Sparkle Family Liaison Service
Family Liaison Officers are your first point of contact for guidance, support and resources
There are Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) based at each of our children's centres, Serennu (South), Nevill Hall (North) and Caerphilly (West). They are passionate about the services and support that Sparkle has available, as they relate to the positive impact the service can have for individuals and families.
Our FLOs offer guidance and support to help families navigate the ‘system’, signpost to the correct professionals and provide support and resources.
Get in touch with the Family Liaison Officers nearest to you:
Jayne and Sarah based at Serennu Children's Centre - 01633 748013, family.liaison.abb@wales.nhs.uk
Sarah based at Nevill Hall Children's Centre - 01873 733176, abb.familyliaisonnorth@wales.nhs.uk
Lisa based at Caerphilly Children's Centre - 02920 867447, abb.familyliaisonwest@wales.nhs.uk
The Children's Centre Psychology Team
Children's Centre Psychology (CCP), run by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
The service offers psychological support to the families of children with developmental difficulties and/or disabilities who access other services at Serennu, Nevill Hall, and Caerphilly Children’s Centres.
The service also offers training and consultation to professionals who work to support these families. Many of the services available can be accessed via a request for involvement completed by parents or carers.
The Children's Centre Psychology team organise monthly online workshops. If you're interested in receiving information about the different workshops every month, please send them an email at the address below and ask to be added to their mailing list.
To discuss how Children's Centre Psychology might be able to support your family, contact the service on 01633 436996, abb.helpinghandsteam@wales.nhs.uk or speak to a Family Liaison Officer.
Please find all CCP toolkits and resources here.
Dad's/Male Carers Group
Saturday morning get-together for fathers and male carers of children with disabilities and developmental conditions
The group is led by the Dads themselves, and supported by our Children's Centre Psychology team when needed. This session offers male carers a chance to chat about the issues that affect them specifically.
This group meet in person for coffee on the second Saturday of every month, 10:00am-12:00pm and online on the fourth Saturday of each month.
Contact: dadsgroupgwent@gmail.com
ADHD+ Parents Support Group
Supports parents and carers of children and young people affected by ADHD and/or ASD
The group meets at Serennu Children's Centre each second Thursday monthly during term times between 10am and 12pm. You are very welcome to join them for a cuppa and a chat.
For more information please contact our Family Liaison Officers at Serennu Children's Centre on 01633 748013 or email family.liaison.abb@wales.nhs.uk.
Newport Autism Support Group
Supports parents, carers and grandparents of children and young people who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) living in Gwent
The group invite various speakers to their meetings including Occupational Therapists, Educational Psychologists and other agencies.
They meet on the first Thursday of each month from 10am-12pm at Serennu Children’s Centre. If you would like more information please email: newportautismsupportgroup@hotmail.co.uk.
Torfaen Play Service
Provides community play opportunities for children and young people aged 5-15 years through after school clubs, half term and summer play schemes
Additionally, support is provided for children and young people aged 5 - 18 years with disabilities to access community play provision.
Support is provided to young people aged 16+ years to volunteer within community play settings during holiday times, including young people with additional needs. Full training is provided. The young helpers’ scheme is aimed at young people aged 13 to 15 years to help within community play settings during holiday periods.
The aim is to empower young people to gain work based experience and learn skills which will further them within the field of working with children and young people. Term time training placements are available with Torfaen Play Service. This includes support to learn work-based skills, to work in a variety of settings including schools and community based venues as well as achieve an accredited qualification.
Contact: 01495 742951 Email: calltorfaen@torfaen.gov.uk.
(Please note: South and North only)
Family Liaison Service Coffee Mornings
Open to all and offering support, advice and good conversation amongst a supportive peer group of parents and carers
TOGS
Self-funding local charity that provides services to Torfaen families who have children or young people (8 - 18 years) with physical, learning or sensory disabilities
Any parent/carer of a disabled child from 8 to 18 years who live in and around the borough of Torfaen can make a self-referral to TOGs for their child to join us. You DO NOT need to be referred by any statutory organisation.
This Centre is owned and run by Trustees and Parents. Special Youth Clubs are run by a team of Youth Workers and Voluntary Workers.
Contact: 01495 751567 Email: office@togscentre.co.uk / youthclub@togscentre.co.uk
(Please note: South and North only)
Hope GB
Registered charity based in Torfaen that offers support services to people with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and their families
Hope GB aim to provide support on issues such as: understanding what it means to have an autistic spectrum condition, exploring the triad of impairments, structuring the learning environment – particularly during periods of transition, different approaches to managing challenging behaviour, supporting improved communication and social interaction and developing daily living skills for children and young people with ASC.
Contact: 07595 455067
Address: Griffithstown Baptist Church, Commercial Street, Griffithstown, Pontypool NP4 5JF
(Please note: South and North only)
GoGirls Project
Social action group for young women aged 15-25 years living in Torfaen, Newport, Caerphilly and Monmouthshire.
Bron Afon Community Housing in partnership with Pobl Group offer this programme for Young Women to have a safe space to talk about issues that matter to them - safer relationships, positive mental health and women’s equality, Go Girls aims to build self-esteem and resilience in young women living in our communities.
With an ethos of ‘Together Girls Stand Strong’, Go Girls provides a platform for young women to make new friendships, be a part of a support group and provide young women with a voice to talk about the issues that matter to them, improving their wellbeing and encouraging them to be the best they can be.
Contact: 07837 033 379 / 07528 965 195 Email: gogirlswalesuk@outlook.com
SNAP Cymru
Impartial information, advice and support for parents of children and young people who have, or may have, special educational needs or disabilities.
Snap Cymru provide the following impartial, confidential and free services: Monthly Drop-in Advice Sessions, Helpline Advice and Support, Specialist Casework, Discrimination Advice and Casework, Independent Specialist Advocacy and Disagreement Resolution.
Contact: 0808 801 0608 Website: www.snapcymru.org
NYAS – National Youth Advocacy Service
Supporting care experienced children, young people and adults in vulnerable situations
NYAS offers individual advocacy and a range of information, advice and support to ensure the child or young person’s voice is heard when decisions are being made about them. Alongside monthly advice sessions at Serennu.
Contact: 0808 808 1001 Email: help@nyas.net
Building Bridges
Countywide project for 14 - 25 year olds with additional needs, based at Bridges Centre in Monmouth
Its aim is to support and encourage young people to engage in their local communities; broadening their social networks, making friends, confidence building and learning social skills.
Focuses on sustainability and supporting our young people to make connections with individuals and groups that outlive the life of the project. Includes one-to-one and group work encompassing social, leisure and work-related activities.
Email: enquiries@bridgesmonmouth.org.uk
(Please note: South and North only)
Jigsaw
ALN play sessions & recommendations based in South Wales
For children under 10 with additional learning needs, Jigsaw offer weekday play sessions.
Please visit Jigsaw ALN's Facebook page for information on upcoming events and how to book a space.
AP Cymru
Providing peer support outreach services for families going through the diagnostic process and the crucial months which follow
AP Cymru pool together lived experiences to provide a warm, friendly, accessible service. The majority of their staff are Neurodiverse and are parents to Neurodiverse children, and so they are able to provide well-rounded, positive, and understanding information to parents and carers.
Families can access their Parent Support & Wellbeing Services and Family Activity & Wellbeing Programme that include a wide variety of workshops, training courses, clinics, guest speakers, and family fun sessions. The workshops they facilitate allow parents and carers to access general information from professionals while they wait for their child to reach the top of waiting lists for more individualised programmes.
For more information, please visit the AP Cymru website.
National Autistic Society (Blaenau Gwent)
Providing support to those who have or are going through a diagnosis of autism
The goal of the NAS is to signpost and point you in the right direction to get the help and information you may need.
They hold coffee mornings on the 2nd Tuesday of every month and family events throughout the year.
Please contact blaenaugwent@nas.org.uk for more information.