working with people with learning difficulties and their families in Islington
Family Projects
Centre 404 Family Support service run a number of projects in Islington and Camden. To learn more about individual projects, click below:
Family Support and Outreach
The Family Support team now has three full time equivalent posts, supporting parent carers of children with additional needs up to the age of 19 years. There is a weekly drop-in for charity applications that has been developed at the Outreach Office at the Northern Health Centre. Two members of staff can help on average six to eight parents over two hours. The newsletter now reflects the growing amount of activites that Centre 404 Family Support is undertaking with parents.
The part time project in the south of the borough, funded by EC1 New Deal continues to support parents of children with additional needs.
Care 4 Carers
Care 4 Cares is an opportunity to experience alternative and complimentary therapies and treatments for family carers. Having a session gives carers the time and space for carers to fcous on themselves with the help of an experienced professional. The therapies offered are:
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Holistic Massage - with Kath Dunn
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Homeopathy - with Aurora Yaacov
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Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Aromatherapy - with Pearl Jackson
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Shiatsu - with Veronica Howard
The therapies take place at Centre 404 and each parent/carer can book 3 x 50 minute sessions FREE OF CHARGE. (There are a limited number of home visits available if you are unable to travel.) All the practitioners are experienced, insured and a member of their professional organisations.
To book an appointment or to find out more call Kath on 020 7241 6643
Councillor's Surgeries
An opportunity for family carers to meet councillors individually to discuss any issues. These continue on a monthly basis and are well attended by family carers. There are two surgeries held on the third wednesday of each month.
Parent Participation
The number of parents accessing this project has improved this year due to the increasing popularity of Breakfast Club that meets every Friday morning.
This year has also seen the introduction of Talking Shop, a forum for heads of service and key professionals to meet with parents to discuss how to improve services and implement the 'Every Disabled Child Matters' local authority charter. The Talking Shop has quickly established itself as an important mechanism to continue developing partnership and working for the benefit of local families.
Carers Advocacy
Carers Advocacy Project supports carers to understand their rights and availability of other services. In the last year we have supported many carers to develop their confidence and skills, so much so that they are now involved in peer support.
Carers View
Now in its second year, the five parent carers involved in this project have visited all relevant services commissioned by Islington Social Services, as Carers View Monitors.
Family Carers Reference Group
This family carers forum has made major contributions to the Learning Disability Partnership Board over the last year, culminating with the review of the Partnership Board and its proceedings.
Transition and Adult Support
This new project has secured funding from the Big Lottery for the next five years. Offering support to carers of a young person with a learning disability aged 14+, we will provide information, advocacy and support to family carers on issues with social services, hospitals, housing departments, education and other statutory and non-statutory service providers. Support will be offered during the following assessments: Community Care, Financial, Health and Carers. Benefit checks are provided as well as applications to various charitable trusts. We will provide regular home visits and telephone support. The project will build on our existing network of family carers' support, enabling them to maintain contact with friends and the community. There will be weekly drop-ins, monthly coffee mornings and seasonal activities, such as summer lunches, Christmas parties and coach outings to the seaside. The new service will ensure Family Carers and the people they care for get the support they need.
Work in Camden
The projects running in Camden are 'Person Centre Transition Planning' and 'Involving Carers'. There are now 25 families involved in the transition project and 60 carers known to the Carers Project. Camden Social Services has extended the funding for both projects for another year.
