Suffolk Parent Carers Network‘s funding has allowed the team from the organisation to distribute 1,000 vital Family Support Boxes. These are being made up and delivered to families across the county for children and young people with a range of additional needs including ASD, ADHD, learning difficulties, mental health issues. They include vital Covid-19 Information and Resource packs for the parent carers, as well as stress balls, bubbles, puzzles/colouring books for children and young people, and colouring books for adults.

There is a need to respond quickly to families who are at home with their children and young people with additional needs and/or disabilities and provide some practical things to help them.  The funding has also enabled the set-up of an official ‘support help-line’ for parents and carers to call.  The SPCN team understand the impact this situation is having on families and are therefore changing the usual way of working and are offering support to individual families if they need someone to talk to, constantly offering emotional wellbeing and mental health support whilst vulnerable families self-isolate.