Springboard Opportunity Group

Our Voice Counts! is the North Somerset Parents Participation Forum for parents/carers of children with complex needs. It is run BY parents, FOR parents.
Respond to the Postitive Activities Questionnaire

Acorns Family Resource Support 
This is a group of families who meet every Wednesday morning at Elmfield House from 10.30 am to 12 noon. Acorns gives parents and carers time to meet in the relaxed setting of the Parents Room. There they can share experiences 

over coffee and learn together about the implications of hearing loss through informal discussions and an arranged programme of talks. Sign Language and Spoken Language groups are held regularly and the teachers and SLCAs will try to answer your specific queries and offer advice and support.

 

The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service.
We provide people-friendly information and resources about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to anyone who needs assistance - parents, sufferers, teachers or health professionals. Whatever you're looking for in ADHD, we'll do our best to help. If you would like to talk to someone about ADHD, telephone us on 020 8952 2800, or visit us at the ADDISS Resource Centre. Or you can send us an e-mail if you have any questions or need more information about anything you see on this site.

  Afasic seeks to raise awareness and to create better services and provision for children and young people with speech and language impairments. It works in partnership with local and national government, professional and statutory bodies and other voluntary organisations.

National Autistic Society
North Somerset branch.  Local branch of NAS meets monthly in Clevedon and Weston. Newsletter available. For information please contact. They have produced excellent resources and downloads.
Contact: Liz Kelly, phone Monday, Tuesday & Thursday,  18.00 - 20.00 hrs
Tel: 01934 628 287
Branch Mobile: 07765 232 622
Website: www.nas-northsomerset.co.uk 

Public Autism Awareness in North Somerset
Local independent family support and information regarding autism
Website: www.paains.org.uk 

Bibic
Website: www.bibic.org.uk


   
Bristol Area Downs Syndrome Support (BADSS)
We are an active parent led support group with around 150 members. Our aim is to enhance the lives of people with Downs Syndrome, their families and care givers in Bristol, Bath and surrounding area. We organise and run events for all ages from new born to young adults. We are also willing to share our experiences and knowledge, we are confident one of us will be able to offer help. This ranges from the simple help and reassurance of bring up children to helping get access to and resources from health and education Professionals and local Authorities.

CLIMB
Information on children living with inherited metabolic disorders.
Website: www.climb.org.uk

Contact a Family 
Contact a Family is a UK charity providing support and advice to parents whatever the medical condition of their child. Many good links to other websites.
Website: www.cafamily.org.uk

 
North Somerset Crossroads Carers 
The North Somerset Crossroads Carers Centre in Weston-super-Mare has been open since 1994 to offer support, advice and information to carers throughout North Somerset and a wide range of services.
Contact: 1 Graham Road, Weston super Mare BS23 1YA
Tel: 01934 411 855 
Website: www.nscrossroads.org.uk

 

Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Website: www.cftrust.org.uk


 

Down Syndrome Educational Trust 
The Down Syndrome Educational Trust is a registered charity, based in the UK, and a recognised leader into the development and education of individuals with Down syndrome.
Website: www.downsed.org




Down's Syndrome Association 
Focuses on all aspects of living successfully with Down's syndrome and has a network of around 100 regional volunteer-led support groups.
Website: www.downs-syndrome.org.uk

Ups & Downs South West
We are a Down Syndrome support organisation based in Somerset but have an ever increasing membership currently encompassing families from Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Glos, Monmouthshire and Wiltshire. Whether you are a new parent (Congratulations!), family member,  a professional involved with a child who has Down Syndrome, or just someone who has an interest, we hope you will be able to find the support and information you seek from Ups and Downs Southwest.
Website: www.upsanddowns.net

Hop, Skip and Jump
A play and support centre for children with special needs and their families based in Kingswood, Bristol.
Website: www.hopskipandjump.org.uk


 
 

Look West Support Group
A support group for families with blind or visually impaired child. Contact the RNIB, Stillhouse Lane, Bristol on 0117 9537750 
Website: www.rnib.org.uk/parents

Makaton 
Makaton is a unique language programme offering a structured, multi-modal approach for the teaching of communication, language and literacy skills for people with communication and learning difficulties.
Website: www.makaton.org/


 

Mencap
Provides support for children and adults with a learning disability, their families and their carers. It is affiliated with the Royal Society Mencap which is the United Kingdom's largest charity working with children and adults with a learning disability. Mencap is the voice for learnign disability. Every day, we support thousands of parents, carers and people with a learning disability to lead a full and valued life.
Contact: www.northsomersetmencap.co.uk


 

Muscular Dystrophy Group
Website: www.muscular-dystrophy.org

North Somerset Council
Details of North Somerset Education, Social Services, Children's Services and much more.
Website:  www.n-somerset.gov.uk

 
Ofsted
See copies of Springboard's Reports and local pre school and school reports.
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

 

Our Voice Counts
The North Somerset Parent Participation Forum, for families who havechildren with complex additional needs. An open invitation to all parents or carers of children with complex additional needs living in North Somerset welcome! We would like to invite you to join our participation network. Who we are - a friendly network of parents and carers of children with complex additional needs aged 0-19 living in North Somerset. What we want - a voice in how services for our children are shaped and delivered locally.There’s more about what we do on this website, plus a message board where parents can exchange views and information about local and national services.
E-mail: enquiries@nsppf.org.uk   www.nsppf.org.uk
Tel: Supportive Parents information and support line on 0117 989 7725

Prader-Willi Syndrome Association
Information about Prader-Willi syndrome.
Website: www.pwsa.co.uk

 

Scope
Information and support about cerebral palsy and related disabilities, many links to other support groups. 
Website: www.scope.org.uk

SENSE 
Support, advice and information for deafblind children and adults. 

 

Sibs is the only UK charity representing the needs of siblings of
disabled people. Siblings have a lifelong need for information, they
often experience social and emotional isolation, and have to cope with
difficult situations.

Supportive Parents (SPSC) 
This is North Somerset's local Parent Partnership organisation based in Bristol. SPSC is a registered charity providing information and support for parents of children with special educational needs and interested professionals.
Contact: North Somerset co-ordinators
Tel: 0117 989 7725
www.supportiveparents.org.uk

 

 Young Minds
National organisation supporting the mental health and emotional needs of people under the age of 25.
Website: www.youngmindsorg.uk

 

Meningitis Trust
Website: www.meningitis-trust.org

Meningitis Research Foundation
Website: www.meningitis.org


 

Brain Injury Rehabilitation & Development (BIRD)
Website: www.b-i-r-d.org.uk

 

Brainwave South West (previously the Kerland Foundation)
Website: www.brainwave.org.uk