Local Support for Parents
ADD-vance
ADD-vance is a Herts based charity, run by a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers who are also parents of children affected by ADHD and/or Autism. Their mission is to support the families of children affected by these conditions and the professionals involved in their care. ADD-vance offers a range of services for parents, carers and professionals - online support groups, a range of training courses and workshops and specialist coaching.
Angels
Angels provides Autism and ADHD support for parents/carers of children with ADHD and/or on the Autistic spectrum. Formed and led by parents whose children face similar challenges, this Hertfordshire-based charity provides individualised, professional advice and expertise. They provide online and face to face support groups, a 1:1 support service and workshops on a range of topics.
Carers in Herts
This service gives support and information to unpaid family and friends who look after someone. They provide the space to discuss practical and emotional concerns around caring and opportunities to share experiences with others. Information can be provided about the choices that may need to be made about daily life and the caring role. A range of free workshops and training related to caring are offered, but also courses and learning events to help with life outside caring through the Carers and Learning project. They can also help access funded breaks.
Hertfordshire's Local Offer
The Local Offer lets parents, professionals and young people know what SEND services are available in Hertfordshire and who can access them.
Herts Parent Carer Involvement (HPCI)
HPCI is an independent parent carer led organisation which aims to improve services for children and young people aged 0-25 years who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They do this by ensuring that family voices are heard by service planners and decision makers
NESSie
NESSie runs workshops, supporting parents and carers of children and young people with emotional and mental health needs. Topics covered include anxiety, self harm, EBSA and gender questioning.
Nessie is funded by Hertfordshire County Council to support parents/carers of children and young people with emotional and mental health issues. The aim of this provision is to help parents/carers to develop a positive and more confident approach to supporting their young person, whilst offering a chance to gain peer support, useful strategies and practical tools.
For details of how to access support and training, please visit the NESSie website
OLLIE Foundation
OLLIE is a charity dedicated to delivering suicide awareness, intervention and prevention training by empowering professionals and young adults in their own communities to lead suicide prevention activities. It is widely accepted in society that with appropriate support and education, suicide can be prevented.
They do this by:
- Providing confidential help and advice to young people and anyone worried about a young person
- Helping others to prevent young suicide by delivering a number of training programmes
- Campaigning and influencing National policy
Potential Kids
This award winning charity based in Welwyn/Hatfield provides learning, social and sports opportunities to Neurodiverse children and young people and their siblings. They offer a wide range of activity sessions and groups for varying age ranges.
SENDIASS
Hertfordshire SENDIASS is an impartial SEND Information, Advice and Support Service. It provides free, confidential and impartial information, advice and support to CYP with SEND and their parents on any issues relating to special needs. Unbiased information and advice about what the law says, the local authority’s policies and procedures and about the policy and practice in local schools and other settings is provided. Training for SENDIASS reps is provided by IPSEA.
Contact SENDIASS on 01992 555847 or email info@hertssendiass.org.uk
SPACE Hertfordshire
SPACE is a Hertfordshire based charity supporting families with children who are neurodivergent (Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, Tourette's and other neurodiverse conditions). Their aim is to help families navigate local services, build confidence, share knowledge and enjoy social opportunities and activities where parents and young people can 'be themselves'. SPACE provides support groups, workshops, training and conferences, social events and activities, a facebook group and family support.
Lending SPACE
Lending SPACE is an equipment lending library for families living in Hertfordshire with children and young people with SEND. Investing in specialist sensory, practical and educational equipment and resources can be expensive. At Lending SPACE, everything is free for families to borrow. It is an ideal way to try equipment to see if it works for the child's needs.
The library is based in Standstead Abbotts near Ware, and open from 9:30-12:30 Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings: Unit 19, The Maltings Business Centre, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware, SG12 8HG.
Up on Downs
Up on Downs is a parent run organisation which supports families of children with Down’s Syndrome. They support other parents by sharing information and creating opportunities for families to socialise and learn together. Parents and practitioners from all over Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas are welcomed. Examples of the support offered are one to one support for new parents, family meetings with children’s activities, outings to farms, theme parks and places of interest, and workshops and education days. There is also an early development group and specialised speech therapy classes and regular newsletters and events listings.