Most children and their families have a good quality of life with minimal support from public services. But at times family life and bringing up children can be demanding. Families may need extra help from universal, targeted and specialist services. All agencies working with children and families are responsible for listening to their concerns, to make sure the right support at the right time is offered.
We want families to know that it is always OK to ask for help
The Locality Community Support Service (LCSS) offers advice and support to partners in the community to deliver Early help. LCSS can advise and support professionals and families regarding Early help, including the use of the Strengths & Needs and Team Around the Family meetings.
The UK’s largest provider of specialist autism services. National Autistic Society is a charity providing information, advice and support for people with autism, and campaigns for a better world for autistic people. National Autistic Society supports children and young people in specialist schools, mainstream schools, and in further education and higher education. They also support people within the community, at work or at home in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Disability Rights UK is the leading charity of its kind in the UK. DR UK is itself led by people with diverse experiences of disability and health conditions, from different communities. We work with allies committed to equal participation for all. Together we can be stronger.
At the Disability Rights Commission they have one key goal “A society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens”.
Scope is a strong community of disabled and non-disabled people with a shared vision of equality. They provide practical advice and emotional support whenever people need them most. Scope do this through their helpline, their online community, a range of employment and child sleep services, community engagement programmes, and more. All of their services are developed to achieve our strategy, Everyday Equality. They also use their collective power to change attitudes and end injustice, and campaign relentlessly to create a fairer society.
Mencap is a national charity working to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities and their families, providing information, advice and support on a range of issues including young people, diagnosis, benefits, relationships & sex, wills & trusts, pmld, health & social care, the Mental Capacity Act and challenging behaviour. They have a network of over 400 local groups, some of which are operated directly by Mencap, others which operate as independent charities, with their own governance and strategy. (For details of groups in Oxfordshire please see their website). Mencap also work with organisations to improve the employment prospects of people with a learning disability through their work and training service ‘ Employ Me’, which helps identify job opportunities, review training needs and provide on the job support where appropriate.
Style Acre supports people with learning disabilities and autism in Oxfordshire, to live successfully in their own homes with peers. They support a range of needs, including people who need 24 hour care to those who only need a few hours a week. They can provide work experience, find work placements and specialist staff and equipment for those with communication difficulties. They also have three community hubs in Wallingford, Didcot and Banbury, providing day opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Oxfordshire Family Support Network (OxFSN) is a not for profit organisation run by, and for, family and carers of people with learning disabilities, both children and adults. They provide information, advice, support and training to family members, carers and to healthcare and social care professionals.
Oasis (Oxfordshire Autistic Society) is a charity run by parent volunteers for those bringing up children and young adults on the autistic spectrum. Oasis aims to create a supportive community through family events, informal groups, evening speaker meetings, and updates on the website of county wide events & information.
Octopus Arts is a small charity that supports music groups for people with learning disabilities in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
