Rainbow Parents Carers Forum is a support group and independent voice for parents and carers who have a child with a disability or additional needs in Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas. The Forum is run by parents for parents and has been around for 35 years. It was originally set up in 1986 as the Floyd Group, a support group for families attending the Trent Day Nursery in Nottingham. Over the years the group has grown and shrunk with the support of several national charities. During the three year 'Aiming High for Disabled Children' Programme, the group became a forum. In 2011 the group became an independent parent-led organisation and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in January 2014. To support families, Rainbow runs regular inclusive family activities such as supported play activities, a Befriending Social Group and monthly swimming sessions. For some families this is a lifeline. We also host monthly parent to parent meetings where parents and carers can meet to share information and advice and offer support to each other. We currently have approximately 700 parents and carers on our database who we keep informed via our regular email bulletin and peer networks. Our Nottingham City Parent Representatives shape and influence services on both a local and national level as part of the National Network of Parent Carer Forums. Rainbow is recognised as an essential means of support for many families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities that would otherwise be isolated.
