Parent support

Swings & Smiles offers children with special needs and their whole family, including their parents, vital support to build and sustain important social networks and friendships in an environment where they don’t feel judged.

Through attending Swings & Smiles families are able to cope with better with stress and feel more confident. They are less isolated and able to develop friendships with other families of children with special needs and receive emotional and practical support from each other and from the staff at Swings & Smiles. 92% of parents said that they have increased opportunities for social interaction thanks to Swings & Smiles.

We recognise the importance of supporting your mental health and wellbeing. We offer specific groups at the centre to give parents the chance to prioritise their wellbeing. We aim to provide parents the opportunity to find support in an environment where they feel comfortable. If you'd like more information about the support we can offer parents please email [email protected]. 

Small things make a difference, letting off steam over a cup of tea that someone else had made you, eating yummy biscuits and having an hour where your world doesn't seem quite as different to most of the population is vital for parental ability to cope with some of the things thrown at us. Nobody understands how tea and a biscuit in a place that understands can make a huge difference when it gets tough. 

Find out more about our support for siblings