Support Organisations
You may find the following Local and National Organisations and Voluntary Groups helpful. If you would like us to add your organisation or group, please get in touch.
2gether NHS Foundation Trust
Let’s Talk is a free service from the NHS offering short-term talking therapies to people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety. They also run a range of courses that you can book on yourself by visiting their website.
Telephone: 0800 073 2200
Active Gloucestershire
Their vision is to make Gloucestershire a physically active and thriving sporting county. Simply, we want more people to be more active and more often.
Telephone: 01242 243362
Active Impact
They work in partnership with other organisations and with families to provide opportunities for disabled children and young people alongside their non-disabled peers.
Telephone: 01453 298337
Allsorts
Based in the Stroud Valleys and covering the whole of Gloucestershire, Allsorts welcomes families with a child or young person with additional needs or disabilities, with or without a diagnosis. Activities, events, outings and support for disabled children, non-disabled siblings, whole families and parents and carers.
Telephone: 07794 009663
Bournstream
A unique outdoor adventure playsite on the Cotswold edge. It has picnic areas with tables and benches, toilet house, with changing platform. The playsite also has an extensive pathway for bikes, play vehicles and wheelchairs. It has giant sandpits, a play house, swings, roundabout, slides and a football pitch.
Telephone: 01531 820693
Building Circles
Building Circles works to transform lives of people with learning disabilities, encouraging friendships and providing a social platform so that those who are isolated or lonely benefit as much as everyone else. We believe everybody deserves the opportunity to have and make friends.
Telephone: 01453 568155
Charlotte’s Tandems
A charity with a number of tandems available for disabled or less able people and those with special or additional needs to borrow for free. They welcome applications from all ages.
Cheltenham and District Carers and Families (CADCAF)
Set up in 1990, CADCAF are a family support group for families and carers who care for children with special needs. They provide mutual support, information exchange and holiday activities. Support is given to the whole family – they are all special.
Telephone: 01242 222117 or 07944 2804612
Email: psw@cadcaf.com
Connect & Offload (CandO)
Our helpline is here to support adults living in Gloucestershire who are experiencing mild to moderate wellbeing difficulties, such as anxiety, low mood, or depression, including support for self-harm. We can also provide support and information to friends, family, carers, and professionals. The service is open access and there is no need for a referral.
Telephone: 0808 801 0606
Text: 07537 410 022
Webchat: https://gloucestershirecando.org
365 days per year between 2 pm and 9 pm
Disability Grants
This website can hep you and save you time in finding disability grants. A grant is a financial donation or contribution which unlike loans they do not have to be repaid. Many UK charities or trusts provide grants for the disabled, each with their own criteria for providing funds.
Door Youth Project
For young people aged 11-25 yrs, this project provides trained mentors and family support workers to work with young people on a 1:1 basis to explore worrying issues. It also offers ‘Hope Training’ for 15-25 yr olds in vocational subjects (i.e music, media, art and retail).
Telephone: 01453 756745
Embrace Youth Club (Cheltenham Disability Youth Group)
This Social club meet on Monday evenings (6.30 pm – 9.00 pm) at Whaddon Youth Centre, Dart Road, Cheltenham, GL52 5QX. The group is for 13-25 year olds.
Telephone: 01242 242825
Family Information Service (FIS)
FIS advisers give impartial information on childcare, finances, parenting and education. We support families, children and young people aged 0- 19 years of age (25 for young people with additional needs) and professionals working with these families.
Telephone: 0800 542 0202 or 01452 427362
Five Valleys Homeopathy
They aim to make homeopathy accessible to those who would not ordinarily try this form of treatment. It is open to anyone who wishes to try homeopathy for specific chronic health difficulties.
Telephone: 07779 636380
GlosAssistants
Glos Assistants is a place where you can find help, care and support for you or your child. You can advertise for an assistant, look through profiles of people looking for work as an assistant and contact people to discuss what you’re looking for.
Email: glosassistants@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Glosfamilies Directory
Online guide to services, organisations and activities for children, young people and their families. It is also aimed at people who provide information, advice and support for families.
Gloucestershire Branch – National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society is the leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger syndrome) and their families. We provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better world for people with autism.
Email: gloucestershire@nas.org.uk
Gloucestershire Carers’ Hub
The Gloucestershire Carers’ Hub exists to improve the life of carers in Gloucestershire through tailored advice, training and information.
The Carers Hub aims to support Carers across the region to access a one stop shop for advice and support. We endeavour to be the listening ear and the supportive hand for Carers seeking guidance.
Telephone: 0300 111 9000
email: carers@peopleplus.co.uk
Gloucestershire Deaf Association
Gloucestershire Deaf Association (GDA) is a user-led organisation and managed by a Council of Management whose members must be either deaf, hard of hearing, or have a recognised interest in hearing matters.
Telephone: 01452 372999
Fax: 01452 372288
Mobile / Text: 07875 610860
Minicom: 01452 372600
Gloucestershire Deaf Youth Zone (GDYZ)
Welcomes young people 9-21 years of age who are D/deaf, deaf-blind, or with any level of hearing loss. Hearing siblings are also welcome. The fortnightly Friday evening sessions offer a range of activities, but above all an opportunity to have fun and mix with other hearing impaired young people, using a mix of English and BSL, whichever is preferred. GDYZ also offers school holiday outings and once a year a three-day residential.
Telephone: 01452 372999
Email: gilson.sly@gda.org.uk
Gloucestershire Dyslexia Association
They work to increase awareness and understanding of dyslexia and to provide information, education and support to dyslexic people and parents and teachers of dyslexic children in Gloucestershire.
Telephone: 07963 932966
Gloucestershire Young Carers
Gloucestershire Young Carers aim to create a network of support for Young Carers across the county. We work with young carers to ensure that service providers understand their needs and respond appropriately. Fifteen young carers groups currently operate across the county.
Telephone: 01452 733060
Gloucestershire Wheels for All
They deliver inclusive cycling sessions every week at Blackbridge Jubilee Athletics Track, Podsmead Road Gloucester and at Pedalabikeaway in the Forest of Dean. They have several inclusive bikes to suit all ages from 5 upwards and all abilities. The cost is £5 per participant per session.
Email: maryclare@inclusivecyclingglos.co.uk
Text 07393 867572 to book a session
Hop, Skip and Jump (Seven Springs, Cheltenham)
Hop Skip and Jump is a ‘not for profit’ charity that provides immediate and flexible, day and evening respite care, 7 days a week, to children and adults with life limiting illness, disabilities and special needs, no matter how complex.
Telephone: 01242 870438
Email: supervisor.cotswold@hopskipandjump.org.uk
Inclusion Gloucestershire
Inclusion Gloucestershire works with disabled people to build on their strengths. Their focus is championing people of all ages, whatever their disability, including people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairment and mental ill health.
Telephone: 01452 623120
Email: info@inclusion-glos.org
Pedalabikeaway (Forest of Dean)
We have a big range of bikes for those with specific requirements. Whether you are after a trike, wheelchair bike, hand-cranked wheelchair, electric bike or tandem we have something for you.
Telephone: 01594 860065
PATA
PATA is the largest voluntary sector provider of support to early years childcare and education in Gloucestershire. PATA’s mission is to support the development of high quality, accessible childcare, play and learning provision for children, young people and families.
Telephone: 01452 541244
Email: info@pataglos.org.uk
Riding for the Disabled Association
Cotswold Riding for the Disabled is a member of the Riding for the Disabled Association national charity, providing riding lessons for disabled children and adults. All our riders are physically disabled or have learning difficulties or special needs, so having a facility such as ours available to them makes a huge impact on their confidence as well as developing / supporting therapy and achievement.
Telephone: 01242 584420
Email: info@cotswoldrda.org.uk
SCOPE
We can point you in the right direction, whether it’s through our helpline, website or training. We offer free, impartial advice on a wide range of disability issues and can always put you in touch with someone who can support or help. Our expertise in cerebral palsy means we can support parents of a newly diagnosed child.
Telephone: 0808 800 3333
Special Needs Jungle
Parent-led information, resources & informed opinion about Children & Young People with SEN, Special Needs, Disability, Health Conditions and Rare Diseases.
The Key
The Key is an information service for families in Gloucestershire who have a child or young person with medical or educational needs aged 0 – 25. The Key is a free and confidential service and registration is voluntary.
Telephone: 01452 427362
The Spring Centre
The Spring Centre provides care and support to children, young people and their families with a range of disabilities and additional needs from across Gloucestershire. The Spring Centre provides day activities and clubs for children and young people aged 0 – 35 years. We support the family unit through inclusive activities, enabling younger children to attend with their siblings and parents to meet other families, as well as short break activities for older children and a day club for over 18’s.
Telephone: 01452 725935
Email: info@springcentre.org
Total Communication
Gloucestershire Total Communication actively promotes all methods of communication. Our aim is to ensure a ‘common language’ is adopted for all people to help make a consistent and positive difference to everybody’s lives. Information, networking and the development of shared resources for a common language are vital.
Email: gtc@battledown.gloucs.sch.uk
TIC+ (Teens in Crisis)
Teens in Crisis provides face-to-face and online counselling services across Gloucestershire for young people aged 9-21 and their families.
Telephone: 01594 372777
Text: 07520 634063
General enquiries email: admin@ticplus.org.uk
Youth@Heart
Supporting young people aged 15- 24 years in Gloucestershire and the South West who are living with congenital heart disease. Youth workers to offer support, guidance and advice as well as social events and an online community network.
Telephone: 01452 690830
Afsaic
Afasic supports parents and represents children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
Telephone: 0300 666 9410
Ataxia UK
Ataxia UK aims to support everyone affected by ataxia; people with the condition, their families, carers and friends.
Email: helpline@ataxia.org.uk
Telephone: 0845 644 0606
Brain & Spine Foundation
The Brain and Spine Foundation is a registered charity committed to providing reliable information and support to people living with neurological conditions across the UK.
Email: helpline@brainandspine.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 808 1000
British Deaf Association
The British Deaf Association has always been recognised as the only national Deaf people’s organisation. We concentrate on two main areas of work: empowerment and campaigning. The BDA has continued to campaign for Deaf people’s rights and for the widespread acceptance of British Sign Language (BSL).
Telephone: 0207 697 4140
British Dyslexia Association
The vision of the British Dyslexia Association is a dyslexia friendly society enabling all dyslexic people to reach their potential. The BDA promotes early identification of specific learning difficulties (SpLD) and support in schools to ensure opportunity to learn for dyslexic learners.
Telephone: 0333 405 456
Cerebra
Cerebra is a unique charity set up to help improve the lives of children with brain related conditions through research, education and directly supporting the children and their carers.
Telephone: 01267 244200
Email: info@cerebra.org.uk
Cerebral Palsy UK
Cerebral Palsy UK provides support by offering impartial information on a broad range of subjects that people affected by Cerebral Palsy should find useful.
Email: info@cerebralpalsy.org.uk
Challenging Behaviour Foundation(CBF)
The CBF is a charity specialising in severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging.
Telephone: 0300 666 0126
Email: support@thecbf.org.uk
Child Law Advice
Child Law Advice is operated by Coram Children’s Legal Centre. We provide specialist advice and information on child, family and education law.
Family Law Telephone: 0300 330 5480.
Education Law Telephone: 0300 330 5485
Counselling Directory
The Counselling Directory is a searchable directory of qualified/registered counsellors and psychotherapists. Counselling Directory only lists counsellors and psychotherapists who are members of a recognised professional body or those who have sent us copies of their qualifications and insurance cover.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who is under 16 and has difficulties walking or needs more looking after than a child of the same age who doesn’t have a disability. They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.
Disabled Children’s Partnership
The Disabled Children’s Partnership is a major coalition of more than 60 organisations campaigning for improved health and social care for disabled children, young people and their families.
We are a charity offering support and information relating to heart conditions associated with Down’s Syndrome.
We can offer you advice, support and information but we are not a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. We will try to support you and your family before, during and after heart surgery. We can also offer you support if your child has not had surgery for any reason, and to families who are bereaved.
Email: info@dhg.org.uk
Down’s Syndrome Association
Provides information about all aspects of living with Down’s syndrome including specialist advisers on benefits, education and health; advise new parents or anyone experiencing difficulties; promote and facilitate information exchange between members through various groups; advise on employment for people with Down’s syndrome.
Telephone: 0333 1212 300
Email: info@downs-syndrome.org.uk
Dyslexia Action
Dyslexia Action is a national charity that takes action to change the lives of people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties. We want a world where barriers to learning, employment and fulfilment have been removed for people with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties.
Telephone: 01784 222304
Dyspraxia Foundation
A UK charity which exists to help people to understand and cope with dyspraxia. We are delighted to have our Helpline up and running again, offering help and advice to adults, parents, carers and families on and about Dyspraxia.
Telephone: 01462 454986
Epilepsy Society
Their vision is a full life for everyone affected by epilepsy. They want everyone affected by epilepsy to have the best opportunity for a full life – as free from seizures as possible. They set out to make a difference to every person affected by epilepsy whatever their background, however seriously it affects them, and whether they have the condition themselves or are close to someone with epilepsy.
Telephone: 01494 601 400
Everyone Can (formerly The Aidis Trust)
They specialise in technology that can improve and enrich the lives of disabled people.
“We carefully research both existing and developing digital technologies in order to deliver services that can increase the level of independence for disabled people.”
Telephone: 0808 800 0009
Family Fund
We are the UK’s largest grant-giving organisation helping low-income families caring for children and young people with disabilities or serious illnesses.
Telephone: 01904 550055
Email: info@familyfund.org.uk
Family Lives
Family Lives is a charity with over three decades of experience helping parents to deal with the changes that are a constant part of family life. Our role is to support all of you to achieve the best relationship possible with the children that you care about, as well as supporting parenting professionals.
Telephone: 0808 800 2222
I CAN
I CAN is the children’s communication charity. They are experts in helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world.
Telephone: 020 7843 2510
Email: info@ican.org.uk
Independent Parental Special Education Advice
IPSEA is a national charity providing free legally based advice to families who have children with special educational needs. They provide advice on: problems with schools, requesting statutory assessment, proposed statements, annual reviews, possible disability discrimination and exclusion from school.
Mencap
Mencap is the leading voice of learning disability. Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers. Mencap works with people with a learning disability to change laws, challenge prejudice and support them to live their lives as they choose.
Telephone: 0808 808 1111
Email: helpline@mencap.org.uk
National Autistic Society
We are the leading UK charity for people with autism (including Asperger syndrome) and their families. We provide information, support and pioneering services, and campaign for a better world for people with autism. Our Autism Helpline provides impartial, confidential information and advice for people with autism spectrum disorders and their families and carers.
Telephone: 0808 800 4104
National Deaf Children’s Society
The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) is the leading charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people. We offer free information and support to families with a deaf child through our publications, web forums and freephone helpline.
Telephone (voice and text): 0808 800
Email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk
National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS)
The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) is a UK charity offering information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children and young people up to the age of 25, through a network of advocates throughout England and Wales. The Helpline is staffed by advisers who are there to support children, young people, and vulnerable adults across England and Wales, to ensure their rights are up held. They welcome enquiries from representatives of children, young people and vulnerable adults such as professionals, practitioners, family or friends too.
Telephone: 0808 808 1001
Email: help@nyas.net
React is a dynamic charity working to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses living in financially disadvantaged households. Helping children with life-shortening illnesses, React works to give children comfort, dignity and where possible, greater independence. They supply a wide range of equipment from specialist wheelchairs, beds, baths and mobility aids, to essential everyday homecare items like pushchairs and domestic appliances.
Telephone: 020 8940 2575
Email: react@reactcharity.org
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Whether you need advice on staying in work, using technology to help you do everyday tasks, or simply someone who can offer emotional support to help you come to terms with sight loss. The RNIB are there from the moment you’re diagnosed to help you get on with your life. From the day when you need them the most, until the day you’re living your life again.
Telephone: 0303 123 9999
Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk
Sense
Sense is a national charity that supports and campaigns for children and adults who are deafblind. Sense offer high-quality, flexible services across the UK, using skilled staff and a dedicated network of volunteers. We work with a wide range of deafblind and multi-sensory impaired people, as well as those who have a single-sensory impairment with additional needs. We take pride in offering specialist services built around the wishes of each person we support and enabling them to be as independent as possible.
Telephone or textphone: 0300 330 9256
Email: info@sense.org.uk
SWAN UK (Syndromes Without A Name)
SWAN UK is a project run by Genetic Alliance UK offering support and information to families of children with undiagnosed conditions.
Telephone: 020 7831 0883
Email: info@undiagnosed.org.uk
Young Sibs
Young Sibs is an online support service for brothers and sisters of disabled children and young people. It is for siblings who live in the UK and who are under 18.
