Drawings by kind permission of our friend Charlie Mackesy / @charliemackesy

friendship.

"I never parent alone now. This group is with me in spirit all the time. They are there to contact when the chips down, there for my learning and there to celebrate the little wins. My children can be themselves when we meet for activities. There isn't anything that matches this for its acceptance and understanding. Teachers have praised the resources on the website." Feedback from parent . National Diversity Awards 2023

We formed our Friends Groups as we are all carers & parents of children, young people and adults with undiagnosed or diagnosed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD); we support other carers and parents alongside our network of professional colleagues nationally and internationally who specialise in FASD.

We all started on this journey at different points but together we have become stronger and with the knowledge and skills we have gained along the way, we want to be able to offer you what we needed when we first started looking.......... friendship.

We offer you confidentiality, a safe space to talk and a friendly ear to listen.

Email: You can email us and chat confidentially to an experienced parent: fasdsouthwest@gmail.com

Facebook: Our 'Friends' Facebook pages gives us lots of experience and support from across our community of FASD:

FASD Friends; South West UK

FASD Friends; Home Education

FASD Friends; Ideas for Supporting & Teaching FASD

FASD Friends; Twins, Triplets & close in age siblings

Online: We run a monthly Online Friends session where we chat and share stories, we offer subject specific topics with 'Ask the Expert' guest speakers from a range of subjects that are relevant and chosen by carers & parents.

Please find a list of diary dates further below.

Drop in: 1:1 confidential online support & family support

WhatsApp: We provide a WhatsApp responsive friends group where we support each others challenges & celebrate our smallest but biggest marathon wins!

Play: We meet up and let our children and young people just be themselves .... they connect at a totally different level

Events: We host weekend & holiday events in discrete safe venues that are tailored to childrens needs

Cake: We meet up...... chat, laugh, share stories and eat cake.... but we are there for each other if we need to be or are there in the background when we need lifting

You are not alone - we welcome you to a safe space to explore FASD and be supported through other parents who care.

EVENTS COMING SOON:

FASD Friends 'Ask the Expert' Clinical Psychologist FASD Lead Dr Cassie Jackson & Director of FASD: 16th September 2024 8:15 -9:15pm

We hope this session will provide you with a strong list of things to consider when supporting a child/young person or adult with prenatal exposure to alcohol.

Even if you don’t face the challenge yourself currently, having tools in your 'FASD informed toolbelt' will help you think through strategies and where you will be given direct examples to consider of .....'what to do if'.

We will be guided by real examples that parents bring to us and your questions that can be supported throughout the session.

Booking instructions & details found HERE

Out of the Box Parenting!.... Clinical Psychologist & Author Dr Naomi Fisher Tuesday, 12th November 1:00 - 2:00pm We welcome back Clinical Psychologist & Author Dr Naomi Fisher along with parent, illustrator and author Eliza Fricker who is writing a show stopper book ‘When the Naughty Step Makes Things Worse; Parenting for Children (and Adults) Who Need Something Different'.

This session is all about 'out of the box parenting'…. music to our ears!!

Naomi will talk to us about real life stories from parents, anecdotes & exercises to try.

Naomi says…..

We will chat about our experience from working with parents, all backed up with psychological theory and science.

We want parents to know that they are not alone, and that there are others going through this level of challenge too.

We want parents to know that the things which everyone tells you to do….. don't work for all children - and that doesn't mean that you're doing it all wrong!

We want parents to put shame behind them and to stop judging their parenting by their child's behaviour.

Because the inner battle - the part of you which might think... 'is this all my fault? Would they be better behaved if I was firmer and more consistent?' .... is what makes parenting a pressure sensitive child so emotionally draining.

It's what stops you from being able to say 'You know what? That was extremely difficult for everyone and I did my best'.

It's what stops you from being able to feel good about your parenting. Even on the best days......We want to change this!

We hope that the session will reinforce her new book, give you an opportunity to ask questions with the hope that this session will empower you in making the choices which you know are best for your child; where you are their best advocate.

Come along and join us in good company where we will hear Naomi chat about her own experiences of doing things differently as a child, as a parent and as a clinical psychologist!

We don't record our sessions because of confidentiality but we do make very detailed notes and provide free resources that link to the discussion.

Tickets are limited for please book early to avoid disappointment.

For further details book HERE or to ask a question please email us: info@fasdinformed.co.uk

02 December 2025 8:15 - 9:15pm; Dr Neil Jackson Consultant Community Paediatrian & Dr Cassie Jackson Clinical Psychologist join us to talk about good practice in supporting FASD!

Dr Neil Jackson is a Consultant Community Paediatrician (and Cassie’s husband!).... Having spent the last fifteen years working in Suffolk Integrated Community Paediatric Service, since relocating to Norfolk he now works in the Neurodevelopmental Service for Norfolk Community Health and Care. Dr Jackson specialises in the diagnosis and management of neurodevelopmental conditions including FASD, ASD and ADHD, and other developmental/genetic disorder presentations. He previously worked alongside Cassie at Centre for FASD. He is happy to be a guest at the 'Ask the Expert' parent meeting to answer any of the more medical questions that you may have about assessment, diagnosis and management of FASD and co-occurring conditions.

Booking HERE soon (places limited in first come basis)

03 February 2025 8:00 - 9:00pm; Prof Raja Mukherjee MBE Consultant Psychiatrist will join us for an exclusive online event evening of 'Ask the FASD Expert Q & A session'

Details to follow soon

Date to follow soon:

Dr Abigale Fisher, Educational Psychiatrist, supporting complex needs through the EHCP
Prof Alan Price, FASD & Trauma Research, Psychology Lecturer Salford University
Disability Living Allowance Workshop; navigating the system, tailored to FASD

To be added to our mailing list or to find out more, contact us below or email us at: fasd.southwest@gmail.com

4th October 2022 8:30 - 9:30pm: Wills & Trusts; Questions & Answers session led by Amanda George; LLB (Hons) STEP (Trusts and Estates); notes found here
1st November 2022 8:30 - 9:30pm: FASD Questions & Answers; session led by Dr Cassie Jackson; Clinical Psychologist, Expert Witness & Clinical Lead FASD; notes found here
28th February 2023 8:00 - 9:00pm Dr Raja Mukherjee, Consultant Psychiatrist Clinical Lead Adult NDD & FASD, CCIO‑PLD; notes found here
04th March 2024 8:15 - 9:15pm; Clinical Psychiatrist Dr Cassie Jackson & FASD Hub South West Event focussing on the 'HPA Axis and supporting strategies for FASD'; notes found here
29th April 2024 8:15 - 9:15pm; Clinical Psychiatrist Dr Cassie Jackson & FASD Hub South West Event focussing on 'Supporting strategies for FASD'

friendship.

Please contact us below if you would like to chat, ask a question or be added to our confidential mailing list for events and resource sharing or just want to find out more.......