Parents and Carers
The All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities (A W F)
We in the A W F have been active for over twenty years now, working throughout Wales on behalf of parents and carers of people with Learning Disabilities – a section of the community which is too frequently overlooked and neglected. Indeed we are the only Wales-wide Learning Disabilities organisation run by parents and carers for parents and carers.
Our goal is to achieve the human rights of people with Learning Disabilities and their parents and carers through:
- Representing parents and carers;
- Identifying relevant all-Wales issues;
- Empowering parents and carers to deal effectively with all authorities and organisations involved in service provision for people with Learning Disabilities;
- Working with other organisations to achieve a Wales-one-voice approach.
We believe that the concepts of i) Human Rights and ii) Empowerment are vital in the work which we do for parents and carers. Local Authority budgets are being squeezed, and Learning Disability issues are in great danger of sliding down the priorities of both national and local government. Consequently it is vital that we work with Learning Disability Wales and with other like-minded organisations, to speak with one voice on matters of common interest, and to be a powerful influence promoting the rights of children and adults with a learning disability, and their parents and carers.
We seek to maintain links with parents’ and carers’ groups throughout Wales so that we can keep abreast of issues which cause concern to parents and carers, and make representation at Welsh Assembly Government and Local Authority level on their behalf. Among our priorities at present are:
- Transition (at all stages);
- Respite care;
- Older parents/carers.
Two A W F trustees are currently also trustees of Learning Disability Wales. They are:
The All Wales Forum website is currently in construction and will come soon – watch this space.
Until our website is up and running you can contact: Anne-Marie Carpenter, All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers, Tel 029 2081 1120 email anne-marie.allwalesforum@comeuro.co.uk
