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Advice and support organisations
Autism Central
Autism Central for Parents and Carers
As parents and carers of autistic children, young people and adults, it can be hard to find help when you’re trying to get the right support. Autism Central aims to make it easier to learn more about autism and services available to you.
Esteem Team
The Esteem Team community offers professional and confidential support with form filling, enquiries, general parent or carer support and more.
Family Lives
Family Lives services are free to access and here to support you with parenting and family challenges. They include an advice line, courses, videos, forums, leaflets and WhatsApp support.
Headway Devon
Headway Devon provides a range of services for people with brain injuries, family members and carers.
Parent Talk
Parent Talk – Support for parents from Action For Children
Parent Talk offers free advice for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 19 in the UK. They can support families with disabled and neurodivergent young people up to age 25.
Parental Minds
Parental Minds offers a lifeline for carers – parents, family members, friends, or colleagues (18+) – supporting someone of any age who is struggling with their mental health or emotional wellbeing.
Special Needs Jungle
Special Needs Jungle creates easy to understand resources, articles and information for parents and carers of children with special needs, disabilities and health conditions to better enable them to navigate the special needs system.
Ups and Downs Southwest
Ups and Downs Southwest is a Down Syndrome support charity serving children and young people, their parents or carers and all linked professionals dealing with the health and education of children and young people who have Down Syndrome.
Support groups
Asperations Group
Asperations Group based in Kingsteignton is a place where parents of parents of children with ASD and ADHD Autism can talk and discuss problems with like minded people, sharing ideas and experiences. Children have the express themselves through play worker run sessions, with activities also laid on for siblings to have some fun.
Cranbrook Community SEND group
Cranbrook Community SEND group is a peer support group for families with SEND (additional needs) children in Cranbrook, and surrounding area, offering a listening ear, signposting, advice and information.
Connecting Moments
Connecting Moments – friendly, online sessions being run by Devon’s Family Hubs teams, to support parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Dawlish Children’s Special Needs Group – AIMS
AIMS operates a free Saturday ‘drop in’ group at Oaklands Park School in Dawlish from 11.00 to 2.00pm, where paid play leaders and volunteers offer craft, cooking, music, games and a great outdoor space.
Happy Hands
- A drop in support and play group where you can meet other parents and deaf and or hard of hearing adults.
- A stimulating environment for your child to meet other 0-5 deaf or hearing impaired children.
- Singing, signing, stories, craft activities, snacks.
Chestnut Children’s Centre, Exeter, EX2 6DJ. Happy Hands – Support for schools and settings
2nd Wednesday of the month (1.00 – 2.30 pm). All sessions are term-time only.
For more details contact your local teacher of the deaf.
Ivybridge, South Brent & Buckfastleigh SEND Parent Carers
Ivybridge, South Brent & Buckfastleigh SEND Parent Carers is a community group for parents and carers from Ivybridge, South Brent, Buckfastleigh and surrounding areas. The group allows parent carers to share ideas, strategies and experiences.
North Devon Forum for Autistic Spectrum Conditions and ADHD
North Devon Forum for Autistic Spectrum Conditions and ADHD is a parent or carer-led support group offering informal support to parents, carers and people with autistic spectrum conditions.
Okehampton Parent Carer Support Group
Okehampton Parent Carer Peer Support Group helps people connect with others, feel less isolated and tap into parent expertise and local support. We have regular speakers on topics that parent carers have told us they would like to know more about.
Your child does not have to have any particular difficulties, or a formal diagnosis, to benefit from the support on offer.
Seaton Parent/Carer SEN support group
Seaton Parent/Carer SEN support group
Open to all parents, carers and family members with an SEN child, no diagnosis is needed. An informal friendly meet up to chat in a safe, non judgmental environment.
Teignmouth Neurodiversity Hub CIC
Teignmouth Neurodiversity Hub CIC is an award-winning non-profit community group, run by neurodivergent parents of neurodivergent children, supporting children and families across South Devon. Several group sessions are available, including ‘Social Saturdays’, and Peer Support Groups.
Walk & Talk – SEN families
Walk & Talk – SEN families is a support group for SEN families in and around Exeter. We meet once a month on a Sunday for a walk and a talk.