Parents with disabled children in Pool are teaming up with the disability charity Scope, to launch a free support group for other parents.

Face 2 Face is a national scheme which offers emotional support and practical guidance for parents of disabled children, which can be tailored to people’s needs, and includes home visits or online and telephone support.

Every Face 2 Face volunteer is a parent of a disabled child, trained to offer emotional support and practical information and understands what it’s like to navigate through the often worrying, lonely and confusing experience of having a child diagnosed with support needs.

The Face 2 Face Oasis group, funded by The Big Lottery, goes live in Pool this Wednesday at Trevenson Church Hall. At the event, Face 2 Face volunteers will be there to share their stories about how life-changing the service can be and information will also be provided from local organisations including West Cornwall NAS and the Parent Carer Council.

Among those who have been helped is Sabryna Worth, a mum of two from Camborne, who is the parent of a disabled child. Her daughter Ashlee has autism and global development delay. She struggled to cope with her daughter’s diagnosis until she attended her local Face 2 Face Oasis group.

She said: “It can be very challenging and isolating being a parent of a disabled child. Appointments are endless and each day is never the same.

“Now my daughter is older she likes to be told well in advance what's happening and if this doesn't happen it can lead to her having a meltdown. As she has delayed development she needs a lot of help with her personal care, for example getting dressed and washing, which is getting harder to do as she’s getting older.

“I had no emotional support until I found this group. Going was the best decision I’ve ever made. Talking to other parents of disabled children about my daughter and our day to day struggles was just so amazing, it felt as if the weight of the world had been lifted off of my shoulders.

“Attending the group has given me my confidence back. Since joining I've been able to go back to college, I now have a foundation degree and bachelor degree in science; I’ve completed a lifelong ambition of doing my teacher training and am now fully qualified and cover lessons that are for students with addition needs. All because I joined the group.”

Tamsin Blight a Coordinator at Scope who helped set up the Face 2 Face support group in Pool, said: “When your child is first diagnosed with an impairment of some kind, it is difficult to know where to turn. You worry about what the future might hold.

“Then navigating your way around medical terms, doctor’s appointments, and trying to get the right support in place for your child is a real challenge.

“Parents are put under enormous pressure.

“Speaking to somebody who truly understands what you’re going through and can point you in the right direction for extra support is a huge help.”

George Eustice, MP for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle is also showing his support for the launch of an Oasis support group in Pool.

“I very much look forward to meeting the volunteers who will run it, and the families who will benefit from this new vital support group," he said. 

For more information about how Scope’s Face 2 Face service could help or to volunteer to become a befriender  contact Tamsin Blight on 01872 302411 or 07442 532834.