Book Published to Help Save Disability Service

A book of poems and short stories, written by parents and carers of disabled children, has been published to help save a disability support service. Brighton Face 2 Face provides a lifeline for 150 parents with support groups and befriending services, but it faces closure after funding was cut.

Charity Appeal

A creative writing group, organised through Face 2 Face, wrote the book to try and raise funds. The collection of work, titled Paperweights, depicts the experience that parents and carers face every day. The charity needs £120,000 to continue offering its services, and proceeds from book sales will go directly to the appeal.

Creative writing group organiser, Kate Ogden, said: “The women inspired me, impressed me and surprised me.

“I believe it was the first course of its kind for parent carers, and I really hope it wasn’t the last. People must hear us.”

Providing Insight

Among those published in the book, Tracy Harding, said: “We came together as strangers with a common denominator of coping with our children’s diagnosis through every type of obstacles life put in our way.

“All of us felt the therapeutic effect that comes from listening to others’ stories. Even though the disabilities were so diverse among our group, our experiences were all so similar.

“Our anthology shows evolution and the journey from acceptance to continuing progress. We hope to give insight and hope to help anyone from parents and carers, siblings, and grandparents to friends and professionals to create awareness and understanding.”

Paperweights is available to buy at Waterstones in North Street, Brighton for a donation of £5.

Find out more about the charity appeal here.