 0-25 years with additional needs and/or disability, their parents/carers and professionals. The service provided is impartial, confidential, free of charge and at arm’s length to the Local Authority. This session will offer an opportunity to discuss the support on offer and to review individual cases/queries too.
Please email sandhya.gulati@ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk to register to attend this free event.
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.
Funded by
