There are many agencies offering support and advice to disabled children and young people, parents and carers. Here are a few we hope you’ll find useful:

Local Organisations

Customer First: information about Suffolk County Council services for disabled children and young people, plus parents and carers

Suffolk Family Carers: information, support, and advocacy service for family carers in Suffolk. Also provides help and support for parents/carers who wish to return to work.

Optua: Optua is a charity that provides a wide range of services for disabled people across East Anglia including access groups, advice and advocacy, events and leisure, community transport, care and training.

Suffolk Disability Information: information to find facilities, opportunities and experience to get more out of life.

Papworth Trust: a charity providing a range of services for disabled people throughout the East of England

The Link Scheme: this gives children who have sensory, learning or physical disabilities a change from their daily family life by providing them with regular short breaks. It allows the disabled child to participate in new experiences and breaks can range from a couple of hours a week to a weekend once a month.

Suffolk Children’s Centres: a range of services for families with children from birth to five. Including free activities, adult education (with free creche facilities), training and back to work advice.

Young carers

There’s a page in the Children & young people’s section about Being a young carer – we hope you will find the information of use too.

National Organisations

Carers Direct : Carers support and information online. Advice on respite breaks, Carer's Allowance, carers assessments. Helpline, callback, email and post.

Contact a Family: a UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children.

Mencap: provides support to parents, carers and people with learning difficulties.

Scope: support and advice for people with cerebral palsy

Working families: help and advice about childcare and other work related issues

Disabled Living Foundation: help, support and advice with equipment and independent living