Reaching Families, a parent-carer led charity
Service
Reaching Families is a parent-carer led charity established to "empower, inform and support parents and families of children/young people with special needs and disabilities in West Sussex." We achieve this by the delivery of information, training and support groups to parent-carers.
What we do:
- Making Sense Of It All - this comprehensive parent-carer guide provides vital information across a wide variety of subjects including diagnosis, benefits, education, social and leisure activities etc. Also contains a directory of local and national groups
- Factsheets - we have published two series of factsheets (i) localised factsheets on major childhood disabilities that combine clinical information with local information on relevant local services (ii) a variety of localised factsheets on other issues
- Training Roadshow - we deliver a series of workshops at venues and locations across West Sussex and via zoom. Subjects covered include Understanding Challenging Behaviour, DLA/PIP, Education, Sensory Issues and Stress/ Resilience.
- Umbrellas - we run 3 support groups for parents or carers of a child or young person with additional needs or a disability in Billingshurst, Littlehampton and Worthing. We also run weekly zoom Umbrellas meetings.
- Befriending - provides emotional and practical support to parent-carers of children during the period of their child’s diagnosis. Our team of trained befrienders can help parents learn more about their child’s diagnosis and prepare for the journey ahead.
Our users say:
"Reaching Families offers a unique product in West Sussex. It is comforting to know that the organisation is parent carer led but offers practical tools to assist us in our day to day lives"
Age Range: 0–25
Wheelchair Accessible?
Free to use?
Contact Details
01903 366 360
07470 005 734 Email this service
Upcoming Events
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Umbrellas Online
We are running virtual groups weekly as well as in-person events monthly at Billingshurst, Littlehampton and Worthing, contact [email protected]
Umbrellas is a support group for parent carers of children and young people with special additional needs and disabilities.
What we do:
Umbrellas is a great opportunity to meet other parent carers and share ideas.
Talk freely and get inform...
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Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity...
This online workshop will help parents and carers to gain an understanding of ADHD in children and young people and its impact on behaviour, relationships and day-to-day life.
You will leave with a basic toolkit of strategies that enable positive behaviour, successful relationships and reaching potential in and out of school and will be signposted to local, national and international resources ava...
Worthing
Umbrellas Worthing
Umbrellas is a support group for parent carers of children and young people with special additional needs and disabilities.
Children are welcome to attend with their parent/carer, but please note that child care is not provided.
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Making Sense of Wellbeing - Mindfulness: Mood...
Session 12 Mindfulness Workshop - Mood changing exercises
This twelve week course for parent-carers offers you the opportunity to explore some of the essential elements of wellbeing. Our personal and social wellbeing helps us to develop good relationships, feel connected to others and improves our resilience, empathy, and adaptability.
The course includes a blend of wellbeing and mindfulness work...
Billingshurst
Umbrellas Billingshurst
Umbrellas is a support group for parent carers of children and young people with special additional needs and disabilities.
Children are welcome to attend with their parent/carer, but please note that child care is not provided.
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I attended the Reaching Families workshop on Sensory Integration in Worthing led by Helen Cottell yesterday. This was time well spent as it was an excellent workshop full of really interesting, useful and relevant information, that covered practical advice as well as the theory behind it. Highly recommend, especially if you have a child with sensory issues.
Great course today about send support at school. Feel I have many more strings to my bow
A very big thank you to Reaching Families for organising the 'Making Sense of Benefits' workshop. Lizzie from Amaze who led the course was absolutely brilliant. Even if your child already gets DLA this workshop is still very useful. I now feel much more confident about tackling my daughters forms when it has to be renewed. Can't recommend it enough!