Family Service

We are here for parents and carers of children with SEND. We provide free 1:1 support and group sessions and workshops to provide advice, information, help with self-advocacy, as well as signposting to other services.

Adult and child sitting together outdoors looking at trees.

Two children with face paint holding balloons and craft cups at a family event.

Families matter to us

We are a advice quality standard service for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families in London.

We guide families and help them to navigate the SEND system. We want every family and child to be fully included and to be able to reach their potential.

Currently we offer this free support through LDN London in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Camden, Islington and Harrow.

Families do not need to have a diagnosis for their children to come to our Family Service. We are free to access. We are only able to do this thanks to our fundraising and our donors who support us.

How do we help?

1:1 support sessions to provide advice, information, help with self-advocacy, as well as signposting to other services.

Group sessions on subjects including wellbeing, benefits, communication and information about the SEND system, as well as groups for parents to connect with each other.

We work with families to prepare for their children’s transition to adulthood ensuring they have the practical and emotional tools they need to ensure their young person can step into adulthood with confidence.

We run National Autistic Society approved training in EarlyBird and Teenlife. EarlyBird (under six years) and Teen Life (ages 10 to 16 years) are parent support programmes that aim to empower parents to develop their understanding of autism and to explore a variety of supportive approaches for a wide variety of situations and experiences.

We help families, so that they can better help their children.

The Family Service is shaped by the families we support through our coproduction panel. It is important to us that families are at the heart of what we do.

Family worker and parent together at a desk reviewing documents.

Our person-centred support can include:

Benefit information
Help with various applications (e.g. blue badge and taxi card)
Practical support (e.g. written communication and contacting other professionals)
Access to grants (e.g. Alice Gestetner)
General housing advice
Helping with self-advocacy
Emotional support
Referrals and signposting
Parent and family events

To access our family support click on the request for support form below:

Request support

Two women sitting on grass in a park smiling and chatting beside a pushchair.

Alice Gestetner Fund: Apply for a small grant to help your family

Alice Gestetner and her husband David were involved in Learning Disability Network London (formerly the Westminster Society) for many years. Alice was the chair of the charity and, after her death in 2000, David created the Alice Gestetner fund.

The Alice Gestetner fund makes small grants to families and people with learning disabilities. The grant can be used for essential items such as beds, refrigerators and washing machines. It can also be used towards holidays and electronics.

Apply here

How your donations and fundraising helps

Pictures of your help in action.

Adult supporting a child while they play and interact indoors.

Child sitting on mothers lap looking at the camera

Group of parents sitting aorund a table having a discussion

What our families say about us:

You explained everything in a very simple way that I could understand, and you made me feel comfortable and supported. I really appreciate your time, patience and kindness.

Parent

Co-production changes the dynamic. When families are invited into the conversation, not just spoken to, it builds trust. LDN does this well because they genuinely listen. They involve parents in shaping services, not just receiving them. That makes a huge difference because services work better when they’re built with families, not just for them.

Parent

I’m truly grateful for your care, kindness, and dedication. It can be overwhelming dealing with my son’s ASD and ADHD, but your constant support has made my life so much easier.

Parent