Amaze runs regular, informal support groups across Brighton & Hove for parents of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They also offer one-to-one befriending for those parents who need more individual support, and groups and activities for young adults aged 18-25 with SEND.
Amaze is a charity that gives information, advice and support to families with children and young people with SEND
Eligibility
Your child or young person does not need to have a formal diagnosis to get support from Amaze though some of our services have rules about who is eligible. Find out more about Who can use Amaze?
Parent Carer Groups and Befriending
Parent carers can drop in to any of the regular, friendly groups – no need to book. At the groups, you’ll meet other parents and carers who know what it’s like to bring up children and young people with additional needs. The groups are run by staff and volunteers who are all parent carers. Sometimes sessions will focus on particular issues parent carers want to know more about; sometimes they’ll ask for parents’ views on a topic or service so Amaze can feed back concerns to the people who plan services. But most definitely, they’ll include having a cuppa, a cake and a good chat! Between sessions, if parent carers wish, they can stay connected to the parents they have met via our lively WhatsApp groups.
Amaze also offer one-to-one befriending for parents who need a bit more individual support, perhaps around the time of their child’s diagnosis or when they are going through other challenges. Volunteer befrienders are all parents of children with additional needs themselves. They are trained and supervised by Amaze.
How does befriending work?
An support and engagement worker from Amaze will talk to a parent carer on the phone first to explain more about befriending and work out what the parent might need. If Amaze can help, the parent carer will then be matched to a befriender with similar experiences who will provide support for up to six months. The support is flexible and can range from weekly to fortnightly visits or just keeping in touch via phone, text or email.
Find out more about the service here : Brighton & Hove parent carer groups – Amaze Sussex
For more information contact Marie Baker via marie@amazesussex.org.uk or on 07484 051755.
Amazing Futures Youth Groups
Amazing Futures youth groups provide a welcoming, inclusive space where young people aged 18 to 25 with additional needs can make friends, have fun, and be themselves. The groups offer young people the chance to take part in activities like games, cooking and art, plus sessions with specific themes like boardgames or wellbeing workshops. There are also trained peer support volunteers (aged 18 to 25) available for young people to talk to, targeted one-to-one support from a youth worker in some cases and wellbeing walks, workshops and resources.
Amaze youth groups provide opportunities for young people to share their views and experiences on things that affect them. This might mean helping to shape the development of Amaze’s website, feeding back on health services or how safe they feel in their communities. Amazing Futures is co-delivered by young people, and Amaze has young people on its trustee board.
Find out more about the service here: Young people’s groups – Amaze Sussex
Amaze can also can give young people one-to-one information, advice and guidance on things like education, employment and training, benefits, health and social care and wellbeing. They do this through our SENDIASS advice service, our benefits advice service and Amazing Futures Careers.
A young person can find out much more on the dedicated Amazing Futures website for young people
For more information, email AFbrighton@amazesussex.org.uk or call 01273 772289
Further Information
For more information and to discuss accessing support from Brighton Women’s Centre, please call 0808 196 1768 to speak to a member of our Central Access Point team. Alternatively, if you would prefer, you can arrange a callback.
https://amazingfuturessussex.org.uk/