1. Cultural Parenting Aziza Shafique / Joy Rurangwa “Making a difference to Children and Families”

2. Oxfordshire Cultural Parenting Project “Making a difference to Children and Families”
Social isolation from within their community and wider community
Stigma from within their own culture
Cultural myths about having a disabled child, magic spell, a curse, or punishment
Mothers often get the blame for having a disabled child
Families from minority ethnic groups caring for a severely disabled child are even more disadvantaged than white families in similar situations for the reasons above.

3. Oxfordshire Cultural Parenting Project “Our Aim”
To break down the internal barriers such as shame, guilt, embarrassment and blame
To overcome external barriers such as language, culture, religion, race, poverty and disability
For families to access our groups and have a network of support around them
To support parents to talk about their experiences of having a child with a disability
To develop self-esteem and confidence and be able to access main stream services

4. Oxfordshire Cultural Parenting Project Tailor made services in community languages
Outreach programme
One to one support
Working with extended families
Short breaks
Day trips for families
Group Work
Sign posting
Referrals from other professionals
Integration into other services such as Children's Centres, pre- school services, Schools across Social Care, Education and Health.

5. Support Groups in Three Locations
EHSAAS Group in Rose Hill Children's Centre Oxford
EHSAAS Group in the Multi cultural Centre Woodgreen In Banbury
Support Group For African Families In Cuddeson Corner Children's Centre Blackbird Leys Oxford
Delivered in the Nine languages
Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Pashto, Bangladeshi, Swaheli, Lingala, Kinyarwanda and French

6. Dill de Awaz EHSAAS ‘The voice from our hearts’
Rose Hill – Oxford
Weekly support group
Social and Emotional support
Discussions
Advice and guidance
Eid celebrations
Shopping trips
Crochet
Facials
Massages

7. Dill de Awaz EHSAAS ‘The voice from our hearts’
Cultural Centre - Banbury
Visits to Oxford Group
Working in Partnership with Other Agencies
Outreach - Children's Centre, Multi-Cultural Centre, Early Intervention Hub, Home Support
Diverse Communities
“Hard to Reach Families”
Tailor Made Services
Similar issues to Oxford Group

8. Support Group for African Families By Joy Rurangwa

9. Newly Established Group
The families that we are working with are still going through the first stage of grieving for their child's (ren) disability
Similar issues of guilt and shame as the Asian culture
Mothers are often blamed for the child’s disability and therefore feel angry.
Outside agencies are often seen as a threat to the families
Language and Cultural barriers make it harder to understand their child's disability and access services

10. Weekly Group Some of the Issues we Come Across
Supporting parents to talk about their experiences of having children with disabilities
Understanding the child's diagnosis by inviting guest speakers to discuss some of the clinical issues behind disabilities
Accessing our group and having a network of support around them to support them culturally and emotionally

11. Sharing Experiences

12. What do the women think about our groups
“I am not alone I've met other women with children with cerebral palsy” “I don’t feel guilty any more” “I don’t feel judged” “I feel important” “It gives me an opportunity to socialise and meet new people” “I've made new friends” “I look forward to it all week” “It’s a life-line”

13. Some More Comments
"I enjoyed today, It was so good and fun to know about parents feelings and how as African we think“
"I loved the meeting, I know now it's not my fault or my mother's fault if my son has special need. I'm not feeling guilty now”
"I love attending the meetings every week as I learn a lot. I need this support from others mothers who are going through the same experience as me.”
"I really learn a lot through the discussions, we talk about positive thinking; how to work with schools and Parent Partnership to help understand the Educational system"