Parent Carers

Parent carers, are the parents of babies, children, young people and adults with additional needs/disabilities

According to 2011 UK Census figures, there are at least 300,000 parent carers in Northern Ireland. (We will update these figures after the publication of the 2021 Census)

Our independent family advocacy service, Parent Action Connects, has been providing 1:2:1 independent advocacy support and facilitating our Parent 2 Parent action and discussion groups, with over 2000 parent carers across Northern Ireland, via the Zoom platform online, since 2018.

 

“Parent Action is a human rights based organisation, which enables and empowers parent carers of children and adults with disabilities/additional needs, to advocate for their child’s rights in vital public services.  We have created a peer advocacy service, and other services, to help parent carers express their views on behalf of their child, who often has difficulty communicating, because of his/her additional needs.  These views reflect the lived experience of parent carers and give voice to children and adults with additional needs, who are at significant risk of being ignored”