Our Peer Support Service is available to all parents of children and young people (0-25 years) with additional needs in Sheffield. A formal diagnosis is not required. All of our Peer Support Workers have lived experience of caring for a child with additional needs and a good understanding of local services.

The Peer Support Service provides:

• Information, advice and signposting to relevant services
• Confidential one-to-one support via telephone, video call or face-to-face meeting in a community space (flexible appointment times)
• Information sessions about common issues
• Peer Support Groups where parents and carers can meet others who face similar challenges (see below)

Unfortunately, Peer Support Workers are NOT yet able to help parents complete paperwork, contact / make referrals to other services on their behalf or provide individual support / advocacy in meetings. We may be able to offer these services at some point in the future.

One-to-one support

If you feel you would benefit from a more in-depth conversation about your situation you may wish to access one-to-one support sessions. These are confidential conversations via telephone, video call or face-to-face meeting in a community space. Flexible appointment times are available to meet your needs.

If you would like a 1-1 appointment, please complete our request form. Alternatively, call our main number 0300 321 4721 and select option 1 for our Peer Support Service, or email peersupport@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk

Information sessions

Information sessions are available throughout the year in community venues offering advice, guidance and signposting related to a range of interesting topics. Please see the events section of our website to book.

Peer support in groups

We are striving to offer parents and carers as many opportunities as possible to come together to support each other and share their experiences. Peer support may be in a group set up by our staff where all parents and carers are welcome. Others may be through interactions in community or school groups where our staff are on hand to offer advice and support. Wherever peer support is offered, everyone’s experience is considered equally important and valued.

We are currently offering peer support in the following ways:

• Monthly Men’s Wednesday Snooker Group at Stephen Harrison Snooker Rooms, Leeds Road, Sheffield S9 3TY. The group meets on Wednesday evenings at 7-9pm – see our events page for dates.
• Opportunities to talk with other parent carers during and following Information Sessions – see our events page for dates. A Peer Support follow-up group will also be offered for those parent carers who wish to take it up.
• Peer support in community groups with a SEND focus. Community groups who would like a visit are welcome to get in touch and request this.
• Regular peer support for parent carers attending Under 5’s SEND groups.
• Groups held in schools to support parent carers of children and young people with SEND.
• Coffee & Chat sessions run every two months at the Burton Street Foundation. These drop-in sessions offer a chance to meet up with other parent carers and chat with our amazing volunteers. The sessions also offer booked appointments with a specialist – see our events page for more information. If you don’t want an appointment, just drop in – everyone is welcome!
• Our new Support group for parent carers who identify as disabled or neurodiverse meets monthly on Friday mornings at Sharrow Community Forum – see our events page for dates. The sessions are being shaped by the group themselves and offer peer support and self-compassion in a disability-friendly environment.

If you feel you would benefit from being part of a Peer Support Group, please get in touch.

Peer Support publicity materials

Download a poster | Download a postcard | Download a leaflet