Advocacy Matters (Wales) awarded Big Lottery grant

Advocacy Matters (Wales) is delighted to be awarded a £247,872 Big Lottery grant to provide advocacy to parents with learning disabilities involved in child protection and child care proceedings. The three-year Project will be developed and delivered in Cardiff, Newport and the Vale of Glamorgan.

AMW will provide 1:1 Independent advocacy support for the parent involved in child protection and child care proceedings to express their wishes in reviews. The Advoacte will accompany parents at statutory review meetings, meetings with local authority personnnel, solicitors and court hearings ensuring information given to them is provided in a format that can be easily understood and meets individual needs. 

Peer and self-advocacy support groups will be delivered in partnership with local People First groups through the creation of Parent First Groups. The Parent First Groups will meet on a regular basis and facilitate support groups for parents who may be exploring the option of parenthood, those who have children living with them, and those whose children no longer live with them.

Accessible easy read information packs, including preparation materials for child care proceedings and Looked After Children (LAC) review meetings, will be developed as part of the project contributing to good practice guidance for parents with learning disabilities in child protection issues.

This is a FREE and confidential service available to parents with a learning disability, including parents who are not assessed and / or eligible for statutory services.

Please phone Advocacy Matters (Wales) on (029) 2023 3733 for more information and to make a referral.