ORB: Disability

Building the Bricks: Review of Work of the Family Information Group

Author(s):	Brendan McKeever
Document Type:	Report
Year:	2000
Publisher:	Family Information Group
Place of Publication:	Londonderry
Subject Area(s):	Disability, Equality Issues, Health, Social Care
Client Group(s) :	Children, Disabled, Parents, Young People

Abbreviations: FIG - Family Information Group, FHSST - Foyle Health & Social Services Trust, NIVT - Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, NWIFHE - North West Institute of Further & Higher Education

Background to the Research

The FIG was established in 1997 in order to raise those issues faced by families who have a child with physical and/or sensory disabilities, the ethos of FIG is the family view of disability. The Childhood Fund, WHSSB, NIVT and the Arts Council (NI) currently provide the core funding for FIG.

Research Approach

The report provides a review of work carried out by FIG from February 1999 to June 2000. This review takes the form of a synopsis of the main research, initiatives and projects carried out by FIG.

Main Findings

The Group has gathered information regarding the needs and concerns of families who have children with disabilities and analysed research material from other groups and organisations.
Issues relating to housing accounted for the majority of the work carried out by the Group in the year 2000. The Group's facilitator was invited to be involved in a British Campaign 'Homes Fit for Children' - which seeks to secure a fairer deal for families who have children with a disability.
For 10 weeks at the end of 1999 a pilot course 'Time for You' was held at Creggan Day Centre for parents of children with disabilities.
A series of seminars and a Conference took place in 2000, the objective of which was to bring parents and those who work with them in the statutory and voluntary sectors together.
The 'Time Out Club' began in Autumn 1999 and ran to the Summer of 2000, on a voluntary basis, in order to provide a few hours break for children and parents. The local council offered the Foyle Arts Centre as a venue, alongside art facilitators from various local groups. The Arts Council (NI) and the Childhood Fund (European Peace and Reconciliation Fund) supported the project.
The WHSSB and FHSST have made efforts to involve service users in the planning of services. WHSSB through the development of the Children's Services Plan, and FHSST through a variety of 'consumer involvement' groups. Progress through both these channels has been slow and progress in this area is needed.
A major area of work for the Group has been collaboration with others, we assisted Contact a Family, Carers National Association, Down's Syndrome Trust and the Royal National Institute for the Blind in plans to organise a conference in the Spring on the theme of 'Transition'. Planning for the 'Time for You' project and the Conference forged important links with organisations such as Foyle Trust, Creggan Day Centre and NWIFHE.
Central to the work of the Group is the provision of information in order that people can make effective choices in order to enhance the quality of life of children with disabilities and their families. To this end. there is an acute need for a one-stop information service run by sensitive individuals.
In the next year we will seek to expand the management committee and explore their training needs.
We hope that the unique approach of stimulating children with disabilities and their siblings through the Time Out Club will continue and expand.
We will continue to explore avenues that lead to effective partnership with other groups and organisations both statutory and voluntary. However, partnership must mean genuine collaboration and input from all sides in regard to the planning and provision of services.
The continuing work of the Group depends on funding - direct funding from government.

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