Parents and carers of disabled children can get help and advice from a new online directory which has been developed by Bath & North East Somerset Council in partnership with community groups.
Rainbow Resource online – http://www.rainbowresource.org.uk – will be officially launched on Wednesday 8 February. The website has details of local and national organisations and groups that provide information and support for families living in Bath and North East Somerset who have a child or young person with any additional needs.
Representatives from Parent Carers Aiming High and Bath Carers’ Centre will be at the launch event. Both groups work closely with Bath & North East Somerset Council to make sure that the views of parents and carers are fully represented when services for disabled children and their families are planned and delivered. They will also be launching new Parent Carers Participation Protocols – these will provide guidelines to ensure that parent involvement is embedded within the work of the Council.
Councillor Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Youth, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to supporting children and young people with disabilities and their families.
“Rainbow Resource online is an excellent new resource and I also welcome the signing of the new protocols that will ensure that we continue to work closely with parents and carers to provide the right services for children and young people.”
Helen Church, from Bath, is the chair of Parents Carers Aiming High. She said: “There has always been a book of services for families with children with a disability but it’s fantastic that this is now available online.
“It’s such a useful website and will be regularly updated so I’d encourage community groups and clubs that offer services to submit details about their organisations to the site.”
The database is managed by a partnership made up of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.