Choice Wellbeing Service CIC

11/06/2026

This session still have space available and running 5pm tonight 👏🏻

Book online via : https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

Team choice
❤️

💜 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 💜

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Have you ever felt like you've been handed more than you can handle?

The appointments.
The paperwork.
The advocacy.
The endless worrying about the future.

The days where you're keeping everyone else afloat but quietly wondering how much longer you can keep going yourself.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

Join us for Partnering with Parents: How to Handle More Than You Can Handle – a supportive and honest workshop created specifically for parent carers.

Together we'll explore:

✨ The emotional impact of diagnosis and additional needs
✨ Fear, grief, overwhelm and the feelings nobody talks about
✨ Why "you're so strong" isn't always helpful
✨ Practical tools for managing when life feels too much
✨ How to focus on what you can influence today
✨ Finding strength without pretending everything is okay

This isn't about being positive all the time.

It's about recognising that parenting a child with additional needs can be incredibly hard, while also discovering that you don't have to carry the backpack alone.

No judgement.
No pressure to share.
No pretending you've got it all together.

Just a room full of people who get it.

☕ Tea, support, practical tools, and hopefully a reminder that you're doing far better than you think you are.

📍 4 Cuthbert House, Tower Rd, NE37 2SH
📅 11/09/2026 (tomorrow)
⏰ 5pm

Places are limited, so book your place today.

https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

11/06/2026

📣📣 Choice’s Carers Week message 📣📣

This Carers Week, we are thinking about what it really means to build Carer Friendly Communities.

For us at Choice, it means communities where parent carers don’t have to constantly explain, justify or fight to be understood.

It means spaces where families of children with additional needs are not an afterthought.

It means support that is practical, accessible and human.

It means professionals working with parent carers, not doing things to them.

It means remembering that behind every form, meeting, meltdown, diagnosis, appointment, school email and “I’m fine” is a person who may be absolutely knackered but still turning up.

At Choice, we know parent carers because we are parent carers too.

We know the humour.
We know the grief.
We know the rage-cleaning before professionals visit.
We know the “quick phone call” that turns into a 47-minute explanation of your entire life.
We know the bag of emergency snacks.
We know the car park cry.

And we also know the strength, love and absolute brilliance of this community.

So this week, and every week, we’ll keep pushing for parent carers to be seen, heard and supported properly.

Because carer friendly communities should not be a lovely idea.

They should be the standard.

Team Choice

To see what we have got coming up or to see whats on, check out :
https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

10/06/2026

📚 New on the Choice Blog!

One thing we've learned from working alongside parent carers is that information is only helpful if it actually makes sense and feels relevant to real life.

That's why we've launched our Choice Blog – a space where we'll be sharing practical advice, honest conversations, tips, tools, and support for parent carers navigating the world of additional needs, disability, mental health, and everything in between.

No jargon.
No judgement.
No pretending it's easy.

Just real support from people who understand that parenting a child with additional needs often means becoming an advocate, researcher, appointment coordinator, paperwork expert, emotional support person, and somehow still remembering what's for tea.

Whether you're looking for guidance, reassurance, or simply a reminder that you're not alone, we hope you'll find something useful there.

Pop over and have a read at Louise's first blog, Not Quite the Brochure 👇

🌈 https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/post/not-quite-the-brochure

And if there's a topic you'd like us to cover, let us know in the comments. Chances are if you're wondering about it, another parent carer is too.

10/06/2026

💜 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 – 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 💜

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Have you ever felt like you've been handed more than you can handle?

The appointments.
The paperwork.
The advocacy.
The endless worrying about the future.

The days where you're keeping everyone else afloat but quietly wondering how much longer you can keep going yourself.

If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.

Join us for Partnering with Parents: How to Handle More Than You Can Handle – a supportive and honest workshop created specifically for parent carers.

Together we'll explore:

✨ The emotional impact of diagnosis and additional needs
✨ Fear, grief, overwhelm and the feelings nobody talks about
✨ Why "you're so strong" isn't always helpful
✨ Practical tools for managing when life feels too much
✨ How to focus on what you can influence today
✨ Finding strength without pretending everything is okay

This isn't about being positive all the time.

It's about recognising that parenting a child with additional needs can be incredibly hard, while also discovering that you don't have to carry the backpack alone.

No judgement.
No pressure to share.
No pretending you've got it all together.

Just a room full of people who get it.

☕ Tea, support, practical tools, and hopefully a reminder that you're doing far better than you think you are.

📍 4 Cuthbert House, Tower Rd, NE37 2SH
📅 11/09/2026 (tomorrow)
⏰ 5pm

Places are limited, so book your place today.

https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

10/06/2026

💌💌 Dear parent carer, you count too 💌💌

Dear parent carer,

This week is for you.

Not just your child.
Not just the appointments.
Not just the forms.
Not just the meetings.
Not just the professionals.
Not just the next thing on the never-ending list.

You.

The person holding it all together with caffeine, Google searches, group chat rants and a level of patience that should probably come with a Blue Peter badge.

You are not “just a mam.”
You are not “just a dad.”
You are not “just coping.”

You are caring.

And caring is skilled.
Caring is exhausting.
Caring is emotional.
Caring is advocacy.
Caring is problem-solving.
Caring is remembering everything for everyone, while occasionally forgetting why you walked into the kitchen.

This Carers Week, the theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities.

And we believe a carer friendly community starts by recognising that carers deserve support too — not when they break, not when they beg, not when there’s nothing left.

Now.

You matter in this too.

Love,
Team Choice

To see what we have coming up or whats on, check out our website here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

09/06/2026

👬👫👭 The parent carer version of “community” 👫👭👬

When people say “community,” they often think of coffee mornings, groups, events and nice little chats.

Lovely.

But for parent carers, a carer friendly community also looks like:

A school that listens before things reach crisis point.

A GP surgery that understands you might be phoning for your child, your partner, your mam, your dad and yourself — all before 10am.

A workplace that doesn’t make you feel guilty for another appointment.

A local event that has actually thought about access, noise, toilets, queues, parking and whether “just come along” is actually possible.

A practitioner who says, “I believe you,” instead of, “Have you tried a sticker chart?”

A friend who doesn’t disappear because your life got complicated.

Building carer friendly communities means building communities that understand caring is not a cute little extra role.

It is life-changing, relentless, emotional, practical, invisible and unpaid.

And yet carers still show up.

Usually tired. Often late. Probably holding a bag full of snacks, paperwork, medication, wipes, chargers and emotional damage.

But we show up.

This Carers Week, let’s build communities that show up for carers too.

Team Choice ❤

To see what we have coming up or whats on, check out our website here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

08/06/2026

This looks great!

🗓️ Upcoming Event: Family Sign Language Classes!
We are delighted to share this fantastic calendar of events from the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS)!

Starting this August 2026, they are hosting fun, engaging British Sign Language (BSL) classes specifically designed for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families.

The sessions are led by a Deaf tutor with BSL interpreter support, featuring plenty of music, games, signed stories, and themes. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn together, meet new friends, and socialise in a supportive environment!

🕒 Friday Schedule & Weekly Themes
Each Friday is split into two age groups:

10am – 12pm: 0 to 5 years

1pm – 3pm: 6 to 12 years

Here is what they have planned for August:

7th August: Who and Family – Learn signs about people and families through songs and stories.

14th August: Teddy Bear Picnic and Food – Bring along your favourite teddy, join the picnic, and explore signs for food.

21st August: Emotions (Let’s make a Mood Board!) – Learn signs for feelings and create your very own mood board.

28th August: Hobbies and Transport Theme – Learn signs for your favourite hobbies and different ways to travel.

📝 How to Book
All families are welcome and no prior experience is needed!

To book a place for your family, please reach out to the organisers at NDCS with the following details:

Child's name

Date of birth

Any dietary requirements

The area you are from

08/06/2026

🌟 We're Looking for Volunteers to Join Team Choice! 🌟

As Choice continues to grow, we're looking for passionate, friendly people who want to make a difference for parent carers and families across Sunderland.

This isn't your typical volunteering role. We're looking for people who can become part of our community and help us extend the reach of the work we do.

You might find yourself:
💙 Attending coffee mornings and support groups
💙 Representing Choice at events and community activities
💙 Helping distribute and promote our Rainbow Guides
💙 Supporting our SEND in Sunderland network
💙 Attending forums, meetings, and engagement events
💙 Being a friendly face and helping families feel welcomed and connected

We're particularly interested in hearing from parent carers, people with lived experience of disability or SEND, or anyone who is passionate about improving support for families.

While these roles are voluntary, we want to be transparent that as Choice continues to grow, there may be opportunities for paid roles in the future for those who wish to progress with us.

Most importantly, we're looking for people who share our values of kindness, inclusion, authenticity, and making sure no family feels they have to navigate things alone.

If you've ever thought, "I'd love to help families like mine", or considered setting up groups or activities for families to engage in, we'd love to hear from you.

📧 Drop us a message or email us at [email protected] to find out more.

Team Choice
💜

08/06/2026

🥰🥰 Carers Week 🥰🥰

It’s Carers Week, and this year’s theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities.

And honestly? We are here for it.

Because being carer friendly isn’t just putting a poster up once a year and saying, “We support carers.”

It’s asking:

“Is this accessible?”
“Can they actually attend this?”
“Have we made room for the chaos?”
“Have we remembered that carers are people too?”
“Have we stopped assuming they can just pop out for a coffee like they’re not running a small hospital, school office, advocacy service and snack bar from their living room?”

A carer friendly community is one where carers are not made to feel difficult, dramatic or demanding for needing things to be realistic.

It is one where parent carers are seen, heard, believed and included.

This week, we’ll be shouting about carers — not because we need a special week to matter, but because sometimes the world needs a reminder.

And let’s be honest… we’re very good at reminding people.

☕️☕️ If you fancy a cuppa and a chat, come along tomorrow, 10am at Choice HQ we usually have puppies in attendance, and plenty to laugh about!

Happy Carers Week from all of us at Team Choice ❤

To see what we have coming up or whats on, check out our website here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

07/06/2026

Carers Week 2026 is coming, and we’ve done a little bit of the digging so you don’t have to.

Because let’s be honest — finding the village sometimes feels like another full-time job, and most parent carers already have about 47 of those.

We’ve pulled together a roundup of local coffee mornings, wellbeing spaces, activities and support happening across the week for parent carers from Sunderland Parent Carer Forum, Sunderland Carers Centre, Grace House North East, & Little SENDsations.

This year’s Carers Week theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities, and that starts with making sure carers know what’s out there, where they can go, and that they don’t have to do it all alone.

There are cuppas, yoga, bingo, brunch, tennis, walking, pilates and even an online workshop — because support should come in different shapes, not just “sit in a circle and share your deepest trauma before your tea goes cold.”

Save it, share it, send it to a parent carer who needs it.

And most importantly — come as you are. Tired, late, flustered, with snacks in your bag and 12 unread school emails. You’ll fit right in.

Building carer friendly communities starts with seeing the carer, not just the caring.

If you know of any other carers week celebrations for parent carers, please pop them below!

Book Choice sessions here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson