Caring for a child with disabilities is emotionally challenging and can be extremely isolating. Parent carers often find themselves struggling through a maze of information and services. Support for parent carers is essential to help them navigate complex systems, access necessary services, develop advocacy skills, and reduce social isolation.
Our Face2Face service provides free support and advice to parent carers by offering one-to-one support focussing on achieving identified outcomes and ensuring parent carers feel empowered to make informed decisions about all aspects of their child’s life.
Parent carers can self-refer to access this service or a professional working with the family can make the referral on their behalf. This service will provide support for a period of 8-10 weeks offering up to 5 meetings. The support will include drawing out a support plan, identifying the key outcomes, sharing of information to empower the parent carers, identifying and help accessing other services if not already involved and any other support as required.
Face2Face hosts regular coffee mornings, which offer informal opportunities for parent carers to meet each other, exchange information and talk to others who understand their situation. We also offer a regular programme of sessions delivered by professionals, covering topics relevant to parent carers offering vital information and practical advice. These sessions are held in-person or online offering a flexible option to suit different needs.
Drop-in Coffee Mornings
An informal, free get-together and an opportunity for parents/carers to meet each other, exchange information and talk to others who understand.
Wednesday 8 January | 10:30-12:30
Wednesday 15 January | 10:30-12:30
Wednesday 29 January | 10:30-12:30
Wednesday 26 February | 10:30-12:30
Venue: YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
Other sessions
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) session
Wednesday 22 January | 10:30-12:30
YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
Session with Francesca Butler, a Board Certified, Behaviour Analyst and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) consultant. The session will cover PBS approach for understanding and addressing behaviours of concerns in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Masking in Autistic People session with Viv Dawes
Wednesday 5 February | 10:30-12:30
YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
This neuro-affirming and trauma informed training session looking at Masking in Autistic People, will cover the following:
- What do we mean by masking in autistic people?
- Fight, flight, freeze, fawn
- What are the long-term effects of masking
- Meltdowns, shutdowns and burnout
- We can’t just rip our masks off
- Environments and safety
Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate is an autistic lived experience advocate, trainer, consultant and author and the parent of a neurodivergent young adult. She has over 25 years’ experience of working with vulnerable people, who were mostly neurodivergent, including as a Snr Practitioner in the NHS, managing teams of forensic drug workers in Surrey prisons. Viv has been a keynote speaker for various events, has spoken at the London autism show and was nominated for the National diversity awards 2024.
This event will be a ticketed event at £10pp to allow us to fund future information sessions with specialist speakers. Please email Sandhya.Gulati@ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk to register and payments for the session can be made over the phone
Session with Mary Frances Trust
Wednesday 12 February | 10:30-12:30
YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate RH2 8HA
An opportunity to learn about the range of services on offer from Mary Frances Trust to support emotional wellbeing of residents of Surrey.
To find out more or to attend one of our sessions, please contact Sandhya Gulati, Face2Face Coordinator.
Find out more
At Face2Face, we are committed to providing comprehensive support that helps parent carers feel connected, informed, and empowered, improving quality of life for both children and their families.
To find out more or to attend one of our sessions, please contact Sandhya Gulati, Face2Face Coordinator.
Funded by
