Family Support Service

Navigating the world or learning disability and social care can be complex and overwhelming. At Reading Mencap, our Family Support Service is here to help. We provide free information, advice and practical support for people with learning disabilities and their families.

Our experienced team of Family Advisers is made up of qualified professionals with a deep understanding of  learning disabilities, autism and the legal frameworks that govern care services. They have extensive experience working with Reading Borough Council’s Children’s and Adult Services.

How we can help you

Our Family Advisers can provide information, advice and direct support on a wide range of issues, including:

  • Health and social care: We can help you with care assessments, care planning and appealing charges for care
  • Housing, benefits and legal issues: Get the support you need to understand your rights and options
  • Safety and wellbeing: We can help with reporting hate crime and harassment and managing debt
  • Connecting with the community: We can help you explore leisure, social activities and respite opportunities.

We can also offer practical, hands-on support:

  • Advocacy: We can attend appointments, appeals, reviews and court hearings
  • Paperwork: We can help you fill out complicated forms
  • A listening ear: Sometimes you just need someone to talk to, and we’re here for that, too.

Our impact

The support we provide truly makes a difference.

Between October 2024 and January 2025, we asked clients with learning disabilities and family carers to give us feedback about their experience of using the Family Support Service.

Here’s what they had to say:

  • 100% of adults with a learning disability found the support ‘very helpful’
  • 93% of family carers rated the quality of support they received as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’
  • 93% of carers said they now have a better understanding of their options and rights
  • 94% of adults with a learning disability said they now have a better understanding of their rights and options

Clients have told us that having a Family Adviser to turn to has made a significant difference in their lives, helping them feel less lonely and more confident.

The support given is often described as knowledgeable, positive and confidence-building. Additionally, many clients mentioned specific ways in which Reading Mencap helped them, such as with moving home, speaking with social workers and understanding the care system.

Read the full Family Support Service Impact Report.

What people say about the Family Support Team:

‘My Family Adviser gets me the results I need and keeps going until I get the right support. She has helped me with everything from writing letters, contacting professionals, agency support and emotional support. I don’t know where I would be without her.’

‘Our Family Adviser has been fabulous. She has supported our son and us through such a difficult time and has not given up on anything. She has liaised with social workers, the SEN team and helped to write the ECHP and spoken to them non-stop about getting a college place. This was finally agreed yesterday after months of trying to get this agreed through panel. We honestly can’t thank her enough and can’t put into words how grateful we are.’

‘The quality of service I have received from my Family Adviser is second to none. I’m not aware of any other organisations who can give this level of support’

“My Family Adviser been a brilliant emotional support to me during really, really difficult times. She made calls to the council about Direct Payments and contributions and really helped me understand things so much better.

Get in touch

You can contact the Family Support Team by calling 0118 966 2518 between 9.30am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. An answerphone is available at other times, please leave a message. You can also make a referral using our Referral Form.

Transition Service

Our Transition Service supports young people aged 16 – 25 with learning disabilities and their families prepare for adulthood.

For more information about the service, please visit our Transition Service page.

We are delighted to have been awarded a National Lottery Community Fund award to support our Family Support Service.