Check out these great websites designed for children and teenagers, their parents and teachers, about how to have fun and use the internet safely:

www.thinkuknow.co.uk

www.kidsmart.org.uk

www.childnet.com

Here are details of a variety of organisations which exist to support families. So, for information about…

• Child Benefit - contact HMRC on 0845 3021444

• Child Tax Credit (including queries about Assistance with Childcare Funding whilst seeking work) -0845 3003900

• Assistance with Childcare Funding (whilst training or studying) – 0800 1218989

• “Into Recruitment Project” – 020 8770 6849 or 020 8770 6000

There is also useful information on www.direct.gov.uk and on the HMRC wesite www.hmrc.gov.uk.

Who are we?

We are a group of parents and carers all of whom have disabled children. Our childrens ages range from 0 up to 25 years!

We provide a voice for all the parents of disabled children in Sutton that gets heard (and listened to!) by the Borough on a regular basis.

Our aim is not to actually solve your problems ourselves but to ensure that they are referred to the right people. Be assured that if something is troubling you or your family, it will definitely be troubling other families too!

We would also like to hear about good practice and service that we can recommend as a benchmark.

Joining us is simple. All you need to do is:

• Fill out a questionnaire. This information is useful for when we need to contact parents regarding particular disabilities for a consultation or discussion regarding services, equipment etc. When changes to a service are being considered, the Borough needs to hear the views of the people that actually use it. You can tell them exactly what is good or bad about it and how something simple might make life so much easier.
• Come to the meetings when you can. These may be with a speaker  or just a coffee morning get together. Sometimes all we need to do is talk to people who completely understand what we are going through.

To find out more, please contact The Suttons Parents Forum, Veronica Renwick, Chair, through Contact a Family on 0208 640-5525

Courses are available at Carshalton College. For more information see 'Passport to Employment' and 'Improve your English and Maths'.

The Helpp group is run by parents to provide a safe, non-judgemental environment creating an atmosphere in which parents can learn from each other about themselves and their children.  They offer support and education about effective parenting strategies that are shared from the heart, out of their own experiences. 

Chris Eley, the School's chair of governors and his wife Brenda support this group by helping run parent sessions. Additionally, the Joint Adolescent Services have set up a Fathers' Group which Chris helps to run. They welcome parents who have children with ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome, or have problems making friends, communication disorders, and many other issues including those relevant for foster care parents.

For more information see the Helpp group's website www.helpp.me.uk/ or speak to Chris.

The Young Carers’ service in Sutton service arranges a variety of social activities as well as providing help and support for children and young people who take on the role of looking after other family members. It is based at 12-14 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4DA. Their phone number is 020 8296 5611. They can also be contacted by email to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Shanklin Centre is the School's nearest children's centre. This aims to provide integrated education, care, family support and health services. These are key factors in determining good outcomes for children and their parents.

There is a drop in centre for parents/carers with children aged 0-5 to access a range of advice and services.

A Junior club provides free activities for children aged 5-12 on two afternoons a week. The scheme operates an open access policy for children over 8 which means that they can come and go as they please. For details of this scheme contact Julie Duffy on 07908 020409.

The London Borough of Sutton maintains an up to date list of registered childminders. Visit their website at   www.sutton.gov.uk/childrenservice/childrensinfo/childminders.htm

There are numerous possibilities for further education both within the borough and neighbouring areas.

These include IT courses as well as English for speakers of other languages and these are offered for progressive attainment levels.

SCOLA is a provider of adult and community education in the  London Borough of Sutton, offering over 1000 part-time courses at 9 main centres and numerous community venues. The College is a London Borough of Sutton service, funded by the Learning and Skills Council. More than 12,000 students enrol annually, either to gain qualifications or for personal development. Visit their website for more information

www.scola.ac.uk

For information about some other adult learning opportunities select from the links below.

www.carshalton.ac.uk

www.nescot.ac.uk

www.croydon.gov.uk/education/adult/courses/ 

www.merton.gov.uk/learning/adulted/adulteducation.htm