Manchester Asian Parent Carers

Purpose of our Group

Manchester Asian Parent Carers provides information and advice, carer breaks and other individual and group support services to parents and carers of disabled children from Manchester’s Asian communities, to promote parent carers’ personal development and independence.

We now have over 150 registered carers and last year nearly 100 carers used the service at least once (many used multiple services on multiple occasions) an increase of 50% from 2003, when we first received funds from Manchester Adult Social Care. However, to provide a regular programme of activities and quality services, we depend on attracting additional revenue income.

The service aims to meet the standards for carers’ services by providing:

(a) Information:

• Regular bi-monthly Asian Parent Carers Support Group meetings. (These are held in Longsight. Carers from other geographical areas receive free transport to meetings).
• Home visits to provide information, advice and assistance. (Mainly on welfare benefits and rights, related applications for financial support and access to support services).
• Information and advice surgeries, at Support Group meetings.
• Publicity in both English and in Urdu distributed and displayed at information centres.
• Networking with relevant parent carer service organisations.
• Information letters about services and events posted to our parent carers’ database.
• A sign posting service to other services for children with a disability and their families.

(b) Providing a Break:

• Regular carer break trips, e.g. country gardens and national parks
• Meetings, group activities and training to enhance parent carer independence and support

(Families are assisted with the above provision through financial support to participate).

(c) Emotional Support:

• Providing a listening and advice service through home one-to-one meetings, telephone support line, home visits and support group meetings.

(d) Support to Care and Maintain Carers Health:

• Encouraging and instigating breaks for carers, where this is deemed appropriate to visiting project workers.
• General support to parent carer group activities, including transport and childcare provision.

(e) Having a Voice:

• Encouraging carers to ‘have a voice’ through Support Group “self help” and Volunteer Parents’ Advisory Group meetings.

If you are interested in obtaining further information or Volunteering with the project please e-mail either Rukhsana Saleem Rukhsana Saleem or Nusrat Ahmed.

Alternatively, please call the office on 0161 227 8708.