{"id":171,"date":"2020-03-04T16:51:29","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T16:51:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/educationandfamilies\/?page_id=171"},"modified":"2026-06-04T13:53:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T12:53:57","slug":"support-groups-and-networks","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/support-for-parents\/support-groups-and-networks\/","title":{"rendered":"Support groups and networks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block is-style-dcc-two-col\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#networks-in-devon\">Networks in Devon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#the-disability-network\">Support groups in Devon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#further-support-in-devon\">Further support in Devon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#training-courses-for-parents\">Training courses and workshops for parents<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#support-for-different-types-of-need\">Support for different types of SEND need<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#financial-support-for-families\">Financial support for families<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#support-for-carers-in-devon\">Support for carers in Devon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#neighbouring-authority-local-offers\">Neighbouring authority local offers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Support groups and networks provide a valuable source of advice, guidance and information. They also give you the opportunity to meet parents and families who may be encountering similar challenges to those you experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page provides a summary of the different types of groups, networks and services that are available in Devon, and nationally, that can help support your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"networks-in-devon\">Networks in Devon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"parent-carer-forum-devon\">Parent Carer Forum Devon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD) is an independent group of parents and carers of children with SEND. They are all volunteers who want to make things better for the families, children and young people of Devon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PCFD connect with parents across the county and this helps us to understand the wide picture of what life is really like for families \u2013 identifying problems as well as what\u2019s working well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Forum works in partnership with Devon County Council, the NHS and other professionals to make sure that services in Devon are accessible and meet the needs of children and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PCFD also run <a href=\"https:\/\/parentcarerforumdevon.org\/events\/\" rel=\"noopener\">events for parent carers &#8211; find out more on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PCFD is actively looking for people to join the forum. If you\u2019d like to become involved or want to know more, get in touch by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>emailing <a href=\"mailto:admin@parentcarerforumdevon.org\">admin@parentcarerforumdevon.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>joining the forum\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/parentcarerforumdevon\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook group<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-dcc-secondary-button\"><a onclick=\"dataLayer.push({&amp;apos;buttonEvent&amp;apos;: &amp;apos;Information page&amp;apos;});\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"http:\/\/www.parentcarerforumdevon.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Find out more about PCFD<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ambassador-volunteer-programme\">Ambassador Volunteer Programme<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Devon\u2019s SEND Ambassador Volunteer Programme is run in partnership by <a href=\"https:\/\/devonias.org.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Devon Information Advice and Support (DIAS)<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/parentcarerforumdevon.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Parent Carer Forum Devon (PCFD)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ambassador Volunteers live and work in communities across Devon and may be: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Parent carers with lived experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People who run peer support groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practitioners who work closely with SEND families, children and young people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ambassador Volunteer Programme connects parent carers within their own communities and across Devon. It provides trusted SEND information, peer support, and opportunities for families to influence how SEND services develop locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-dcc-secondary-button\"><a onclick=\"dataLayer.push({&amp;apos;buttonEvent&amp;apos;: &amp;apos;Information page&amp;apos;});\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sendavdevon.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Find out more about the Ambassador Volunteer Programme<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-disability-network\">Support groups in Devon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many ways in which you can get support and help in Devon, from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/support-for-parents\/support-groups-and-networks\/parent-and-carer-support\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"69609\">parent support groups<\/a> and coffee mornings to school groups, voluntary organisations and our SEND team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can contact our SEND team by email at <a href=\"mailto:sendlocaloffer@devon.gov.uk\">sendlocaloffer@devon.gov.uk<\/a> or by phone on <a href=\"tel:01392383000\">01392 383000<\/a> asking for \u2018SEND local offer\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Local support groups are also often widely advertised on Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"devon-information-advice-and-support-for-send-di-as\">Devon Information Advice and Support for SEND (DiAS)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devonias.org.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">DiAS<\/a> provides free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support about SEND. The service is for children and young people with SEND, aged up to 25, and their parents or carers and gives legally based information, advice and support around SEND issues at every stage of a child\u2019s education, including into further education and adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They can help you with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>understanding legal processes and knowing what you need to do and when<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>preparing for meetings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>developing a good working relationship with your child\u2019s pre-school, nursery, school or college<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>making decisions, by talking about what all your options are and the pros and cons of each<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>knowing how to do practical tasks, such as checking a draft EHC plan or getting your child referred to a specialist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;cursor: text;font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,'Nimbus Sans L',sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">You can contact DiAS on <\/span><a href=\"tel:01392383080\">01392 383080<\/a><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;cursor: text;font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,'Nimbus Sans L',sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\"> or by email at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:devonias@devon.gov.uk\">devonias@devon.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Council for Disabled Children has produced this video to explain more about what Information, Advice and Support Services do and how they can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"IASS video for Parents - what they are\/how they can help?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/CoSiCbMTUAc?feature=oembed&#038;rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"further-support-in-devon\">Further support in Devon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/support-for-parents\/social-care\/\">Disabled Children&#8217;s Service<\/a> offers advice, support and practical help to families who have a disabled child or young person.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/early-years-and-childcare\/devon-family-information-directory\">The Family Information Service<\/a> is a source of registered childcare for parents and carers of children in Devon (not just those with SEND).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/adult-social-care\/devon-social-care\/contact-us\/\">Adult Social Care<\/a> teams offer information, advice and support about the adult social care system in Devon to young people aged 18 and above and their families.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dcfp.org.uk\/early-help\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Early help<\/a> is extra support for you or your family to help prevent a problem or to support you before it gets worse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"training-courses-for-parents\">Training courses and workshops for parents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.signature.org.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">British Sign Language Courses<\/a>&nbsp;are available throughout Devon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/devonias.org.uk\/support\/training-information-events\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Better&nbsp;Outcomes from&nbsp;Meetings<\/a> can help parents to work positively and constructively with school staff and get more out of each meeting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/devonias.org.uk\/how-we-can-help\/training-information-events\/\" rel=\"noopener\">DiAS run a series of training and information events<\/a> for parents and carers. All of the training is free and currently takes place online.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"support-for-different-types-of-need\">Support for different types of SEND need<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are looking for support or information about the different types of SEND need you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/types-of-send\/\">find more information on our pages about types of SEND needs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"financial-support-for-families\">Financial support for families<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Information about the various forms of financial support available to families and parents of children and young people with SEND can be found on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/\">financial support pages<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"support-for-carers-in-devon\">Support for carers in Devon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.devoncarers.org.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Devon Carers<\/a> works to enable carers to maintain their own health, wellbeing and independence; and to care safely, confidently and effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It provides carers with the information and advice they need in their caring role. It also helps them to find support in their community and from local organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find out more about the financial support available to carers on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/financial-support-for-young-adults\/\">financial support for young adults<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also find more information on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/preparing-for-adult-life-ages-14-25-years\/help-for-parents-and-carers\/\">Support for parents and carers of young adults<\/a> page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"devon-young-carers\">Devon Young Carers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;cursor: text;font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,'Nimbus Sans L',sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">We commission a service called Devon Young Carers, to assess and support the needs of young carers up to the age of 18 years in Devon.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"float: none;background-color: #ffffff;color: #000000;cursor: text;font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,Helvetica,'Nimbus Sans L',sans-serif;font-size: 16px;font-style: normal;font-variant: normal;font-weight: 400;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 1.5;text-align: left;text-decoration: none;text-indent: 0px;text-transform: none\">Young carers are put in a position of great responsibility at a very young age; dealing with situations that many adults would find a challenge. These children and young people have to cope in difficult circumstances, not only looking after their relative but often helping to bring up siblings and run a household.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Devon Carers work with other services to ensure that when a young carer asks for help they are given the most up-to-date information and advice and are able to access the young carers service when it is most appropriate to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The service helps young carers to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>have the same life opportunities as their peers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>feel supported at school\/college<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>have good physical and emotional health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>access and achieve their potential in education and training<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>have their voices heard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>be prepared for adulthood and independence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find out more about whether you are a young carer, what support is available and useful resources on the <a href=\"https:\/\/devoncarers.org.uk\/am-i-a-carer\/young-carers\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Devon Carers website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To contact them use the <a href=\"https:\/\/devoncarers.org.uk\/contact\/\" rel=\"noopener\">\u2018Contact Us\u2019 function on their website<\/a> or call them on <a href=\"tel:03456434435\">03456 434 435<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"neighbouring-authority-local-offers\">Neighbouring authority local offers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Families living outside the area covered by Devon County Council can visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/who-to-contact-for-advice-and-guidance\/local-offers-from-our-neighbouring-authorities\/\">Local Offer websites of our neighbouring local authorities<\/a>, for information and advice on support and services available to them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are lots of different support groups in Devon offering varied support including community groups, parent forums and information and advice services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"parent":60,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-171","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-25 23:18:41","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74618,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/171\/revisions\/74618"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/60"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}