Parent Peer Support – Birmingham & West Midlands

Peer Support for Adoptive Parents Living with Challenging and Aggressive Behaviour

Parenting a child with experience of early adversity that has travelled through the care system can be difficult. Many families experience challenging, violent and aggressive behaviour from their children and this experience leaves many adoptive parents isolated and struggling.

This is a weekly online support group on Facebook for adoptive parents. Join a peer community where you can share lived experience, challenges, strategies and mutual support. Hosted by Al Coates, the group looks at topics that matter to families in a frank and forthright manner as well as identifying strategies to help. Al draws on his experience and training as a social worker and NVR practitioner to lead through the sessions.

Weekly Open Sessions

• Every Monday 12pm (noon) to 1pm hosted on Zoom
• 2nd Monday of every month 8-9pm hosted on Zoom

Attending weekly open sessions

You need to fill in this quick form with a few details. By filling in the form, you will gain access to Zoom links for open sessions. Your online privacy will be respected. We will never spam you or share your email.

Facebook Group

In addition to the weekly open sessions, we have a dynamic and active peer support Facebook group for adoptive parents caring for children with challenging and aggressive behaviour. You are welcome to join at any time.

Online • Free • West Midlands and UK

Our support group for adoptive dads is run by Al Coates & Pete Brindley. It offers a monthly online support session. The group is open to all struggling adoptive dads in the UK, with future in-person meetups being considered depending on regional locations.

Online group sessions:

• Last Monday of every month
• 8-9pm
• Join the group to get a link for attending sessions

ABOUT THE GROUP: Parenting can be hard. Adoptive dads raising children with additional needs which are being expressed through Childhood Challenging and Aggressive Behavour (CCVAB) can often feel isolated and struggling with challenges unique to their experience as a dad. This online peer group is a safe place to talk about those challenges, get some support, ideas and hear from other dads.

Connect for Kids: Group Theraplay®

In person • Funded

Some children need extra support with social and emotional development. Playing with parents and peers in these sessions can build children's confidence and resilience.

Individual Family Therapy:

Relational and play therapies for families who have no other means of access

In person • Funded

Expert therapeutic support to make sense of your child's needs and strengthen relationships. UK-based, available in the West Midlands. All of the support delivered by Beacon Family Services is inclusive and suitable for all families, including those with diagnosed and / or undiagnosed neurodiversity.

Being a parent

• On being a 'good enough' parent
• Trying to manage your child's connection and comfort 24/7?
• Not a calm parent? Not everyone can be.

Supporting your child in education and school

• Back to school transition tips (shared from Adoption UK with permission)
• Managing after school overwhelm
• How to use Pupil Premium school support for care-experienced children

Parenting tips and help with strengthening relationships

• Managing sibling relationships
• How to get your kid to sleep
• Why feeling safe is important
• The benefits of outdoor play and den building
• Using the lumin&us® app when your child is struggling

Polyvagal theory and your child's needs and behaviours

• How to tell if your child is safe, struggling or drowning
• Understanding your child's behaviours
• Why do we misread faces? A guide to neuroception
• Why do children spin around and turn upside down?

Mental health and neurodivergence

• What to do while waiting for CAMHS as a parent
• Low demand parenting with neurodivergent children
• Emotional navigation and regulation