Westbank Community Health and Care, the service that delivers Devon Carers, has just launched a new service for Parent Carers who care for children or young people under 18 who have special educational needs, disabilities, long-term illness or other additional needs. No formal diagnosis is needed to join the service; it’s for any parent or guardian who feels they would benefit from support or meeting others in similar situations. 

We held our first Parent Carers Meet Up at the end of February in Exminster’s Coffee on the Corner, the volunteer-led cafe run by Westbank in the centre of the village. We met mid-morning and had exclusive use of the cafe with tea and coffee provided. This relaxed setting was a great place to connect, providing an opportunity for mutual peer support for those with a child or young person who has (or may have) Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND), long-term illness or other additional needs. If that sounds like you, or someone you know, then we hope you’ll consider coming to a future meeting or spreading the word about this new service.

We know not everyone can get to an in-person meeting, so we are also setting up online groups where people can chat, share experiences and feel understood by people who know what they’re going through.

We also have plans to hold in-person and online Parent Carers Skills Workshops. These will be centred around the thoughts, feelings and challenges of caring for a child with additional needs and, we hope, will give people useful coping techniques.

This new initiative will also include access to a quarterly e-newsletter - a great source of free information, including news, advice, workshop listings, stories from other Parent Carers, tips and much more. This will supplement the self-help resources we have put together to provide information and support on planning for the future.

However much you love your children and teens, we know that caring for those with special needs can take its toll. So, we have arranged access to discounted short breaks with Carefree for a small fee. Sometimes, getting away can provide a fresh perspective or simply reenergise you, and we want to make it as easy and affordable as possible for everyone to be able to take a break from time to time. 

Westbank has wanted to launch a service like this for some time now, and the charity is supremely grateful for the support we’ve received from the following organisations and individuals to make this happen. Thanks to The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Master Charitable Trust/Blackaton Charitable Foundation, The Williamson Charitable Trust and John Powell & Andy Green Community Fundraising.

John and Andy raised a significant sum specifically to support this service when they took on a mountain of a challenge last autumn, hiking to Everest Base Camp then onwards and upwards to Island Peak, an ascent of over 6,000m. We are hoping the intrepid duo can come along to share their experiences with Parent Carers in the near future.

If you are a Parent Carer, or know someone who is, please get in touch with us to find out more. You can email [email protected] or phone: 01392 824 752.

westbank.org.uk/devon-parent-carers

This article was first published in The Moorlander.