Face2Face offers a free and confidential 1:1 befriending service for parents of children with a disability.
Have you recently learnt that your child has a disability? Perhaps the news came as a complete shock to you? Maybe you have known about your child’s disability for a while but are finding things difficult at the moment?
If you are the parent/carer of a disabled child, we can help.
All our befrienders are parents who have been trained to give the best possible support to others. They provide 1:1 support in your own home, without judgement or agenda. As the befrienders are parents themselves, they can remember how they wanted to talk to someone who understood what they were feeling at the time. Many people find it invaluable to have another parent who can simply listen and understand.
Please contact the Face2Face Co-ordinator for more details - E: face2face@whitelodgecentre.co.uk T: 01932 567131
Monthly befriending groups are also available for Mums and Dads (these are seperate groups)
These groups are a great way to meet with others going through similar experiences. We hope the groups will help you to develop new friendships, socialise and gain emotional and moral support.
The groups are facilitated by two trained befrienders. Female befrienders for the Mums group and males for the Dads.
The monthly meetings take place at: Riverbourne Health Club, Herriot Road, Chertsey, KT16 9DR on the following dates:
Mum-2-Mums: 16 October, 13 November and 11 December 2024- all from 8.00pm - 9.45pm
This is what one mum had to say about the group: "I'm really enjoying the mum's group. I look forward to it every month. It's so lovely just to be able to sit and chat with people who understand. We have all shared ideas but also sometimes we just sit and listen. Sometimes I feel like my friends just don't get it. But that's not the case with the mums group. It's really friendly, and supportive. I really benefit in terms of my own mental health."
Dad-2-Dads: 23 October, 20 November and 18 December 2024 - all from 8.00pm - 9.45pm
This is what one dad had to say about the group: "Being a parent is the hardest thing in life but being the parent of a child with a disability is even harder and most of my friends and family do not understand the challenges we face, and you can feel very alone. The Dad’s group is the only outlet I have where I am able to share in a confidential space with a group of individuals in a similar situation. While everyone’s situation is unique, there are many similarities and themes (sleep, food, communication etc..) that we all face. The group is well facilitated and everyone has the opportunity to share without judgement and seek support/advice if wanted. I have recommended this group to a number of Dads and believe that this is a key part of the support a Dad needs through their parenting journey."
Please contact the Face2Face Co-ordinator for more details and before attending E: face2face@whitelodgecentre.co.uk T: 01932 567131
Could you help other parents?
There is also the opportunity to become a befriender yourself. You will get full support, and we run a training course to ensure that you are equipped with all the necessary skills.
For more information please contact our Face2Face Co-ordinator, Miriam Wichmann (Tuesday & Wednesday – term time only).