Yesterday marked an important and inspiring milestone for children’s respite services across the England, Scotland and Wales.
At the Houses of Parliament, the Association of Children’s Respite Providers was officially launched - bringing together 13 member organisations united by a shared commitment to supporting children with disabilities and their families.
The founding members are: Children’s Respite Trust, Y Bont, Lily’s Place, BrighterDayz, The Yard (Geeza Break), Little Miracles, Kangaroos, We Are Beams, BOSP, Marches Family Network, Swings & Smiles, Grace House and West Berkshire Mencap.
Spearheaded by the Children’s Respite Trust, with valued support from Mims Davies, the Association has been formed to strengthen collaboration across the sector and create new opportunities to work together on a national scale.
We were proud to gather alongside fellow member organisations, many of whom were joined by their local MPs, to mark the beginning of this important partnership.
Our Chief Executive, Gavin Fisher, spoke about the urgent need for children’s respite providers to have a stronger, unified presence in national conversations. Mims Davies MP also addressed attendees, highlighting the vital role respite services play in supporting families and recognising the importance of bringing providers together to help shape the national agenda.
The Association of Children’s Respite Providers will foster collaboration and shared learning, explore joint opportunities and best practice, enable children’s respite services to speak with one voice and advocate for meaningful change at a national level.
While we are proud that the Children’s Respite Trust helped bring this initiative to life, this Association belongs to all its members. It represents a collective commitment to ensuring that children’s respite services are recognised, supported and strengthened for the families who rely on them.
This is just the beginning and we look forward to working together to make lasting change.
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