Neurodiversity Pathways Grant Scheme
Partnering with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAVUHB), we are pleased to announce the launch of Neurodiversity Pathways, a grants scheme to support and understand the needs and interests of families, friends and carers of neurodiversity (ND) experienced children across Cardiff and the Vale, particularly those who are less likely to access clinical services.
The focus will be working with groups supporting families, friends and carers of children who frequently do not access mainstream services to –
- Promote awareness of Neurodiversity (ND)
- Enhance their ability to respond with simple information and advice or service adaptations to support children with ND and the people who care for them
- Parents, carers and families of children with neurodevelopmental conditions should be offered proactive, early support to be able to best support their child, and information about different pathways for support – including diagnostic pathways and entitlements to financial support. This must involve effective outreach to marginalised communities, such as those living in economically deprived areas, those who do not speak English as a first language, and those experiencing digital poverty and exclusion.
- We are particularly interested in working with groups who prioritise taking person-centred and asset-based approaches to supporting children and their families and carers to live better with ND and wait better for a diagnosis if that is/remains their preferred route.
We will fund up to £2,500 through a small grants scheme for community groups to support / pilot ideas and initiatives with a view to embedding these approaches in the ways they operate for the longer term that increase support for families with children with ND awaiting diagnosis.
What will funded organisations be expected to do?
- Complete a simple Expression of Interest form for grant funding, and tell us the resources needed by your group – training, small premises adaptations, information flyers, setting up a group – to better support neurodiverse children, their families and carers
- Hold conversations with your service users – one to one or in focus groups – to understand their experiences, needs and what has worked well or what the difficulties have been in receiving support with ND and accessing services
- Tell us how we can support service users to access appropriate support
- Tell us how/ what will make the support/service lead/wait time more comfortable?
- Provide quotes and/or case studies from your service users
- Tell us how this small grant funding has been targeted at those families who have been waiting for support/diagnosis – and how many additional children and families are supported – for example, through advice, information, service adaptations, signposting – and what the impact of your intervention has been
- Share your thoughts on how this pilot has evidenced how support could be replicated or scaled up to provide sustainable, longer-term solutions
Get Involved:
If your organisation would like to apply for this funding, please complete the EOI Form Neurodiversity Pathways – Expression of Interest by 5 pm Friday 11th July.
If you would like more information or have any questions, please contact Claire Chick – email: Claire.c@c3sc.org.uk
