Welcome to Coping with CHAOS
(Children's Helpers And Other Support)
We are a small registered charity supporting families caring for a child/children or young person with a disability or special educational need. We provide services for families living in East & West Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole. The cost of our services are kept as low as we can possibly make them, and all are heavily subsidised.
Background
Coping with CHAOS was started in 1997 by two parents, both of whom had children with very different disabilities.
Although lots of organisations talked about inclusion and support, they found that in reality very little was available, which left them feeling frustrated and isolated. Based on their personal experiences, they identified the need for an organisation that provided support, not only for the disabled child, but for the siblings as well and ultimately the parents - the whole family.
Recognising that the long summer holiday period was a particularly stressful time, they organised the first holiday 'Play Opportunity' sessions that year supporting 12 families.
Today over 250 families are registered and Coping with CHAOS is recognised as a major provider of short breaks for families with disabled children in the area.
All the permanent staff are parents of children with disabilities or have experience of working with children with disabilities.
What we do...
Play Opportunities
For disabled children and their siblings. Held every weekday of the school holidays. We run a variety of staffed play sessions at different locations including play/leisure centres, local attractions, special schools and at our own premises, offering short breaks for the whole family.
Awesome Nights Youth Group
Weekly activites for young people with a disability or special educational need, supported by their able peers - from 13 to 19 years.
Face to Face
Parent Befriending service. Support for parents by parents. Trained Befrienders who are parents of disabled children themselves.
Direct Payment Bureau
We offer a payroll bureau service for parents receiving Direct Payments on behalf of their disabled children.
Information & Signposting
We hold information on various organisations offering support to families with a disabled child/children. Please see our LINKS page.
Fundraising
Various events are held throughout the year to help raise the funds we need to provide our services.
