The past two years have been unprecedented.

We have  become used to unfamiliar and unsustainable ways of living and coping with reduced levels of support and services 

We have an opportunity to help influence the future but need your support 

As the new year begins we start another lockdown - what does this mean for us?

There are a number of schemes currently offering carers a free smartphone or tablet

Please read on for details

The Welsh Government have released £1,000,000 for carers. Details are to be announced in the coming days - see our newsletter and follow us on facebook to find out more.

Are you coping well with the covid 19 situation? Let us know below

OK the bug is back and not likely to go anywhere for some time yet!

Life must go on and the Parents' Federation is planning its own little fightback in order to help carers stay abreast of things and overcome the awful isolation and frustration

• Over the coming 6 months we hope to contact all members who we do not have up to date mobile numbers for in order that we can keep you updated with regular texts - if you already receive a text then please try to visit our facebook page or join us for a zoom chat on Thursdays!
• We shall be rolling out a variety of fun activities and 'tutorials' covering a widen range of things from crochet to dance to hula hooping and baking the perfect sponge! (if we can find a volunteer who can achieve the last point). as well as acquiring new skills you can meet other carers and learn from each other what coping mechanisms work for each other.
• We shall continue to update and improve our information resources here and on the Where You Stand website
• We shall continue to lobby authorities and agencies to let them know what carers are telling us matters to them- you're not alone so let us know what you feel is needed

Nobody knows what's around the corner. It's likely that 2021 will be a challenging year for us all-even after the virus has been calmed. The parents' Federation has almost 2000 families as members. It is run by and for carers themselves- if you would like to shape our future please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The future will pose many problems as well as opportunities- if you want your voice to be heard then join us and have your say!

Covid-19 : After the lockdown

Many carers tell us they are concerned about what the post covid world will look like. We hold Zoom 'coffee meetings' for carers every Thursday at 11.00 where you can meet other carers and share ideas and views. We send a link to your mobile with details every week so please let us have your number if you are not receiving them, send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. along with your name and postcode

Please help us to help you - latest news and useful links

If you have any information or tips to share or wish to find out about support in your area please join us on social media and together we can help one another cope

What you told us in our short online survey

We held a survey earlier this year to seek your views on how the lockdown was affecting you

Key issues raised included problems with shopping or a carers ID card that can be used at priority shopping times. Other issues include concerns about returning to school, threats and cutbacks to services after lockdown ends and increasing mental health issues.

Although many of you though report coping well at present an increasing number of families are telling us that they are starting to struggle. Please take a few minutes to complete the above survey if you haven't done already.

A summary of findings to date can be found here.

For the coming weeks (or months) we shall not be using the office base or holding social gatherings

Instead, staff will be working from home and maintaining our online information resources on a daily basis

 If you are not already following us on twitter, facebook or instagram then perhaps you would like to join us

Our news page has regular updates and information so don't forget to have a quick look to see what you have missed

Caring is difficult and isolating enough before this crisis so we hope to keep carers in touch with one another via social media and a zoom group- visit our facebook pages to learn more

Lots of useful information on the corona virus and support or services offered can be found on the government website as well as on the Cardiff Council and the Vale Council sites

The Welsh government have compiled a list of useful information, follow this link

Thinking of setting up a small groups to support people through this crisis? If you are, have a look at our news pages for some useful information

If you have any information or tips to share or wish to find out about support in your area please join us on social media and together we can help one another cope

Above all stay safe and never forget- you are not alone!

To see our latest newsheet and details of our online coffee morning click here

Don't forget to join our zoom coffee morning at 11.00 on Thursday https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84072688045

We regret to say that after a short illness our chair and trustee of many years, Pauline Young MBE has passed away

The lottery funded Connected Carers project has completed its 3 year funding and we are holding an online celebration to mark the event

It has proven so popular with carers we are determined to carry on supporting our members with more of the same and new activities in the coming years

We need your ideas and support to make this happen

We are updating our records to ensure that carers do not miss out on the many offers for help for carers currently available

We need your mobile number to send regular latest updates

Covid rates are higher than ever and it seems the rules on where we go, who we can see and how we can attend to basic needs are constantly changing

The latest guidelines from Public Health Wales can be found here

If in doubt don't go out!

Join us on Thursday 29th October for our 11am Pumpkin themed coffee morning on zoom and check out this months newsletter for some pumpkin recipes!!

See the September newsletter here

The July newsletter can be found here

We have been conducting an online survey to seek the views and experiences of our membership

The findings so far highlight that while many are coping fairly well, some families are starting to need urgent support

Key issues highlighted include the need for some form of carers' ID when shopping, problems with GP services, social isolation and difficulties in keeping relatives healthy and active.

Many are concerned about a premature return to 'normality' and the possible lack of services and support post Covid resulting from inevitable cutbacks and economic slowdown.

Those with younger children will face difficulties when the lock-down is eased as many children have become settled into living at home and out of school routines

Latest findings can be found here.  We shall update these as and when we receive a significant number of new responses so if you feel that we are not capturing your views then please take a few minutes to complete the survey