SENDIASS events

Travel Assistance: a Coventry Local Offer event - 19 May 2020

This session included information about the Travel Assistance criteria for children and young people with SEND, at both statutory school age and post 16.  Coventry Local Authority's Access Co-ordinator, Nikki Bodinnar and the Travel Bureau joined us via video call and answered queries around the travel assistance forms, processes, applications, appeals and eligibility. 

For further advice around travel assistance applications please contact Nikki Bodinnar direct on 024 7683 1614.

Money Matters - Brighter Beginnings 17 March 2020

The parent session in March 2020 was presented by Jill Simkin and Jackie O’Kelly from Brighter Beginnings Advice Service. Information was given around improving your finances, what you may be entitled to and where to get financial support from. 

Contact for families with disabled children contact details:

Freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555. (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.00pm)

Email: helpline@contact.org.uk

Money Matters session links

• Eric - the Children's' Bladder and Bowel Charity gives advice and info on continence problems in children as well as how to access health service funded nappy supplies.
• Newlife - has a nurse led helpline and also gives out grants for aids and equipment and also has a fast track service for urgently needed items.
• Caudwell Children - a charity which offers various family support services as well as grants towards essential items, also funds certain therapies, has a particular focus on supporting children with ASD.
• Disability - a very easy to navigate website which lists charities and trusts that give grants towards most items. Also has a particular webpage which lists all benevolent funds which may give grants to people who have worked in particular jobs or industries such as retail, police, hairdressing, accountants etc.
• Turn2Us - a charity which has an online benefits checker, grants search engine and also has a webpage which enables you to find a local advice agency to help with benefit and grant applications.
• Watersure - a scheme for people on a low income or on certain benefits or where a household member has a particular medical condition which warrants the high use of water eg skin conditions or incontinence, also must have a water meter
• Citizens Advice Bureau - every locality has a branch, they help with benefit applications particularly Universal Credit applications and have a very good website with one page which specifically lists grants and benefits to help with paying utility bills
• Merlin's Magic Wand - a charity which gives a family of up to 8 members a free family ticket to one of their [Merlin] attractions e.g. Legoland.
• DLA Days Out - a useful Facebook page which gives tips, advice and info from other parents of children on DLA  on good places to take your child and which gives discounts and reductions to entrance fees.