What are services like in Somerset and Gloucestershire

[Salkam]

We are looking to move to the Bristol area, Somerset or Gloucestershire with our adult son who has severe learning difficulties and also has mobility and some sensory problems.

Id really appreciate help with knowing what the services are like in the area

Thanks

[FragileXmum]

Hi Salkam. Good luck with your plans to move. We are just the other side of Bristol in North Somerset and I have to say (with fingers firmly crossed) that we have found them to be helpful and have had no problems with support for our two sons over the past 30 years. The families in Bristol we've had contact with don't seem to have found it so easy...

[Salkam in reply to FragileXmum]

Thank you very much. It’s so helpful. I can now definitely cross Bristol of the list of possibilities. It’s really difficult to know just where to move to especially when we’ll be leaving behind wonderful day centres and respite care. I think it’s the right move to make now whilst we are still able to , so that our disabled son will be closer to family for the future.

[pogdog]

We live in dorset having relocated from the north east .I find the help and facilities down here much better as we live in a country town .It just seems more personal and the social services are good. I would imagine it depends on which part of the county you live in .There seems to be a more relaxed attitude here

[Salkam in reply to pogdog]

Thank you very much, that’s really helpful. We live in a fairly rural area in the South East at the moment and services here have been good. You’ve confirmed my thoughts that we shouldn’t move into Bristol, but live somewhere smaller but within easy reach.

[Charlie2750 Community friend]

Hello Salkam and welcome to this forum.We live in Somerset in Taunton and our son gets support 5 days a week at a day centre but at the moment they are reduced but he is still going.The services in Somerset are not now run by the LA but they pay or sort out Direct Payments.We are very pleased with what we get .We also belong to a local Mencap which supports our members by organising weekend trips out and days doing crafts and bingo.Ask me what you are looking for and I can try and tell you what is on offer?I believe I cant give personal details but if you did decide to live down this way we would welcome you into the local Mencap of which I am a Trustee. Things are slow at the moment but a group are going to torquay on holiday and there is also a caravan in Dorset for families although it is not wheelchair freindly but there is another in Weymough run by Dorset Mencap.We do visit bristo as a group.Hope that helps.