Useful Links
Blackpool Carer Center Website
Blackpool Carers Centre is an independent, local charity and network partner of Carers Trust. They provide a range of services to support and enhance the lives of unpaid carers of all ages throughout Blackpool and The Fylde Coast.
The Local Offer gives children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities and their families access to information about what services Blackpool Council think will be available in their local area.
Aiming Higher is a unique charity established in 2011 for disabled children and their families, set up to improve the children and families lives and offer them much needed support.
They moved into our current premises in 2013, Aiming Higher Central, Church Street, Blackpool. This fantastic building offers a wide variety of facilities including soft play area, interactive ball pool and sensory room, which were refurbished in late 2016. They also have a beautiful parent’s room and counselling suite. They provide a five session stay and play programme, family support, short breaks and counselling services.
They provide an extensive year-round programme of days out and events for our children and their families.
Autism Initiatives UK provides a range of person centred services throughout the UK. The charity provides services to children and adults, and encompasses education, residential houses, supported living and outreach services.
The services provided by Autism Initiatives are significantly different from those provided by generic learning disability and mental health services, in that our services are underpinned by a clear understanding of good autism practice and a person centred approach to understanding the unique needs an individual may have in relation to their autism.
Do you have a child, young person with SEN (Special Educational Needs), or do you feel that your child/young person is struggling with their education?
Do you have questions about how your child should be supported in nursery, school or college?
If so, why not come along to one of our informal SENDIASS teal and talk information sessions to see how we can help.
Blackpool Better Start Website Link
“We know that being a parent can be tough and we provide free events, services and programmes that help lighten the load. If you’ve got a baby on the way or a child under 4, Blackpool Better Start is here for you.
All our services have been created with Blackpool parents, for Blackpool parents. They range from antenatal classes at your local Children’s Centre, to services that help with heavier problems like addiction and anger in the home. We also run lots of fun activities in parks, libraries and Children’s Centres, that focus on reading, health and wellbeing. It’s a great chance to help your child’s learning and meet other Blackpool families.”
We are a forum for parent/carers of disabled children in Blackpool. All parents/carers of disabled children are welcome.
Blackpool Polar Bears Website Link
The Blackpool Polar Bears is a registered charity and club whose prime aim is to promote swimming for individuals who have a disability.Swimming sessions are held on Sundays at Moor Park Swimming Pool, between 8:55 and 11:30 am. Members are allocated a swimming time according to their ability and in order to make the most of the available pool time.
Family Fund supports families living across the UK who are who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person up to the age of 17. Our support is focused on those on low incomes with a child/children who have a high level of additional support needs.
At Family Fund, we believe that all families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people should have the same choices, quality of life, opportunities and aspirations as other families.
Fylde Sharks Disability Swimming Club Website Link
Fylde Sharks children’s disability swimming club uniquely offers one to one swimming lessons to disabled children and young people up to 18 years old in the Fylde area with varying degrees of disability.
Children with complex physical disabilities to those with social, cognitive and behavioural needs can enjoy swimming lessons with a qualified swimming teacher which provides mental stimulation and improved physical mobility.
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.
Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. Almost everything we do involves communication; everyday tasks such as learning at school, asking for food and drink, sorting out problems, making friends and having fun. These all rely on our ability to communicate with each other.
With Makaton, signs are used, with speech, in spoken word order. This helps provide extra clues about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have limited speech and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign.
For those who have experienced the frustration of being unable to communicate meaningfully or effectively, Makaton really can help. Makaton takes away that frustration and enables individuals to connect with other people and the world around them. This opens up all kinds of possibilities.
Children and adults with Down’s syndrome are all unique individuals with their own personalities, family backgrounds and preferences that make them who they are.
Here you will find answers to questions that are often asked about Down’s syndrome. This information will help you to separate the facts from some common misconceptions. If you do not find what you are looking for you can their ring helpline and speak to a specialist advisor.
You can also learn about the ongoing work of the Down’s Syndrome Association.
Contact is a charity for families with disabled children. They support families with the guidance and information they may need to help themselves and their children. They bring families together to support each other and help families to campaign, volunteer and fundraise to improve life for themselves and others.
British Dyslexia Association Website Link
If your child is, or may be, dyslexic then they have information, resources and training available to help you to ensure that your child is able to reach their full potential.
You can also find information in their Empowered Parents pack on how to support your child at home, working with your school to secure a diagnosis and support, and what support the law entitles a young person with dyslexia to and how to access it.
This website gives access to a sign language dictionary which may be useful for your child.
SIGN LANGUAGE
Sign Language is a visual communication method that comprises of gestures, facial expression, and body language. Sign Language is used mainly by people who are Deaf or have hearing impairments.
BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE (BSL)
The form of sign languages used most commonly within Britain is British Sign Language (BSL). BSL has it’s own grammatical structure and syntax, as a language it is not strongly related to spoken English. BSL is the preferred language of around 145,000 people within the UK (2011).
IS SIGN LANGUAGE INTERNATIONAL?
Many people assume that Sign Language is the same all around the world, but this however is far from the truth. Because of the isolated way in which sign language has evolved there is even significant variation from region to region within the British Isles, this is known as regional variation and can be thought of as being similar to regional accents and colloquialisms found in spoken languages. Other countries have their own sign languages.
Diabetes.co.uk is a community of people with diabetes, family members, friends, supporters and carers, offering their own support and first hand knowledge. The Diabetes Forum is demonstrated in research to be the most actively used social medium for people with diabetes.
A message from Mencap;
Whether you are looking to find your first paid job, move into your own place, find leisure activities in your local area, or you need advice on an issue that’s important to you, we can help.
If you have a learning disability and want to know how we can support you, you can find out more about the services we offer by looking through the easy read guides in each area of this section.
If you are a parent, family member or carer to someone with a learning disability, browse our topics to see how we can support your loved one with services that put them first.
This website has useful video links to help you become your child’s coach. These brief ten-minute engaging video’s provide Dr. Susan Young’s Top Tips for Parents and Carers to help them to help their children.
I CAN’s Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need.
They offer support for children and young people’s speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) to ensure they get the help they need. You will also find evidence of research into speech, language and communication difficulties.
We support adults and young people with learning disabilities in their own homes, out in the community and at a variety of activities. We can also provide support in your own home, or in a supported tenancy.
We are able to cater for individuals who have additional physical disabilities and challenging behaviour.
Blackpool Tiggers Website Link
Blackpool Tiggers was established in 2004 and is a local charity providing sports, leisure and social activities for children and young people on the autistic spectrum.
Their main activity is trampolining for children and young adults living with autism.
They also provide activities and events during school holidays and offer autism training for parents and volunteers. Tiggers is a place where families can meet, have fun and socialise in a relaxed, autism-friendly environment.
Play Inclusion Project is a local charity that was founded in 1990 by a group of local parents. We work to promote the social inclusion of children and young people with additional needs disabilities and provide social and leisure activities with volunteer support. The charity also offers a direct payment service for children and young people who have a social care package.
Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs website
Fleetwood is somewhere that welcomes and supports everyone to enjoy our fabulous coastline. This is why we have brought beach wheelchairs to Fleetwood. We have 8 chairs and additional seating equipment.
RISE gives young people aged 18 years plus across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, the opportunity to gain essential life skills, develop confidence, build new friendships and help them integrate into the community.
At RISE we promote inclusion and diversity. RISE stands for:
- Respect
- Independence
- Social
- Engagement
Supporting disabled people across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre to exercise and play sports. Our vision is that individuals with a disability have the opportunity to participate in exercise and sporting activities on a regular basis. Please let us know if you are coming along to join us so we can secure your place.
TramShed is an inclusive theatre company and registered charity offering inclusive performing arts to children, young people and adults across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. We deliver inclusive music, dance and drama on a weekly basis, both face to face and digitally, and reach out to local and wider communities through a variety of outreach and inclusive training programmes.
We have no exclusions or limitations and encourage anyone who has an interest in the arts to get involved. We are unique to the local area.
