Local
"The concept for the charity began in 1986. The local deaf community were frustrated by the lack of support for deaf and hard of hearing people in Bexley. They put a case forward to the local authority for a specialist service dedicated to helping people with hearing loss.
By 1994, Bexley Deaf Group was officially registered as a charity and was commissioned by the local authority to work alongside NHS audiologists based at South East London hospitals to help people to maintain their hearing aids and to distribute batteries.
They now offer many more services and activities, details of which can be found on the website. These services are accessed on average over 10,000 times every year.
They are now one of the leading centres for teaching British Sign Language (BSL) in South East England. All of the staff, and many of the volunteers are either native BSL users or are qualified to BSL level 2 or higher.
Address: Bexley Deaf Centre, The Learning & Enterprise College, DA7 4EZ
Tel: 01322 351122
https://www.bexleydeafcentre.com/
Bexley's Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS)
What is the ‘IASS’?
IASS are statutory services offering free information, advice and support to parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs from birth to age 25.
They have a role in making sure that parents’ views are heard and understood and that these views inform policy and practice.
Bexley's IASS Contact details:
Website: https://www.bexleyiass.co.uk/
Telephone: 0203 045 5976 (Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm)
Email Address: bexleyiass@bexley.gov.uk
Postal Address: Bexley Information, Advice and Support Service, Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath DA6 7AT
The Bexley Local Offer provides information about Special Educational Needs and Disability services (SEND) for children and young people aged 0-25 in Bexley.
The SEND Local Offer:
offers information in a single place about education, health and social care
helps children, young people and their families to understand what services and support they can expect from a range of local services and organisations
includes information about statutory entitlements
is accessible by website, telephone or email.
A Local Offer Officer is the person responsible for the Local Offer service, including providing information, the website content, promotion, engagement, feedback and responding to emails and telephone calls.
Telephone: 0203 045 5677
Email: localoffer@bexley.gov.uk
Website: www.bexleylocaloffer.uk
Address: Bexley Local Offer/Children's Services, Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street Bexleyheath DA6 7AT
The local voice of learning disability
Bexley Mencap
19 Church Road
Bexleyheath
Kent
DA7 4DD
020 8303 6336
www.bexleymencap.org.uk
office@bexleymencap.org.uk
The Bexley Branch of the National Autistic Society (BNAS) are a parent-led voluntary group, all of whom are parents, carers or family members of children and young people on the autistic spectrum.
Bexley Snap offer disabled children and young people aged between 1 Year and 25 Years an exciting and varied programme of clubs to provide parents and carers support, guidance, and regular breaks from their caring responsibilities.
The Bromley Down Syndrome Support Group is a community of families in the London Borough of Bromley who have family members with Down's Syndrome.
The group offers a network of support and engagement for parents, carers and family members.
Being part of a community that understands and can support you in navigating a new path can be invaluable.
Carers’ Support (Bexley) is an independent registered charity who is supported by London Borough of Bexley and Royal Borough of Greenwich. They have a team of trained staff and volunteers who provide a wide range of information, support and respite services to local adult carers residing in the Bexley and Greenwich boroughs.
A South London parent-run charity offering a unique, specialist early intervention therapy service for babies and young children with Down’s Syndrome and a local support network for their families.
The Dyslexia Association of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham gives information to and help for parents, teachers, adults and interested professionals. The separate adult group is open to anyone over 18 from any area within commutable distance of Bromley.
Everyone working for the Dyslexia Association of Bexley Bromley Greenwich and Lewisham does so in a voluntary capacity. We have no paid staff.
There are over 150 members of the Association.
Contact details:
Address: Community House, South Street, Bromley, BR1 1RH
Tel: 0300 999 1800
Email: info@dyslexiawise.co.uk
Website: dyslexiawise.co.uk
Imago support Young Carers by promoting positive wellbeing through a variety of activities, workshops, and respite. Working with school staff and other professionals, we aim to ensure Young Carers have access to the support they need and know they are not alone.
Young Carers provide unpaid care for a family member or friend with an illness, disability, mental health issue, or addiction. They support the cared-for and other family members with practical tasks, physical care, and emotional support, whilst at the same time trying to live their own life.
We support Young Carers in Bexley to minimise the negative impacts of caring and to access social and educational opportunities and emotional support, highlighting the positive impacts of being a carer, such as increased resilience and empathy.
https://www.imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/Bexley-Young-Carers
Homepage | London Borough of Bexley
Main Numbers:
- Customer Contact Centre - 020 8303 7777 – Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm
- Emergency out-of-hours service - 020 8303 7171
Other numbers:
- Disabled Children's Service - 020 3045 3600
- Emergency Link Line (Telecare) - 020 3045 5400
- Brokerage and Commissioning team - 020 3045 3033 brokeragecommissioningteam@bexley.gov.uk
- Formal Complaints – 020 8303 7777 / complaints@bexley.gov.uk
- Raising Concerns - Quality Assurance – 020 3045 4900 / qualityassurance@bexley.gov.uk
One Bexley is a partnership of 8 local charities united to improve the lives of Bexley residents. While each charity supports the community individually, they believe that by working together, they can achieve far more for local people than they could alone.
You could access OneBexley Pathways if:
- You are an older person or
- You have a long-term condition or
- You have a physical or learning disability or
- You need support with your mental wellbeing or
- You feel you need extra help or support at home or to do the things you enjoy or
- You provide unpaid care for somebody who can’t manage without you (you can still access our support if you do not live in Bexley but the person you care for does)
Website: https://onebexley.org/
Email: OneBexleyPathways@bvsc.co.uk
Phone: 020 4530 6580
Re-Instate is a charity working to improve employment opportunities, quality of life and well-being for disadvantaged people in the London Borough of Bexley.
Offers baby groups, early intervention pre-school groups, communication and education for life groups and training sessions, which include training for professionals working with children and young people with Down's Syndrome.
This is specifically for 'Kent' based families, but families in Bexley do travel to access services.
National
"The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more."
https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
Afasic supports and provides information for families with children and young adults who have Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) with a focus on Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
"The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) has been the voice of dyslexic people since 1972. We are a membership organisation working to achieve a dyslexia-friendly society for all."
Tel: 0333 405 4555 Helpline: 0333 405 4567
The national charity dedicated to helping children with brain conditions and their families discover a better life together. Listening to the needs of these families helps us inspire the most helpful research and innovation.
Contact: the charity for families with disabled children
Information, advice and support
The Contact website has advice and information about concerns you might have about raising a child with additional needs.
They run a free helpline and offer a Listening Ear support service. They produce a range of email newsletters and parent guides available to download or order.
Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) can be challenging, but it doesn't have to stop you from going to school, having a family or getting a job. Find out how Cystic Fibrosis Trust can support you to achieve all that and more.
Council for Disabled Children are the umbrella body for the disabled children's sector bringing together professionals, practitioners and policy-makers.
Disability Rights UK is the UK’s leading Disabled People's Organisation (DPO) led by, run by, and working for Disabled people.
They work with other DPOs, public bodies, businesses and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, accessibility, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for Disabled people.
Downright Excellent (DEx) works with children, their families and their schools, combining fun learning activities, training, specialist therapies, peer support and socialising to form a circle of support around each child and family to support, empower and inspire.
They are a national organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people who have Down’s Syndrome, promoting their right to be included on a full and equal basis with others.
0333 1212 300
https://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/
Genetic Alliance UK is an alliance of over 200 charities and support groups working together to improve the lives of people in the UK with genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions.
https://geneticalliance.org.uk/
(IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice
IPSEA are the leading charity in the field of SEND law in England, and provide free and independent legal advice and support to families of children and young people with SEND. They also provide training on the SEND legal framework, and influence policy at both a local and national level.
Kids Mediation helps families resolve disputes with the local authority or health service.
They are an independent service. That means they're not part of the local authority.
The service is free of charge for families and is for children and young people aged 0-25 with SEND or who may have SEND.
PSDS is a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with Down's Syndrome and their families.
The Lejeune Clinic runs Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy Sessions for Children with Down's Syndrome from birth to eighteen years old.
Scope is here to create an equal future with disabled people. They campaign to transform attitudes to disability, tackle injustice and inspire action. They create opportunities and provide information and support that empowers.
SOS!SEN has been supporting families for more than 20 years to help them secure the right special educational provision for children and young people with SEND.
Website: https://sossen.org.uk/
Helpline: 020 8538 3731
Sibs exists to support people who grow up with or have grown up with a disabled brother or sister. It is the only UK charity representing the needs of over half a million young siblings and over one and a half million adult siblings.
Parent-led information, resources and informed opinion about children and young people 0-25.
https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/