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  • A group of university researchers (from the University of Birmingham, Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of South Wales, The University of Glasgow, and Queens University Belfast) and we have partnered with Learning Disability England, PAMIS, Positive Futures, and ourselves, The All Wales Forum. We would like to invite you to take part in ‘The Lives of People with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities in the UK’ survey. The survey is specifically about the lives of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) across the UK. We want to know more about the lifestyle of people with PMLD, and how we can better support them going forward in the future. This research is funded by the Baily Thomas Charity. Please find more information below and how to apply on the website – https://www.pmld-survey.ac.uk/ Privacy Notice Birmingham PMLD 2026.04.06 PIS PMLD V1.04 C2 – Short Copy PIS PMLD V1.04 C2 – 13 07 26 Consent Cohort 2 Online V1.04 PMLD_InvitePost_v7

  • We have been contacted by Sameya Shazad, who is a final year undergraduate student in the School of Psychology, Cardiff University leading an undergraduate dissertation project. The project is an interview-based study that aims to understand the experiences and needs of carers of people with learning disabilities who experience severe period pain. The aim of the project is to inform needs around the development of educational resources for carers and can therefore provide a strong rational for future funding applications.  Ethical approval has been granted by the School of Psychology Research Ethics Board at Cardiff University [EC.25.02.11.7159G].  Their project supervisor is Dr Sofia Gameiro, lead for Underserved women groups in the Women’s Health Research Wales, a research centre funded by Health and Care Research Wales solely dedicated to eliminate inequalities in the health of women, girls and people assigned female at birth. Severe period pain (SPP) is defined by the NHS as period pain that makes it difficult to do your everyday activities (e.g., think, move, sleep).  SPP affects up to 29% of women, girls, and people assigned female at birth, and is associated with significant negative impact including frequent school or work absenteeism/presenteeism and decreased emotional wellbeing. Symptoms typically start around puberty and can persist across the reproductive lifespan. Sameya is looking to talk to parents/carers/support workers who have experience of caring for women with a learning disability who experience severe period pain. Participation would involve an interview (lasting up to 1 hour) with Sameya and/or with her research supervisor (Dr Sofia Gameiro). The interview will ask questions about experiences caring for women with learning disabilities living with SPP, learning about SPP, and seeking healthcare for SPP.  Participants will be entered into a £20 prize draw as a thank you for their contribution. If you are interested in supporting this research, please get in touch with Sameya by emailing ShazadS@cardiff.ac.uk Please find below the poster and some more information. Participant Information Sheet

  • The All Wales Forum is Recruiting! We are a small, dynamic charity delivering community-led projects and initiatives that seek to both empower and improve the lives of family carers of people with learning disabilities living across Wales. We are recruiting for a Finance and Governance Coordinator role, please find below some more information about us, the Forum and context to the role, the job description and the application form All Wales Forum Application Form About us – advert for Finance and Governance Coordinator F&G coordinator JD Closing Date: Monday the 16th of March 2026 @ 10.00 am Interview Date for those short-listed: Wednesday the 25th of March 2026 If you have any questions drop us an email at admin@allwalesforum.org.uk Please note, if you have already downloaded the form, we erroneously uploaded an old ‘About us’ document, please download the latest version. Thank you

Welcome to our website

 

The AWF is unique among Learning Disabilities bodies in Wales in that it is the only organisation that represents nationally, collectively and solely the views of Parents and Carers of people with learning disabilities. We are an umbrella body for locally and regionally based organisations and support groups made up of parents and carers. Our wider alliance partners share a commitment in working to improve the rights and recognition of parents and carers and families supporting loved ones living with learning disability. The Forum is also governed by parents and carers, ensuring that our client base has a clear input into the strategic direction and core work of the organisation.

The Forum prides itself on our capacity to reach out across Wales and make real changes, including influencing policy, supporting local alliance groups, engaging in innovative projects and highlighting key areas of need that are yet to be addressed fully.

We achieve most of our work through the true spirit of partnership and shared resources, and we believe that in the future years this method of working will not only continue to prove effective in delivering outcomes, but it will also become essential if we are to continue to generate innovative and essential support solutions to families across Wales.

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Advice helplines


Carers UK provides high quality advice and information to carers and the professionals who support carers. Staffed by experts, they have years of experience of dealing with the problems carers face.

The Advice line is open Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm, tel: 0808 808 7777

mencap cymru

Mencap WISE is a free service that offers support, advice and information in English and Welsh. The service is available to everyone in Wales, whether you are a person with a learning a learning disability, a family member or a friend. They can give you the information you need to understand the rights of people with a learning disability and to support them to access services or challenge decisions.

The Mencap WISE Helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, tel: 0808 8000 300

The EYST Multi-lingual Helpline Wales is for anyone over the age of 18 living in Wales, particularly if you identify as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic, or if you would like to speak to someone in a language other than English or Welsh.

The EYST Helpline is open 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Phone 0808 801 0720 or text 07537 432416.

Community Groups

Brecon Carer Groups
Bridgend Parent and Carer Group
Caerphilly Carers Group
Cardiff and the Vale Parents Federation
Ceredigion Carers Forum
Community Lives Consortium Relatives Forum
Conwy Connect – Carers
Denbighshire Carers Forum
Learning Disability Flintshire
Gwynedd LD Carers outreach
Knighton Parent Carer Group
Powys Carers Groups
Mencap Carers Support Group,
Anglesey Mencap
Carmarthenshire family support

Merthyr Carer Action Group
Monmouthshire Carers Group Montgomeryshire Family Carers Centre
Montgomeryshire Open Door parent carer group
Newtown Newtown Carers Group
Parents for Change, Newport
Pembrokeshire Carers Group
Radnor Carers Group
Rhondda Cynon Taff Carers group
Smile Parent Group
The Carers Outreach Service, Bangor
Welshpool Carer Group
Ystradgynlais Parent Group
Llandrindod Wells Carer Group

Mencap Carers Support Group, Anglesey

Denbighshire Carers Forum

Learning Disability Flintshire

Ceredigion Carers Forum

Wrexham Carer Group

The Carers Outreach Service, Bangor

Gwynedd LD Carers outreach

Conwy Connect – Carers

Newtown and Welshpool Carer Group

Montgomeryshire Open Door parent carer group

Montgomeryshire Family Carers Centre

Radnor Carers Group

Knighton Parent Carer Group

Brecon Carers Group

Pembrokeshire Carers Group

Ystradgynlais Parent Group

Mencap Carmarthenshire family support

Merthyr Carer Action Group

Monmouthshire Carers Group

Rhondda Cynon Taff Carers group

Caerphilly Carers Group

Community Lives Consortium Relatives Forum

Bridgend Parent and Carer Group

Parents for Change, Newport

Cardiff and the Vale Parents Federation