Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board also host a directory of support across a broad range of issues. To access this directory follow the link - LSC Integrated Care Board :: Mental health directory
Support for people with a learning disability
There are many organisations who can offer help and support in Lancashire and South Cumbria. Click on the below drop down links for more information on each organisation.
Support for all ages
Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB have commissioned an online pre and post diagnostic resource About us - Autism Unlocked
Created by clinical partners with NHS Lancashire and Cumbria, Autism Unlocked is a dedicated online space for autistic people and their families. Featuring videos, blogs and podcasts, all content is made with those who experience autism every day, whether that be an autistic individual, a parent of an autistic child, or a clinician who specialises in autism.
Signposting for adults - Local services and resources for autistic adults - Autism Unlocked
Signposting for families - Local services and resources for families - Autism Unlocked
Autus Cumbria support autistic adults (18-25) by hosting social groups in Barrow and Kendal on a weekly basis. They offer an opportunity for autistic young adults to meet up. There are limited numbers in clubs, so please contact info@autiscumbria.co.uk for information, or if you are interested in attending.
Learning Disability - Down syndrome - Williams syndrome | Mencap
Support for people with a learning disability, and their families and carers. Their vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.
Contact:
General switchboard: 020 7454 0454
Helpline: 0808 808 1111 (9am – 5pm, Mon - Fri)
Email: helpline@mencap.org.uk
Support for ages 18+
Affinity Trust work throughout England and Scotland to offer support for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental ill-health, physical disabilities, and other complex needs to live great lives as independently as possible. They support people in their own home or through community-based opportunities to achieve their goals and aspirations.
Contact:
Telephone: 01844 26700 (head office)
Email: info@affintytrust.org
Autistic Adults Lancashire UK (asnorthwest.co.uk)
AS North West provide social and peer support for autistic people and those with ADHD in the north west. There is a contact form provided on the website to enquire about meetings and groups. Meeting and group updates are via their Facebook page, which can be obtained from the organisation.
Cloverleaf currently runs services providing peer support and group advocacy support in Lancashire.
The service is open to anyone who is autistic, 18+ living in Lancashire. To find out more, or speak to one of the team, call us on 01924 454875 or email: a.lancs@cloverleaf-advocacy.co.uk
Disability Equality NW is a user led disabled people’s organisation (DPO) providing a range of support services, events and activities to enable disabled people across the North West of England to live independently and be active in their local community.
Contact:
Tel: 01772 558 863
Text: 07709 710195
HFT Lancashire support people with learning disabilities to live with more independence and choices across the Lancashire area including North Preston, Leyland, Hoghton, Ingol and Burnley.
Contact:
Telephone: 01772 629862
Email: HftLancashire@hft.org.uk
http://www.ideaslancashire.com
Providing practical support for people with ASD in the community. Providing for ASD in schools and college, training can be delivered in house or other venue. Leisure, social and peer support groups for autistic adults
Contact:
Telephone: 01772 750880
Email: IDEAlancashire@googlemail.com
Denise Edwards - denise@ideaslancashire.com
The Lancashire Learning Disability Consortium (LLDC) is a group of voluntary (not for profit) provider organisations in Lancashire.
Lancashire Learning Disability Consortium exists to bring together provider organisations and citizens with an interest in services for people with learning disabilities in Lancashire so that, acting together, they may be a positive informed influence on the development, commissioning and delivery of services. LLDC is committed to finding new and better ways to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. The consortium is drawn from provider organisations that have a wide range of relevant experience and expertise. The LLDC aims to be a knowledge hub – offering support, information and new ideas about learning disability in Lancashire.
Contact:
Telephone: 01257 241899
Email: admin@lldc.org
Learning Disability England – Stronger, Louder, Together!
Learning Disability England is a charitable organisation that brings people and organisations together to create a movement for change where people with learning disabilities, families, friends and paid supporters come together on an equal basis. As a membership organisation, members work together to build a world where people with learning disabilities have good lives with equal choices and opportunities as others.
Please note this is not a free service – there is a membership fee (starting at £12pa for an individual)
Contact:
Telephone: 0300 111 0444
Email: info@LDEngland.org.uk
https://www.meetup.com/support-group-for-nt-partners/
Meet Up provides an online, face to face and virtual meeting space for partners of people affected by Asperger’s. Based in Skelmersdale, west Lancashire. The website includes details of meetings, online resources, video content and information.
Contact Mabel on 01695 559184 or email mabel@yourwisdom.com
Partners | Pathways Associates Community Interest Company
NWTDT/Pathways Associates are not for profit organisations. They facilitate the full inclusion of disabled people in community life, through partnerships with disabled people, families and organisations.
Contact:
Tel: 01254 790 220
Learning Disabilities Support Preston | Disability Care Lancashire (sharedapproach.co.uk)
Shared Approach is a company who support the needs of adults with learning disabilities. They support most people's needs from the age of eighteen onwards and help people with additional needs including physical disabilities, sensory disabilities and / or behaviours that present challenges. The company believes in giving people who use our service the respect and dignity they deserve.
Contact:
Telephone: 01995 601 701
Email: info@sharedapproach.co.uk
People First (wearepeoplefirst.co.uk)
We are People First are an independent advocacy charity for people across the North of England to champion fairness and equality. They believe everyone has right to be respected and to have a say on the issues that shape their lives. They support people to understand their rights and to be heard when they need it most.
Contact:
Tel: 0300 3038 037 9am-5pm Mon-Fri
Lindsay – Director for Lancashire and South Cumbria
Support for children and young people
Ambitious about Autism stand with autistic children, young people and their families to champion rights, campaign for change and create opportunities.
Great Minds Together supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and/or social, emotional, and mental health needs. They provide a free wraparound support service to children and young people under the age of 18 (up to 25 with an EHCP) and this support also extends to their families.
Support includes but is not limited to: mentors for both adults or children/ young people and wraparound coordinators to help manage and coordinate contact with services.
Under Lancashire County Council’s emotional health and wellbeing programme, this organisation provides support for 4-18 year olds across Lancashire, and includes a counselling offer. This includes understanding autism, anxiety and autism, sensory issues support etc for individuals and families.
Contact:
Telephone: 01772 678979
Email: help@keycharity.org.uk
Access support from other young people and professionals, all at your own pace.
Local authority support
Local Offer:
Blackburn Local Offer (bwd-localoffer.org.uk)
Blackburn Local Offer | Listings in Independent living (bwd-localoffer.org.uk)
Supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0 - 25 and their families
Contact:
Online: Contact us | Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Email: Local.offer@blackburn.gov.uk
Local Offer children and young people:
Information about what is available in Blackpool for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, and their families.
Local Offer young people and adults: Information for young people (blackpool.gov.uk)
Information about what is available in Blackpool for young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities.
Contact:
General enquiries: 01253 477477 (Mon–Fri 9am – 5pm)
Email: customer.first@blackpool.gov.uk
Lancashire and Cumbria autism support hub - Lancashire County Council
Free advice, support and guidance for autistic children.
The Lancashire and Cumbria Autism Support Hub is a dedicated space that brings autistic people, clinicians, and like-minded parents with real experiences together to share knowledge, ideas and experiences.
Created by leading mental health provider, Clinical Partners in partnership with the NHS, the platform invites parents to sign up to receive free advice and guidance on a range of issues affecting autistic children and adolescents and adults.
Work alongside families, carers and other organisations across Lancashire to support people with a learning disability to live as independently as possible.
Contact:
Tel: 0300 123 6701
Email: enquires@lancashire.gov.uk
Living with learning disabilities - Lancashire County Council
Families Information | Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk)
There is a complex relationship between poor mental health and Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). Children and young people with SEND can be at higher risk of mental health difficulties than those without SEND. Meanwhile, mental health difficulties may also be a cause of SEND. The services identified under Getting Advice, Getting Help, Getting More Help, Getting Risk Support are all available for children and young people with additional needs. For those children, young people and their families who have a diagnosis or are awaiting a diagnosis there are other groups or services which can provide information, help and support:
W&F learning disability service is suitable for all ages as it recognises that some people with learning disabilities require support for the whole of their lives. However, they also recognise that the needs of adults are different to the needs of children and young people. Therefore, there are two separate specialisms within the All Age Service. The team have extensive experience in the health needs of people who have a learning disability and the health inequalities they can face.
Offering free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support to children and young people (0 to 25 years) with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers.
Contact:
Tel: 0300 373 3300
Online contact form: Contact us | Westmorland and Furness Council