Parents Again Support Group

The Parents Again Support Group is an independent group for relatives who are guardians for a child / young person that is not their own. For example the relative could be an aunt, uncle or grandparent.

The group normally meet on the first Wednesday of every month from 11.30am – 1.00pm during school terms only.

If you would like to join the group to:

• Make new friends
• Discuss issues
• Get information and advice
• Find out more about today’s education system.

Please come along to the next meeting. These are usually held at The Jan Cutting Healthy Living Centre.

Following government guidance, all meetings are cancelled until further notice due to COVID-19.

Please note that Parents Again Support Group is run independently from Plymouth Information, Advice and Support for SEND and any queries about the content of this page should be directed to them.

If you would like to contact the group directly please call Gordon Rawlins on 01752 369369. Alternatively, we can pass on your details. Please contact Plymouth Information, Advice and Support for SEND on 01752 258933 or e-mail pias@plymouth.gov.uk

News & Events

• State of Nation Survey 2021: Every year Kinship survey kinship carers across England and Wales to understand what life is like for kinship families. Kinship can share these vital insights with central and local government to campaign for change and future support for kinship families.
• 1-2-1 Support for Kinship Carers: Due to support from the Department for Education and funding through the Adoption Support Fund, Grandparents Plus are able to offer kinship carers specialist 1-2-1 support from their project workers and expert advice team.
• External Parenting Courses – Includes four Solihull Approach online courses for families living in Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. Devon Local Maternity Services have purchased a multi-user licence so the courses can be accessed for free.
• Lockdown Stories: A new weekly blog – Kinship (formerly Grandparent Plus) have been sharing some of the stories they have been receiving from Kinship Carers during lockdown.
• Supporting Young People with Developmental Trauma – Resources suggested by a Clinical Psychologist to support children and young people who have experienced early loss, trauma and attachment disruption who may find self-isolation at home might bring additional challenges.
• Parents Again Support Group has been nominated for a Social Care Award 2017 run by Global Health and Pharma.
• Kinship Care Matters: Young People’s Stories – the film shows the resilience of young people and is a thank you to all kinship carers who take on the caring role in difficult family circumstances.
• Haven Holidays: Kinship have teamed up with Haven Holidays to save 10% off their holiday breaks.
• 10 Ways to Make a Difference for your Autistic Grandchild: Article from Autism Awareness Centre.
• Advice Service at Grandparents Plus (now Kinship) – Jo and Nicola answer your questions.

Useful links

• Advice for Grandparents – Some tips for grandparents from Contact, an organisation for families with disabled children. There is also a free 16 page guide providing information on having a disabled child in the family. See: Grandparents
• Autism Alert Card – The Devon Autism Alert Card was launched to help police and other emergency services identify people on the autistic spectrum. The card tells the emergency services or others that they may need to change their approach or behaviours to support the card holder because they are autistic. This card is free and there is no requirement to have an official dignosis.
• Buttle UK: Chances for Children – Buttle UK have been providing grants to support to children and young people in need across the UK since 1953 including support for kinship carers.
• ChildLine – Private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of 19.
• Family Lives: Grandparents
• Get Self Help – This website offers Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) self-help information and resources including free therapy worksheets which can be downloaded.
• Grandparent Guide to Bullying and Digital Safety – A guide written for grandparents providing useful advice enabling them to support a young person through bullying.
• Kinship – Formerly Grandparents Plus, Kinship provides advice and support for all kinship carers who are thinking about or bringing up a relatives child. To stay up-to-date on news and stories about kinship care you can also sign up for the monthly newsletter.
• Kinship Carers Support Group – A private Facebook group providing advice and support for kinship carers bringing up children because their biological parents cannot raise them.
• Special Guardianship Order Caring for Family – A private Facebook group for those with or about to have a special guardianship order caring for other family members. The group is able to give advice on the process from assessments to court and is also a place where members can share their experiences with others in similiar situations.
• What are Grandparents Rights?
• Young Minds – Young Minds is a charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.