Henshaws Society for Blind People Manchester
Key Facts
Location
Project Criteria
Contact
Bob Simonds
Email
Project funding
£85,000
Funding round
The Parenting Fund grant is to expand our support network for parents with a visually impaired child in the City of Manchester. The project will give parents access to the information and support they need at all stages in their child's development. It has developed from our Greater Manchester Family Service, which provides one point of access to support, information and social opportunities. We will pilot new ways of reaching out to more families (including BME communities). Central is the provision of an intensive service focused on single local authority areas. To achieve this our family support and sessional work will offer:
Support for Parents:
- Practical support at the point of diagnosis by Manchester Eye Hospital
- Home visits to give parents the chance to talk about their needs and get information on topics such as education, healthcare and local services
- Peer support networks and parental training to enable parents to meet informally and share experiences
- Extended access to Henshaws' handy guide for families' information resource
- Inclusive play activities, which recognise the needs of visually impaired BME children
Support for Professionals:
- Raising awareness of the needs of families affected by visual impairment among voluntary organisations, NHS, statutory agencies and professionals through networking, seminars, visual impairment awareness training and project conference
- An e-network will be developed among these same organisations for continued sharing of information and best practice