Category: Wales

Omo Idegun, a parent carer who has worked with our Wales team, shares her experience of setting up Wrexham Africa Community CIC to help turn loneliness into belonging.

“I’m a single parent living in Wrexham, raising two incredible children: my daughter, a dedicated young carer and my son who is autistic. Our journey has been shaped by love, advocacy, and the belief that community makes us stronger. 

“My connection with Contact began at a pilot consultation in Wrexham, funded by Awards for All. I spoke passionately about the importance of parent support groups, how they must uplift every member, not just a chosen few. That moment sparked deeper involvement: I joined the Wales Parents Steering Group. 

“In 2022, I travelled to Cardiff with my children to attend Contact’s Celebration Day and carers’ consultation ahead of their successful three-year National Lottery bid. It was a huge experience, especially for my son, but we made it. I stayed calm and planned carefully, knowing how much that helps him feel safe. I even recorded a short video reflecting on the event, which Contact used in their bid submission. Later that day, we joined others at the theatre to watch Sister Act. It was brilliant, joyful, uplifting, and unforgettable. 

“In 2020, I founded Wrexham Africa Community CIC, a group dedicated to celebrating African culture, building connections, and supporting one another through events, networking, and heritage. I saw a gap in support and celebration for Africans living in Wrexham and surrounding areas. These projects began with a simple but powerful idea: 

Every voice should be heard. Every culture should be celebrated.

“Through Wrexham Africa Community, we’ve helped turn loneliness into belonging. We’ve created a space where African voices are not just heard, they’re honoured. We’ve supported newcomers, empowered young people, and built bridges across communities. 

“In 2024, with support from Wrexham2029City of Culture fundingAfrica Oyé, and Wrexfest, we launched our pilot music festival: AfroFiestaa vibrant celebration of African and Caribbean culture. Afro Fiesta is more than a festival. It’s a stage for learning, connection, and joy. We’ve brought together hundreds, even thousands of people to experience music, dance, food, and stories from across the diaspora. What started as a small idea has grown into a movement that’s helping Wrexham become more diverse, lively, and united. 

“This year, we proudly hosted the second edition of Afro Fiesta. And we’re just getting started!”

Contact’s Ellie and Kate will be heading to Liverpool this December and would love to meet you at the free Kidz to Adultz Exhibition at ACC Liverpool on Wednesday 3 December. 

If you’re a parent of a child or young person with disabilities or additional needs and live in the North West of England or North Wales – this is one event you won’t want to miss. 

As well as getting advice and information from Contact, you’ll be able to visit over 100 exhibitors at Kidz to Adultz North this December and explore the very latest in mobility and seating equipment, education, sensory products and much more. 

Book your FREE ticket for the event in Liverpool on 3 December 

Ellie from Contact says: “We were at one of Kidz to Adultz events earlier this year. It was fantastic to meet so many parents who enjoyed dedicated exhibitors, information about support services and the many fun family activities throughout the day.  

“If you are able to get to Liverpool, please drop in to find out more about how Contact can help support your family or just to say hello and have a chat. We’d love to see you there!” 

Plenty for the whole family to enjoy 

This event isn’t just informative – it’s also fun and festive for all ages! Come along and you can also: 

A focus on moving onto adulthood 

This year, there’s a special focus on helping young disabled people and their families navigate the transition to adulthood including preparing for adulthood, accessing further education, moving into employment or gaining greater independence. Families will be able to explore dedicated information and services to help make these transitions smoother and more informed. 

Book your free place at the event taking place at King’s Dock, Port of Liverpool, Kings Dock St, Liverpool L3 4FP. 

Don’t live near Liverpool? 

All Kidz to Adultz exhibitions happening this year are completely free for families to attend. 

Find other events Kidz to Adutz have coming up

To translate this information into Welsh, use the accessibility & language toolbar at the top of our site (in the menu on mobile devices).

Parent carers in Conwy and Gwynedd in North Wales can now book free, confidential 1-1 appointments with one of Contact’s expert advisers to get practical, tailored help with benefits and financial support. 

Find out more and book your free 1-1 appointment

Our new Claiming with Confidence initiative is funded by the Welsh government and in partnership with The All Wales Forum. It allows families in Conwy and Gwynedd to book an appointment with us to:     

Giving parents confidence to navigate the system

Parent adviser, Judith Dobson from Contact says:

“We know that parents caring for a child with a disability or additional needs face disproportionately high living costs and a reduced capacity to work. Our recent research found that 86% of families in Wales struggle with the process of claiming benefits. And they face big challenges to do so. From long waits for appointments with advice agencies, to emotionally and time-draining paperwork. For example, many parents tell us they find the process of applying for the main benefit for disabled children, DLA, traumatic. As a result, families may be missing out on this vital, life-changing benefit.

“We hope our new Claiming with Confidence service will help parents in Conwy and Gwynedd feel more confident navigating the benefits system by getting the trusted support and advice they need from people who understand what they’re going through – both emotionally and practically.” 

If you’re a parent carer in Conwy or Gwynedd struggling with benefits, don’t wait. Book your free, confidential appointment today and get the support you deserve. 

Families can also access online and offline resources developed by the All Wales Forum alongside online and in-person advice and support workshops giving families the chance to hear from other local parents who have been through the system themselves. 

Book your appointment

I need advice but don’t live in Conwy or Gwynedd 

For advice on benefits or anything else, get in touch with our Wales team

The NHS is urging parent carers across the UK to check whether their child has had one or both doses of the MMR vaccine. This vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella, three serious illnesses that are spreading again.

Measles spreads easily and there have been outbreaks in England and Scotland this year, mainly in unvaccinated children under 10.  This month, a child in Liverpool died after getting the disease. Summer is known to be a riskier time as families travel to countries where there are also outbreaks.

Health chiefs say it is very important that every child gets both doses for full protection. The number of children who have got the first dose of the MMR vaccine is nearly at target levels, but there is a big drop in the number of children getting the second dose.

The vaccine is free and available anytime, so if your child has missed one or both doses or is now older, it’s never too late to catch up.

How do I check if my child has had the MMR vaccine?

How do I book an MMR Vaccine?

There are various ways to book an MMR vaccine depending on where you live in the UK. But in all four nations, the vaccine is free and can be booked at any time.

England: Call your GP practice to book. Some areas also have walk-in clinics which are listed on council websites.  

Scotland: Contact your local NHS immunisation team (full list by area here) or contact your GP.

Wales: Contact your GP

Northern Ireland: Contact your GP or visit nidirect.gov.uk for local clinics.

Need more information or want to speak to someone?

Public health bodies say that some communities, such as ethnic minority groups, newly arrived migrants, and people whose first language isn’t English, face more barriers to getting vaccinated and have lower rates of vaccination. This can be for many reasons including not knowing how to get vaccinated and finding it harder to access information. It’s also understood that parents from all communities may have concerns about the vaccine and its safety.

If you’re worried or have questions, speak to your GP practice. They can explain the process and talk through any concerns you might have.

Useful resources

Easy-to-read leaflets and videos in many languages are available at:

www.nhs.uk/MMR

NHS Inform (Scotland)

Public Health Wales

NI Direct MMR

A list of symptoms and advice on what to do if you think you or your child has measles is available on the NHS website

The Welsh government is asking for your feedback on a new draft version of its Learner Travel Operational Guidance – a document that helps explain how local authorities should provide transport to learners.

The original guidance was published in 2014, and a lot has changed since then. The 2025 draft version that the Welsh government is consulting on includes:

Find out more about this consultation and how to submit your views.

Closing date for submissions is 3 September.

Read Contact’s information and advice about school transport in Wales.

Find out more about Contact’s team in Wales and how they support families.

We are delighted to announce that Contact has successfully secured £86,000 in funding from the Welsh government to provide practical and emotional support to parents caring for disabled children in North Wales.

Thanks to the funding, Contact Cymru will work in partnership with the All Wales Forum to help parents in Conwy and Gwynedd claim the benefits they are entitled to such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), confidently.

Contact will do this by offering workshops and one-to-one support to help guide parents through the complex benefits system and application forms, carry out benefits checks and identify potential grants families can apply for. As well as this, new resources will be developed to help families maximise their incomes.

The funding to improve families financial health comes at a crucial time. Contact’s Counting the Costs research shows that 86% of families with disabled children in Wales find claiming benefits difficult.  In addition, 39% of parent carers in Wales told Contact they had been unable to keep their homes warm enough for their disabled child’s needs, and 88% reported that the extra costs of caring for their disabled child caused worry, stress, or financial strain. 

Kate Wyke Contact Cymru’s manager says: “Parent carers of disabled children face disproportionately high living costs such as higher utility and transport costs and specialist equipment needs – often alongside a reduced capacity to work because of their caring responsibilities. Despite this, many struggle to access the benefits they are entitled to.  Parents tell us that getting welfare support is difficult and frustrating as they face multiple barriers including a complicated benefits system and inaccessible information. Many tell us that they simply do not trust the system which can often feel adversarial.

“For example parents describe applying for DLA – the main benefit for disabled children –  as traumatic, requiring them to relive difficult moments, highlight their child’s challenges and prove their need for support. One parent from North Wales recently shared that they had spent 4.5 months trying to get help with a DLA renewal and during that time, they risked losing access to their financial support. It wasn’t until they turned to Contact that they got the help they needed. This experience is sadly not uncommon. This funding will mean that parents in North Wales will be able to get the information and support they need from our trusted and expert parent advisers who truly understand the daily challenges families face, offering them much needed empathy as well as practical advice.”

Too many parent carers in Wales are living in poverty, despite being eligible for support. This has a significant impact on their child’s life chances and ability to reach their potential. The funding for Contact announced today is one of 25 projects across Wales which form part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty and its impact in Wales. Find out more about this funding on the Welsh Government’s website.


Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Beryl Blackmore, presenting our Wales team with the £498,000 award from The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaetholy, which is funding the Building Resilience programme.

Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Beryl Blackmore, presenting our Wales team with the £498,000 award from The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaetholy, which is funding the Building Resilience programme.


Last month, the Contact Cymru team held a special event in Wrexham to celebrate the early successes of the Building Resilience programme.

The three-year project aims to support over 10,000 families across Wales through online and face-to-face services, workshops and events. The project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

The celebration brought together parents, carers, volunteers, professionals and community leaders, including the Mayor of Wrexham, to reflect on the progress made so far and raise awareness of Contact’s work in Wales. There was also plenty of Christmas fun involved, with games, costumes and a very entertaining reverse raffle!

Addressing the room, Wales Manager, Katherine Wyke, talked about the project’s positive impact to date, with over 20 workshops and drop-in services already delivered. Guests also heard from Contact’s parent volunteer guest speakers. They inspired and moved everyone with stories about the challenges faced by families with disabled and additional needs children.

The Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Beryl Blackmore, spoke about her background in education and working with children with additional needs. She commended the project, calling services like Contact Cymru’s “vital” in providing much-needed support and guidance for families across Wales.

Contact Cymru is running a new online drop-in service for families of children with additional needs. Sessions take place every Thursday morning between 11:00-12:00 during term time.

The drop-ins are run by our parent volunteers, who provide a safe space to talk about information and experiences. Each drop-in has a topic theme, but it’s also open to anyone who just wants to chat with other families or find out more about Contact.

So pop the kettle on, grab a biscuit and join us from the comfort of your sofa for one of our upcoming dates. You’re welcome to stay for however long you want to, whether just a few minutes or the whole hour, and to join the chat or just listen in.

Topic themes

The drop-ins are free to attend, but you need to register first. To attend any of these sessions, please visit Eventbrite to register and we will send you the meeting link.

Please note, our drop ins are delivered by our parent volunteers and parents of children with additional needs. Sessions are delivered in English.

Newydd! Galw Heibio Ar-lein

Bob dydd Iau rhwng 11am-12pm yn ystod y tymor, rydym yn cynnig gwasanaeth galw heibio ar-lein i deuluoedd plant ag anghenion ychwanegol.

Caiff ein sesiynau galw heibio eu cynnal gan ein Rhieni Wirfoddolwyr, sy’n darparu man diogel i siarad am wybodaeth a phrofiadau. Mae thema bynciol i bob sesiwn galw heibio, ond mae hefyd yn agored i unrhyw un sydd eisiau sgwrsio â theuluoedd eraill neu ddarganfod mwy am Contact.

Felly rhowch y tegell ymlaen, cydiwch mewn bisged ac ymunwch â ni o gysur eich soffa am un o’r sesiynau galw heibio sydd i ddod. Mae croeso i chi aros pa mor hir ag y dymunwch, boed yn ychydig funudau neu’r awr gyfan, a chael sgwrs neu wrando.

I fynychu unrhyw un o’r sesiynau galw heibio hyn, defnyddiwch y ddolen hon i gofrestru a byddwn yn anfon dolen y cyfarfod atoch. Bydd y pynciau ar gyfer ein cyfres nesaf o sesiynau galw heibio o’r 21 Tachwedd hefyd yn cael eu hychwanegu’n fuan.

Sylwer, mae ein sesiynau galw heibio yn cael eu darparu yn Saesneg ac yn cael eu darparu gan Rieni Gwirfoddolwr Cymru a Rhieni plant ag anghenion ychwanegol.

Universal Credit is the new benefit that is replacing the existing system of means tested benefits and tax credits – known as the legacy benefits. The process of moving existing legacy benefit claimants onto Universal Credit is known as managed migration. This process is now well underway with more than 60,000 claimants per month being asked to claim Universal Credit.

However, no-one is moved onto Universal Credit automatically. Instead, you will need to make a claim. Universal Credit have strict deadlines for you to do this by, if you want to be eligible for transitional protection payments to make sure that you are not left worse off.

Join us on 12 August

Join our special webinar via Zoom on Monday 12 August between 10 and 11.30am, to find out more about what you need to do once you receive a managed migration notice, asking you to make a claim for Universal Credit.

The webinar will look at:

This webinar will be presented by benefits advisers from Contact’s Family Finance team. To find out more about this webinar and to sign up, visit our Eventbrite page. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

New to webinars?

A webinar is a presentation live on the internet. You will be able to hear the presentation live, follow the slides and submit questions for the presenters to answer. You will need a home computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone.

Book your free place and join us on 12 August.

Can’t make 12 August?

We have lots of information about managed migration to Universal Credit on our website. We will also post a recording of the webinar on our webpages, shortly after the event has taken place.

National Lottery Wales / Cymru logo with the text "Cronfa Gymunedol / Community Fund"

Contact Wales has secured a half-million-pound award from the National Lottery Community Fund to deliver our new project, Building Resilience.

The funding, totalling £498,712 and spread over three years, will enable us to help families with disabled children in Wales adapt and recover from the cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic by building resilience, improving confidence, and providing complex support.

Launching in Summer 2024, the project aims to reach over 10,000 families across Wales by providing both online and face-to-face support in partnership with Welfare Rights and Citizen Advice. It will focus on understanding the unique needs of each family and delivering tailored support, ensuring that families get the help they need whatever their circumstances.

“We are delighted to have secured such a large award and grateful to the National Lottery Community Fund for their generous support,” said Katherine Wyke, Wales Manager. “This funding will allow us to deliver tiered support to families across North, Mid, and South Wales, helping them navigate these challenging times and create lasting positive change.”

For more information about our work in Wales, please visit our Contact Cymru page. 

Contact Cymru yn lansio prosiect ‘Datblygu Gwytnwch’ newydd dros dair blynedd yng Nghymru

Mae Contact Cymru wedi llwyddo i gael dyfarniad o hanner miliwn gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol i gyflwyno ein prosiect newydd, Datblygu Gwytnwch.  

Gyda’r arian hwn, sy’n gyfanswm o £498,712 ar draws tair blynedd, gallwn gynnig mwy o gymorth i deuluoedd plant anabl ledled Cymru, a helpu rhieni sy’n ofalwyr i addasu a dod dros effeithiau’r argyfwng costau byw a’r pandemig.

Bydd y prosiect yn cychwyn yn yr Haf 2024 a’r bwriad yw cyrraedd dros 10,000 o deuluoedd drwy roi cymorth iddynt ar-lein ac wyneb yn wyneb, ar y cyd â Hawliau Lles a Cyngor ar Bopeth. Bydd yn canolbwyntio ar ddeall anghenion unigryw pob teulu a darparu cyngor a gwybodaeth benodol, i sicrhau bod teuluoedd yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt beth bynnag fo’u hamgylchiadau.

“Yr ydym yn falch o fod wedi cael dyfarniad mor fawr, ac yn ddiolchgar i Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol am eu cymorth hael,” yn ôl Katherine Wyke, Rheolwr Cymru. “Gyda’r arian hwn, gallwn gynnal mwy o ddigwyddiadau, adnoddau, sesiynau a gweithdai i deuluoedd sydd â phlant anabl ar draws y Gogledd, y Canolbarth a’r De, a’u helpu i ddod dros y cyfnod heriol hwn drwy ddatblygu gwytnwch, magu hyder a rhoi cymorth cymhleth.”

Am fwy o wybodaeth am ein gwaith yng Nghymru, ewch ar dudalen Contact Cymru.

Last year the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) started the process of asking people on legacy benefits to move onto Universal Credit, even if they had no change of circumstances. This is known as ‘managed migration’ onto Universal Credit.

Initially only people on tax credits who weren’t getting any other means tested benefits were asked to migrate. However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has now started the process of asking people on other legacy benefits such as income support and housing benefit to migrate onto Universal Credit.

In the coming months hundreds of thousands of claimants will receive a managed migration notice telling them that their legacy benefits will be stopping and that they need to claim Universal Credit instead. However, you aren’t transferred onto Universal Credit automatically. Instead, you need to make a claim for Universal Credit and will have a deadline to do this by. If you miss your final deadline, you won’t be eligible for any transitional protection to make sure you aren’t worse off. 

Confused about managed migration onto Universal Credit? Join us on 14 May

To help clear up any confusion, parent advisers from our Family Finance Team are inviting you to ask any questions you have about managed migration to Universal Credit at a special Q&A session on Tuesday 14th May between 10am – 11.30 am on our Facebook page. This session is for parents in England, Wales or Scotland. Different rules apply to managed migration in Northern Ireland.

Can’t make Tuesday the 14th?

We have lots of information about managed migration onto Universal Credit on our website. Take a look at our webpage about Moving onto Universal Credit from legacy benefits and watch our new video on ‘Getting a Universal Credit managed migration notice’

We’re running a number of online workshops and sports events in Wales over the next month. Take a look at what’s on offer and book your place today….

Free online workshops – from sleep to handling meetings

Contact Cymru (Wales) provides free online workshops on a variety of topics. Our online workshops are held on Zoom, and we can give advice on how to install and use Zoom before the workshop is held. If you prefer to not be visible or audible on screen during the workshop, that’s no problem.

Rare conditions workshop – How to handle meetings and appointments

Tuesday 19th March, 10am-12pm

If you care for a child with a rare condition, you’ve likely been at many meetings and appointments with doctors, teachers, health professionals and support workers.

Confidence in planning, preparing for and handling meetings is a useful skill to have in your toolkit. This session will help you to recognise your strengths and feel better able to express yourself in meetings.

Book now on Eventbrite.

Rare conditions workshop – Wellbeing: looking after you

Thursday 21st March, 10am-12pm

This online workshop will help you to learn new strategies to improve your wellbeing. We will explore the causes of stress and techniques that can help you deal with difficulties. By attending this workshop, you will also receive a free wellbeing goodie bag!

Book now on Eventbrite.

Hemiplegia exclusive workshop – Managing your child’s sleep

Tuesday 26 March, 10am – 12pm

Many children have sleep issues, but this is very common for children with hemiplegia. This session explores some of the issues around sleep and will look at ways of supporting your child, raising awareness of the importance of sleep and the effect on the whole family.

Book now on Eventbrite.

Better Together disability sports sessions

We’re excited to be running two Better Together sports sessions in April for disabled children and young people in Mid & North Wales.

Together with our partners Urdd Gobaith Cymru and the Welsh Rugby Union, these sessions give children the chance to try out a selection of adapted and accessible sporting activities. Parent carers can take the opportunity to meet other families and make friends. Taster sessions on offer include activities such as football, athletics, basketball, cricket, boccia, golf and rugby.

These sessions are for families of children with any additional need or pan-disability, with or without a diagnosis. We don’t turn anyone away.

Better Together sport session – Wrexham

Wednesday 3rd April, 12.15-1.30pm
University Sports Centre, Wrexham

Book now on Eventbrite.

Better Together sport session – Deeside

Thursday 4th April, 2-4pm
Deeside Leisure Centre, Queensferry

Book now on Eventbrite.

The Welsh Government has announced that it is making a £500 one-off payment to carers who currently get Carer’s Allowance.

The payment, which will be administered by Welsh local authorities, is a lump sum that will be made to anyone in Wales who is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance on 31 March 2022.  

It forms part of a £29m investment in unpaid carers from the Welsh Government to recognise the financial and emotional hardship many have experienced.

The Welsh Government estimates that 57,000 carers will qualify for this payment.

Carers will have to submit a claim for a payment to their local authority later this year. Further details on how and when to do this will be made available by the Welsh government shortly.

For more information, see Unpaid carers in Wales to receive a £500 payment as part of £29m investment from gov.wales.

Over a third (38%) of Welsh councils do not have enough childcare for disabled children, a cross-party Senedd Committee report has found this week.

And childcare provision for disabled children has decreased further in the last year as face-to-face services have shut down.

The report, by the Senedd’s Equalities and Social Justice Committee, recommends the Welsh Government increase funding available to improve provision for children with disabilities and/or additional or complex needs.

The report echoes what you told us in our Counting the Costs survey. Over half (57%) of 169 Welsh families said that caring responsibilities mean they or their partner has given up paid work. On average, this resulted in a loss of £22,414 from their family income.

In addition to more funding for disabled children’s childcare, we are calling on the UK and Welsh governments to invest in specialist independent advice services to help families with disabled children claim what they are entitled to.

Take action and send our template letter to your MP.

Need advice about childcare?

Visit our page on finding childcare for information about what service are out there.

Our page on paying for childcare explains help towards childcare costs, including free childcare schemes.

A new system of support for children with additional learning needs (ALN) in Wales, called the ALN framework, was introduced on 1 September 2021 to replace the existing special educational needs (SEN) system.

This old system is being phased out from now until Summer 2024. This means that the support your child receives might come under the old or the new system, depending on where they are in the transfer process.

We’re putting on a webinar with guests speakers from Irwin Mitchell legal firm to help you understand more about the ALN reforms and what they mean for you and your child. 

Thursday 18 November 2021

10:00 – 11:00 GMT

Join now via Eventbrite

You can also read more about education in Wales or talk to other parents on our Contact Cymru Facebook page.

From today, 1 September 2021, a new system of support for children with additional learning needs (ALN), called the ALN framework, is in effect to replace the existing special educational needs (SEN) system. There is new statutory guidance: the Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021.

The new system will be gradually phased in until Summer 2024, with a timetable in place for transfer of children and young people currently received support through the SEN system.

This means that the support your child receives might come under the old or the new system, depending on where they are in the transfer process.

Support under the ALN framework

If your child starts to receive support in education for the first time after 1 September 2021, their support will come under the ALN framework.

Under the ALN framework, children and young people with ALN receive extra help through an Individual Development Plan (IDP). 

Support under the SEN system

If your child was receiving support in education before 1 September 2021, that support comes under the SEN system and under the SEN code of practice.

If they are receiving support through School Action/Action Plus, this will end in January 2022. After that, they’ll start to receive support under the ALN framework.

If your child has a statement of SEN, this will continue to be in place until it is replaced by an IDP.

More about the new system

The Welsh Government has FAQs about the new system:

The additional learning needs transformation programme: frequently asked questions

You can also read the new statutory guidance: Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021.

Last Saturday, families in North Wales got together to enjoy Contact’s first live event since the pandemic hit.

The child-led forest school session at the Hawarden Estate in Flintshire included a mud kitchen, minibeast hunt, hammocks, cooking campfire snacks (marshmallows & popcorn) and den building.  

While the children had fun with session leaders in the Woodland Classroom, parents were able to chat over challenges with Kate Wyke from Contact Cymru, who provided a friendly face, information, support and advice.

One of the parents commented:

“Thank you so much for this opportunity. My son, who is 9 and has ASC (Autistic Spectrum Condition), began by telling everyone how much he prefers staying at home and playing computer games, but after half an hour, he was totally in a different mindset – enjoying every minute of it! Now he wants to do regular forest school!”

This was also the first live event of Contact’s new Better Together programme, and we welcomed representatives from the North Wales province of the Freemasons, who are giving £150,000 over three years to fund the project. They really enjoyed their visit, saying:

“It was an honour to represent North Wales Freemasons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation. We were blown away by the very obvious enjoyment of the children and their families. If we could bottle your enthusiasm, we’d make a fortune!!!”

Find out more about our Better Together events and the other family workshops and events Contact offers.

Our exciting new programme of Better Together family events kicks off this April to provide fun and new friendships for disabled children and their siblings, plus advice for parent carers from our amazing Family Support Consultants.

We have three events coming up in April and May. Each of these activities will take place over Zoom and are open to families in North Wales and the West Midlands:

Better Together is a three-year project, funded by local Freemason lodges. When Covid allows, activities will be live and local in areas of North Wales and the West Midlands, but we want to begin the fun now!

Each of the workshops for children will be followed by an overview of Contact’s services for parent carers – an opportunity to chat, share stories and get advice.

Take a look at our family workshops and events webpage for all of our events coming up wherever you live. Keep checking as we update these pages regularly.