Other local specialist information, advice and support services

Age UK Coventry

Telephone: 024 7643 3043 Email: advice@ageukcoventry.org.uk

Provide free, confidential and independent advice and information specially tailored for the needs of those requiring additional support and their friends, relatives and carers.

Age UK’s national website has a wide range of factsheets covering numerous topics including finance and benefits, health and conditions, accessing support and services.

Grapevine

Telephone: 024 7663 1040

Grapevine provides support to people with learning disabilities and their carers to make their own choices and be part of their community. Including:

Help & Connect - which helps people with learning disabilities to make connections and use services, support groups to help people get out and about and build friendships.

Alzheimer's Society

Telephone: 024 7665 2602

The Alzheimer's Society provides a range of dementia support services in Coventry ranging from information and advice to people with dementia and their carers, 1:1 support for people affected by dementia in resolving issues, to dementia care and support groups.

Due to the current situation, all sessions and groups are being held virtually. For more details please call the number above or visit their website.

Find out more information about living well with dementia on their website. Find local resources and services near you to support people living with dementia and their carers.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre telephone 024 7696 6052

Call them free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm)

When you have cancer, you don’t just worry about what will happen to your body, you worry about what will happen to your life. At Macmillan, we know how a cancer diagnosis can affect everything and Macmillan Cancer Support are here to support you through it.

From help with money worries and advice about work, to someone who’ll listen if you just want to talk, they'll be there. Macmillan Cancer Support is millions of supporters, professionals, volunteers, campaigners and people affected by cancer. Together they make sure there’s always someone there for you, to give you the support, energy and inspiration you need to help you feel like yourself again. No one should face cancer alone.

Locally the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Centre in the main entrance to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire provide free information, support and practical advice for anyone affected by cancer. They can offer you:

  • Confidential one-to-one support
  • Information on all aspects of living with cancer and treatments available
  • Information on diet and nutrition
  • Recommended websites
  • Information about emotions, relationships and cancer
  • Access to support and information when you need it

The hospital and Macmillan also run a cancer support group for patients and carers. They meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 10am. This is currently a virtual session, so for more information or to book a place please call 024 7696 6052 or email Julie.Bliss@uhcw.nhs.uk

Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind

Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind (CRCB) is an independent registered charity that provides support, information, resources, training and social activities for people with a visual impairment in the Coventry area.

They have a Resource Room showing a selection of items of adaptive technology, daily living aids and low vision aids to help blind and partially sighted people to lead a more independent life.

They run a variety of support groups and activities include ICT training, music and art and craft groups.

SEND Information Advice and Support Service

Telephone: 024 7669 4307

We provide impartial and accurate Special Educational Needs and Disability information, advice and support for:

  • parents
  • children
  • young people up to the age of 25

We offer a wide range of services to help families make informed decisions and enable them to take an active role in the education of their child/young person.

Contact

National Freephone helpline 0808 808 3555

Midlands Officer contact number 0121 415 4624

Contact is here to make life a little bit easier for families with disabled and special needs children. Parent advisers can offer information and support on a whole range of issues. They have a team of six in the Midlands including a parent adviser for education issues, and a parent adviser for our Hospitals project. They run free workshops for parents and support groups including a workshop on dealing with challenging behaviour; sleep issues; stress and coping, supporting siblings, and transition to adulthood. Parents can also sign up to receive their quarterly e-bulletin, keeping them in touch with issues that might affect them.

Their national helpline can do a full benefits check to make sure parents are claiming all they are entitled to and they offer a telephone appointment system for the most complex cases. Their helpline team can also offer advice on education issues; give advice on processes for appealing decisions you are unhappy with or give you information about rare conditions and national support groups.

The resource library on Contact's website has a range of downloadable fact sheets and parent guides for example on Claiming DLA for a Child, or PIP and other benefits at 16; on short breaks; or on Education Health Care Plans.

Other local information and advice services

There is more information about local information, advice and advocacy support in our Community Information Directory.

Carers Trust Heart of England

Telephone: 024 7663 2972