Forward Carers Birmingham are delighted to announce 17 new Carer Projects will be launching in autumn to support unpaid Carers in Birmingham. These projects will provide a wide range of activities and services to complement the existing support available via Birmingham Carers Hub.

Autism West Midlands have been successful in their grant application for funding to provide 2 years of services specialising in autism parent carers support in Birmingham.

Jo, who is a Autism Specialist Advisor with Autism West Midlands said: “As a parent of autistic children some of the most valuable support has been sharing with other parents and learning from each other’s experiences. This project is a fantastic opportunity to do just that, whilst also benefiting from the support and advice from specialist staff at Autism West Midlands

The service will offer support across the city for parent carers who will benefit from support, information, advice, and guidance around a variety of challenges faced by parent carers. This could include support in learning more about autism, sensory issues, navigation of both health and educational systems and a multitude of other issues affecting parent carers.

We will be able to offer parent carers individual 1-1 appointments for up to 1 hour where we can provide helpful information, advice, guidance, and signposting. We will also offer focused support groups that will enable parent carers to benefit from themed groups sessions and develop peer support networks. Each session will include specialist autism related topics with helpful takeaway resources. Themes for groups will be based upon the needs of the group. Groups will also be offered the opportunity to participate in other activities of their choice such as lunches out, wellbeing walks and guest speakers. Groups will provide a social opportunity and allow people to share experiences and develop peer support from other parent carers