An information and advice booklet for neurodivergent people and their families living in Coventry and Warwickshire is available to download. Neurodivergent is a term that describes people whose brains develop or work differently. Someone who is neurodivergent may have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don’t have those differences.

Co-produced by professionals, neurodivergent people and their families, the new booklet provides useful information about the local services and support available for those who are diagnosed or who self-identify as neurodivergent and those who care and support them.

The Parenting Project are recruiting volunteers who wish to be trained as Parent Mentors

Parent Mentors meet with families to provide friendly, informal support, encouragement, and guidance.

Full training will be provided. Potential Parent Trainers must be able to drive and have a satisfactory DBS certificate, which Parenting Project can help to process if you do not have one.

If you think you have the skills and time to support a family and would like to be considered for a Parent Mentor role, the Parenting Project would love to hear from you. Contact the team by emailing parentmentors@parentingproject.org.uk or calling 07958 487544.

Solihull Approach courses

There are ten free courses available (using the access code BEAR) to Warwickshire parents, carers and young people, designed to make life a little easier. From mental health, relationships, through to understanding your child’s feelings, there is a course for everyone!

The courses have been developed by NHS experts and parents through an evidence-based model known as the Solihull Approach.

Start the new year by increasing your confidence as a parent or carer by signing up to a course today!

Still time to have your say on SEND support for schools!

Parents, carers, children, young people and professionals are being asking to share their views on proposed changes to the special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and Inclusion service offer in Warwickshire.

Feedback from the consultation will be used to help improve the range of services provided by the council to ensure that education settings have the right resources and skills to meet the needs of their learners and that all children and young people with special educational needs feel fully supported. 

All feedback is welcomed as part of the consultation which closes on 26 February 2023.

Last week’s online broadcast event is available to watch here if you missed it and would like to find out more about the proposals and how to have your say.

There are several drop-in events still to take place in January so please do come along and speak to one of the team if you have any questions or would like any further information. You can find details of these events, the full proposals and online survey at ask.warwickshire.gov.uk. Here you can also access an easy read version of the survey plus questions and answers.

FREE workshop series dedicated to supporting family members and carers of autistic adults and children

Act for Autism, in collaboration with Coventry and Warwickshire Mind, are offering a series of Warwickshire County Council commissioned workshops as part of the Community Autism Support Service. Act for Autism is a social enterprise providing unique insights into autism through specialist workshops and coaching.

Money Awareness Workshops

Coventry and Warwickshire CDA are running money awareness workshops across Warwickshire that will cover saving energy and the planet, shopping for less and balancing your budget.

They are all FREE to anyone in Warwickshire who has the right to reside in the UK, is 19 or over and has less than level 2 in maths. The workshops are informal and friendly and will be delivered across the county in Rugby, Leamington, Nuneaton, Atherstone, Bedworth and Stratford.

For more information on dates and locations, please call 02476633911 or email info@cwcda.co.uk

Every Penny Counts: ‘Taking Charge’ when costs are rising

The cost of living and the cost of energy bills are rising. Community Integrated Care know that for lots of people this is a very worrying time.

Join the online webinar to hear about the Taking Charge campaign by Community Integrated Care, who will be sharing their ideas for how we can all save money on our energy bills this winter. They will be sharing their hints and tips as well as free resources for people to use.

Hear about proposals for SEND Home to School Transport in Warwickshire 

As part of a wider programme to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Warwickshire, Warwickshire County Council has been considering ways it could improve how families access SEND home to school transport.

Now is the chance to have your say on the proposed changes and share your views to help improve the service for all families in Warwickshire. All feedback is welcomed as part of the consultation, although we are particularly keen to hear the views of children and young people and families who have accessed support through the SEND home to school transport service.

Join the online broadcast this Friday 20 January, 11am – 12pm, to find out more about the proposals. To submit a question in advance of the broadcast, please complete this short form.

Details of drop-in events also taking place in January, the joining link for the broadcast and the online survey are available at ask.warwickshire.gov.uk. Here you can also access an Easy Read version of the survey and questions and answers. The consultation closes on 26 February 2023.