	CARERS of WEST LOTHIAN Providing Support, Information and a A Voice for Carers in West Lothian

Who Cares? Course for Carers - February 2007

The Transition from Children's to Adult Services

A Helping hand for parents and carers of young people affected by disability or special needs in West Lothian.

Carers of West Lothian in partnership with Signpost, will be running a Who Cares? Training course for parent carers of children with learning or physical difficulties. The course will be held over six consecutive weeks starting on Tuesday the 20th February and will be based at The Strathbrock Partnership Centre, West Main Street, Broxburn. Experience has shown the benefits to parents of children with learning or physical difficulties of preparing early for the changes to services, which occur when their child approaches adulthood. Having a plan in place when the young person is still around 14 years of age ensures the best possible chance of making the correct choices for each individual. This transitional period can be very stressful, with changing benefits rules, changes in social services, legal and guardianship issues, and we aim to provide carers with the knowledge they need to make this changeover as smooth as possible.

Each session of this course is designed to give parent carers the opportunity to speak to representatives from those organisations that will have an input in their child's future as they grow into adulthood. We hope that by providing parent carers with this greater awareness, it will highlight all the opportunities available to their child after leaving school and also, better prepare them for future dealings with adult service organisations.

Any carers who feels that they would benefit from attending such a course should contact Jim Brown at the Carers Centre on 01506 771751 or Elizabeth Stevenson at Signpost on 015063 431123 for further details

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