Flintshire County Council appeals for families to offer short breaks to disabled children

Mar 11 2010 by Lois York, Flintshire Chronicle

FLINTSHIRE County Council’s fostering team is taking part in Share the Care week to urge people to come forward to support disabled children and their families needing a break.

There are six disabled children aged eight to 15 on the waiting list for short breaks in Flintshire.

With disabilities such as autism, learning difficulties, developmental delay, ADHD and epilepsy, this can mean erratic sleep patterns and challenging behaviour which require patience and energy.

Suzanne Johnston, Short Break social worker, said: “Short break carers really do transform the lives of families of disabled children. Not only do they give parents a break from caring; they give disabled children the chance to take part in activities that most non-disabled children take for granted. Being a short break carer is a very rewarding role to have in the life of a disabled child and their family.

“We need families who can give some time and energy to helping a child experience new things, from picnics on the beach to horse riding. What we ask is that you have a spare bedroom, time and can commit to helping a family for one full weekend a month and a week’s visit in the school holidays for a number of years, hopefully building a close friendship until the child is grown up.”

Louise and Gordon Goodwin from Mancot, who are short break carers for Lucy aged 14, said: “We love Lucy coming to stay. She has lots of fun with our three children; playing dolls, face painting and making tents. She likes to go to swimming and shopping“We like to know we are helping another family and its fun.”

For more details and a free DVD on short breaks, call 01352 701000 or visit www.flintshire. gov.uk/foster.