Bringing Us Together C.I.C.

Bringing Us Together CIC is a national organization dedicated to supporting disabled people, family members, and parent carers by creating safe spaces for sharing experiences and providing training workshops focused on health and well-being. Their workshops cover topics such as social care, advocacy, coping with anxiety and stress, and support for single parents. All projects are led by steering groups composed of parent carers and disabled people, ensuring that the community's voice guides the work. The group has a strong online presence, enabling parents and disabled people to connect and support each other both virtually and through in-person workshops. Empowerment, confidence-building, and fostering a sense of community are central to their mission. In 2024, the organisation launched the Cultural Matters project in West Yorkshire, bringing together parents of disabled children from the Global Majority. This led to the creation of a new group in Park Ward, Calderdale, responding to high demand for support. Their award-winning group, Carers United, works with women from the Muslim community in Park Ward, Halifax who are parent carers or care for older family members with ADHD, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities. Activities include workshops, outdoor events, visits to cultural venues, and confidence-building trips, all designed to help members overcome barriers such as isolation, transport issues, language challenges, discrimination, and poverty. "I want to do it again!" "One session is not enough." "I am looking forward to doing it again the next time we meet." "It has given me the opportunity to stop, breathe and be creative." "I stopped thinking of negative things and focussed on the art work." We held 37 sessions in this financial year. We were very appreciative of the continuation of our Skills for Care funding which has allowed us to run 20 workshops for Direct Payment Employers as well as running monthly support groups. Our steering group has co-ordinated the sessions, built up substantial resources in the form of a Padlet, co-ordinated the bespoke workshops with guest speakers, taking bookings, sent out information prior and post workshops."Many thanks for all the information, links - they are priceless. " "Knowledge is power." "Big thanks to Jon for his time & knowledge for this session." "Thank you for all of the help that has been shown and also how to access it and use technology. Some of us are of the older generation and a bit out of touch with the new ways." "Many thanks for arranging the workshop and giving your valuable time, it's very much appreciated Great links shared and scope for furthering knowledge around the subject." Our unique new project Doing it Solo is led and is for single parent carers of disabled children. We have 4 members of the steering group who have delivered workshops, run a social media campaign, met regularly to plan workshops and learn from the feedback. Our team from BUT hosted 13 workshops offering parents a safe, calm place to come and learn together whilst gaining peer support. Dame Philippa Russell has attended several of the workshops as someone with her own lived experience and is a strong advocate for the project. "As I have run a session as well as attending, it's helped my confidence and given me something purposeful in my work. Personally, it's also reminded me that there are so many of us struggling with the same issues. Even though they may not be resolved, it has reduced feelings of isolation and low-self-esteem as a parent." Kirklees training with PINS 2 (Partnership for inclusion of neurodiversity in schools part 2) We were asked to deliver workshops to schools and parents as part of the PINS 2 programme building on the success of our work in 2024. We ran 4 workshops bringing together SENCOs, Teaching Assistants, teachers and school staff on engaging with families, a workbook with the offer of 2 further check-in online sessions.Some of the feedback from school staff: "Listening to other practices." "When we had the opportunity to explore the emotions." "Time to think about things." "Self awareness regarding trauma and triggers." "Looking after yourself." "Take more time to recognise the strengths in my own practice and what potential triggers I can recognise