klasp

What does klasp do?

One of the biggest concerns facing families with a child who has a learning disability or autism, is the ongoing worry of what is going to happen if their parents become incapacitated due to health reasons, or if they pass away. Who will carry on looking after the interests of their son or daughter?

With all the changes currently affecting adult social care and regular alarming news items about serious shortcomings in the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, concerns have become greater and the need to find solutions more acute. klasp seeks to provide a workable, long term solution to these issues.

klasp (Kith & Kids Life-time Advocacy Support Project) provides active support for older families with adult sons or daughters who have profound learning disabilites, autism, and/or physical disabilities.

When parents age and become incapacitated or pass away, klasp delivers an essential visiting service for their adult disabled children, providing them with social interaction, the monitoring of their well-being, and providing vital advocacy support where needed. The project is delivered by experienced staff, case workers known as klasp Advocates, and is managed by a committee made up of parents/siblings of service users who have a disability.

klasp was developed by families in Kith & Kids and uses a model of self-supporting groups. The original klasp was formed by a group of 30 families, who continue to be active in its management, development and fundraising. They also support others who wish to set up their own group.

A second KLASP group started up within Kith and Kids and it has now merged with the original group. At present we cannot add any further members but we are happy to discuss and share our experience with anybody who is interested in starting up a fresh group with similar aims. For more information on klasp please contact our office by calling 0208 801 7432 or email projects@kithandkids.org.uk.