Care and Family Support 5-16
Every child and family needs support at different times. The agencies listed here offer advice and support for families with children who need specific kinds of help. There is also a range of additional organisations that offer support and guidance.
LBBD Family Support Service
Start for Life
Start for Life aims to help babies and young children in Barking and Dagenham have a great start in life. Parenting can be joyful, but it is also challenging. The first 1001 days, from conception to 2nd birthday, are vital.
Barking and Dagenham’s Start for Life offer helps families get the support they need from community, health and council services.
For more information please visit our Start For Life website
Family Hubs
Family Hubs are for families with children aged from 0 to 19, up to 25 years with special educational needs and disabilities who need a bit of extra help.
Come in and find a friendly face, a listening ear and a wide range of information, advice and guidance.
Children & Young People Disability Hub
The Children & Young People Disability Hub also known as (CYPDH) is based at Becontree Community Hub, Stevens Road, Dagenham RM8 2QR
CYPDH is fully open and operating on a daily basis. The CYPDH is wheelchair accessible, with a fully adapted shower/hygiene room, working hoists, sensory room (bookable), play areas and accessible kitchen. Throughout the year there are a range of different programmes to meet the needs of our children/young people with disabilities.
Contact: CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk / 0208 227 5500
Youth Service
Local activities, advice and information for young people.
For more information, please visit our Youth Service webpage.
Family Information Service
Information on registered childcare providers and local services available for children, families, young people and the practitioners working with them.
For more information, please visit our Family Information Service online portal.
Short Breaks 4 Me
Short Breaks 4 Me is aimed at families with children aged 1-17 years that have a disability or severe healthcare and cannot access leisure activities in the community without additional help or support.
For further information and to apply for the Short Breaks 4 me grant please visit their website.
BD Collective
Children and young people collective activities.
For more information, please visit our BD_Collective website.
Children Clubs (Specialist or Inclusive)
AbPhab Youth Club
Ages: 11-18 and 19-25
Address: The Vibe Youth Centre, Dagenham, RM8 2UT
Contact: 07360 493102 or email info@abphabyouthclub.org.uk
Facebook: Ab Phab Youth Club
DABD - Kid's Patch Club
Ages: 5-8, 9-13 and 14-18
Address: 42-48, Parsloes Avenue, Dagenham, Essex, RM9 5NU
Contact: 0330 054 2500 / info@dabd.org.uk
Facebook: DABD
Future – Futurebility Club
Ages: 8-12, 13-19, up to 25 with additional needs
Address: 201-225 Porters Avenue, Dagenham, Essex RM9 5YX
Contact: 020 3941 6722 / enquiries@futureyouthzone.org
Facebook: Future, Barking and Dagenham Youth Zone
Peer Support Group (PSG) Youth Club
Ages: 11-19 (up to 25 for people with SEN)
Contact:
Grace Kihu – 07875993500, grace.kihu@lbbd.gov.uk
Heather McKelvey – 07968511930, heather.mckelvey@lbbd.gov.uk
Purple Penguin Club
Ages: 5-18
Address: The Vibe, 195-211 Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2UT
Contact: 07881 948799 / fun@purplepenguinclub.org.uk
Purple Penguin Club
Facebook: The Purple Penguin Club
Sycamore Trust – Young People's Services
Ages: 10-16 (Groups) and 11-17 (Girls project)
Address: 27/29 Woodward Road, Dagenham, Essex RM9 4SJ
Groups – activities@sycamoretrust.org.uk / 020 8517 9317
Girls project – girlsproject@sycamoretrust.org.uk / Emma on 020 8517 9317 or 01708 749816
Sycamore Trust – Young People’s Services
Facebook: Sycamore Trust U.K.
CYPD Hub
INSPIRE YOUTH TO ACHIEVE 11+ Youth Group
These are structured sessions/activities which aim to support children (SEN/D) aged 11+ to socialise, engage and develop life skills.
Contact: CYPDHub@lbbd.gov.uk / 0208 227 5500 for details.
London Autism Group Charity
London Autism Group Charity serve the Autistic Community of London and surrounding Counties in the UK.
Their Community Cafes provide a safe, inclusive, accessible and free space for the entire Autistic community.
Contact: contact@londonautismgroupcharity.org or visit: Home | London Autism Group Charity
Facebook: London Autism Group Charity | Facebook
Support if your child is disabled
If your child is disabled, you can access support according to their needs. Children who meet the priority and eligibility criteria as children in need, which includes those who are disabled, are eligible for the services. A child in need is defined in law as a child aged under 18 who:
- is disabled
- needs local authority services to achieve or maintain a reasonable standard of health or development
- needs local authority services to prevent significant or further harm to health or development
Short Breaks 4 me grant
Short Breaks 4 Me is aimed at families that are residents of The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, with children aged 1-17 years that have a disability or severe healthcare and cannot access leisure activities in the community without additional help or support.
For information or application, please visit Short Breaks 4 me
Short Breaks Review Team
If your child is provided with a short break or direct payment, we aim to review their package of support annually.
Children with Disabilities Team
Our statutory services for children with disabilities is delivered by the Children with Disabilities Team, who provide a wide range of care and support services where the child or young person has severe or profound disabilities.
As many children do not require specialist statutory disability services, we have set out an eligibility criteria for a service from the Children with Disabilities Team to help parents and professionals seek the right help at the right time from the right people.
For eligibility criteria, please download Eligibility Criteria for the LBBD CWD Team (PDF)
Additional needs registration for support
We maintain a register of all children and young people with additional needs – this is a legal requirement. The information you provide is essential to ensure appropriate services are planned for, evaluated and developed.
You do not have to put your child’s name on the register but, if you do, it helps the appropriate agencies to involve you and your child in planning and shaping future services for disabled children.
For further information on the children and young people with additional needs list, contact the Heathway Centre.
Organisations offering support and advice
AccessAble
AccessAble is developed by disabled people for disabled people, Disabled Go provides access information.
Add+up
Add+up is for children and young people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) or challenging behaviour.
Ambitious about Autism
Ambitious about Autism is a national charity for children and young people with autism.
Ambitious College
Ambitious College admits young people from age 16 to 25, who have a primary diagnosis of ASD with a learning difficulty and who require special education. Local authorities, parents or self referral. Cost by arrangement – learners are funded by local authorities, usually from education budgets with some input from social care and / or health as best meets the young person’s needs. Personal budgets can be used for the service.
Autisticality
Ben was diagnosed as Autistic in 2017 when he was 17. He loves Marvel (MCU) and gaming on PC and PS5. He created the Facebook page, Autisticality, in April 2022 as a way to educate others on Autistic experience from what he had learnt himself from other amazing Autistic educators and advocates, as well as giving people insight into the mind and heart of a young Autistic person.
For information about Ben’s journey, please visit Autisticality
Barnardos London Independent Support Service (BLISS)
Carers of Barking and Dagenham
Carers provide a range of services to support families who have a long term illness or are disabled.
CareTrade
CareTrade is a multi-award winning charity providing innovative opportunities for Londoners with autism to transition from school/college towards and into employment. It also provides in-work support (funded by DWP Access to Work), runs a weekend café training programme at Spa School House Café in Bermondsey.
Cochlear Implanted Children’s Support Group
The CICS Group was set up to help families, wherever they are, whose children are so deaf that they do not derive sufficient benefit from conventional hearing aids. The vast majority of these children will be suitable for a cochlear implant, a surgically implanted device that, with the right support.
CICS is an entirely voluntary group run by parents who recognise that there is no one approach that will suit all children. CICS is the only national voluntary charity for families considering a cochlear implant for their deaf child
020 8876 8605
Contact
Contact is a national charity for families with disabled children.
Disablement Association of Barking and Dagenham (DABD)
DABD celebrates diverse ability and work with individuals, local organisations and communities to develop services to support and promote independence, social inclusion and personal development.
Haven House Children's Hospice
Haven House provides specialist care and support for children and young people (birth to 19 years of age) who have life-limiting and life threatening conditions. Referrals are assessed and discussed at a weekly panel meeting to determine whether the child or young person meets the criteria for care at the hospice. This service is commissioned by Barking and Dagenham CCG.
Home From Home Care
Home From Home Care is a family-led company which provides specialist residential service for adults (17+) with complex needs, including autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, PMLD, sensory impairment and associated health and mental health issues. The cost of the service is based on an assessment.
Independent Living Agency
Independent Living Agency aims to maximise the potential of individual disabled people so that they can live their own lives.
Learn and Thrive
Learn and Thrive is an online charity supporting learners with Down’s syndrome to access specialist support to help them learn and thrive. All resources are provided free of charge and are accessible online.
Mencap
Mencap works with people with a learning disability to change laws, challenge prejudice and support them to live their lives as they choose.
Rainbow Trust Children's Charity
Rainbow Trust supports over 25% of the 6,000 families in England who have a child aged 0 to 18 years of age with a life threatening or terminal illness. It supports the whole family 24/7, 365 days a year, regardless of diagnosis.
Richard House Children's Hospice
Richard House Children’s Hospice supports children and their families in east London to lead as happy a life as possible when dealing with a life-limiting health condition.
Scope
Scope is a charity that exists to make this country a place where disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Sycamore Trust
Sycamore Trust is a voluntary organisation that aims to support the needs of families, carers and friends of children with autistic spectrum disorders.
Benefits for additional needs
Disability Living Allowance
You could be eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) if your child requires additional help with personal care or mobility because of long-term health problems, that mean they need substantially more care or supervision than children of the same age without the health problem.
Disabled Students’ Allowances
Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is available to help students in higher education with the extra costs they may incur on their course because of a disability. This can include an ongoing health condition, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia. Students apply through Student Finance England.
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability if you’re aged 16 to 64.
Carer’s Allowance
If you are aged over 16 and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone getting Disability Living Allowance, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Disabled Persons Freedom Pass
The Disabled Persons Freedom Pass is for people who have a permanent disability that imposes a mobility problem or who are registered as blind.
Child Tax Credit
You may be able to claim Child Tax Credit if you’re responsible for children aged 16 or under or under 20 and in eligible education or training.
Child Benefit
You can claim Child Benefit if you’re responsible for one or more children under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training). There’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
Working Tax Credit
You could get Working Tax Credit if you’re aged from 16 to 24 and have a child or a qualifying disability or if you’re 25 or over, with or without children.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is replacing 6 existing benefits with a single monthly payment into your bank account. If you are resident in Barking and Dagenham your eligibility to claim Universal Credit depends on your personal circumstances.
Family Fund
Family Fund supports families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people aged 17 and under.