Disabilities

Families First Disabilities team provides support for families whose child/young person has additional needs; income maximisation and advice for families with a disabled child or young person; support for a child or young person who has caring responsibilities for family members and a play and youth club for children and young people with a disability or developmental difficulty.

Newport Young Carers

Bespoke support to children and young people aged 8–25 years who are supporting someone with mental health difficulties, illness, physical disability, drug/alcohol misuse, or providing sibling and other related family care. They are encouraged and supported to reach their potential in accessing training, education, cultural and leisure activities, to have a life outside of their caring duties.

We provide one to one support, peer group work, issue based workshops, activities, trips and residential breaks to facilitate the social, emotional and physical well-being of young people. All options can be offered virtually. Referrals can be made directly to the service via [email protected]  or through the Families First Space Panel in Newport.

Contact

To get in touch with the team please complete the referral form at the bottom of this page.

For more information contact the Children’s Services Manager: [email protected]

Citizens Advice Bureau

The Citizens Advice Bureau in Newport offers ongoing assistance with Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits issues to families where there is a young person under the age of 25 and someone in the household has a long term illness or disability. The young person does NOT need to be disabled.

We aim to ensure that our clients maximise their financial income but are also able to be more confident and better informed as to their Welfare Benefit and Tax Credit entitlement.

The local office offers casework type assistance to help with a variety of issues including:

  • Form filling including Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Carer's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance
  • Appeals relating to Welfare Benefits, Universal Credit and Tax Credits
  • General Benefit, Universal Credit and Tax Credit entitlement questions and issues and related issues
  • Better off calculations such as the effect of starting work/changing hours on Benefit, Universal Credit and Tax Credit entitlement

The service is delivered at our offices in Corn Street, on a pre-booked appointment basis. Ongoing communication can be via a face-to-face meeting, phone or email. Home visits may be possible but can be difficult to arrange.

Please note due to Covid-19 restrictions services are being delivered by phone, video conferencing and email.

Referrals

We welcome referrals from a variety of sources including partner organisations within Families First such as Barnardos. We also take referrals from other sources e.g. Support Worker; Social Services. We also encourage self-referrals.

Contact

To get in touch with the team please complete the referral form at the bottom of this page.

For further information or to refer yourself for a Families First appointment, please telephone us on 01633 222622.

Children with Additional Needs Support (CANS) Project

CANS Project is a preventative Families First project delivered by Barnardo's and Newport City Council. CANS provides support to families of children with additional needs. CANS aims to work in partnership with families to identify shared goals, and empower them to achieve set targets by providing information, advice and signposting. CANS recognise the need for early intervention and will work with children who do not have a diagnosis in place.

What we offer:

  • Support around routines and boundaries
  • Building on your families strengths
  • Support around diagnosis
  • Behaviour management
  • Parenting Support
  • Transition

CANS project also delivers the following groups:

The Family Links Nurturing Programme
For parents of a child with an additional need. The programme runs over ten weeks and supports parents to make the most of family life through learning how to nurture both their children and themselves.

The Cygnet Parenting Support Programme
An evidence-based programme for parents and carers of children aged 5-18 who are on the autistic spectrum. The programme aims to support parents who may feel particularly isolated in meeting their child's needs by providing them with appropriate knowledge and skills in a mutually supportive environment.

Service outcomes

  • To support parents to enable their children to reach their full potential
  • To work in partnership with other organisations in order to provide a holistic plan of support
  • Disabled children and their families receive appropriate and relevant information tailored to their needs.
  • Disabled children and their families are supported to access mainstream, specialist and community resources that meet their needs.

Referrals

Referrals must have the consent of the parent or guardian and can be made by family members, professionals or any interested parties. Please send referrals my email to [email protected] or call 01633 851782.

Once your referral has been received, a Family Support Worker will contact your family and arrange a home visit. A small assessment will be completed, identifying what support your family would benefit from. A family plan and goal is then identified; CANS will then support you to achieve these and goals. Support can be provided on an individual or group basis.

Contact

To get in touch with the team please complete the referral form at the bottom of this page.

For further information email [email protected] or call 01633 748000

Sparkle

Serennu Children’s Centre

The Serennu Children’s Centre is a purpose-built Centre that provides state of the art treatment and assessment facilities, information and leisure activities for children and young people with disabilities and developmental difficulties in Newport, South Monmouthshire and South Torfaen.

Serennu isn’t just about the treatment that the children and young people will receive. The centre also provides family centred services to accommodate the needs of parents and siblings too. Through use of the MediCinema and other leisure facilities, the centre helps families to socialise and enjoy a range of activities in a supportive environment.

Youth Club (12-18 years)

Youth club provides young people with a disability or development difficulty with the opportunity to have fun and socialise with others in a fun and safe environment.

Everyone will have an opportunity to have their say and influence the activities, workshops and projects they take part in.

Access to this provision is via the Sparkle referral form and the completion of a personal profile.

Play (5 - 11 years)

Our fun-tastic play club encourages children with a disability or developmental difficulty to lead their own play experiences and helps them to make new friends, express themselves creatively and develop their confidence.

Each play session is an exciting new experience, which is made up of free play, snack time, a fun group activity, even more play & circle time.

Contact

Find out more at sparkleappeal.org or email [email protected]

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What you can expect

Weekly allocation meetings are held and, once the referral is allocated, a family support worker will contact you to arrange a convenient appointment to discuss your needs, looking at the strengths and resources that you and your family already have.

Together we will draw up a support plan for your family working flexibly and providing a service that fits in with your needs and commitments.

Complete a referral form and return to [email protected] and the team will be in touch.

Download Families First self referral form (doc)

Download Families First professional referral form (doc)

View privacy notice (pdf)