AN initiative to help local parents and young people shape the future of services for disabled children has been launched in St Helens.

Disability support worker Ken Williams - whose new post has been jointly funded by Barnardo's, St Helens Council, and the local health authority - plans to help disabled children across St Helens access vital services and become more involved in mainstream facilities and leisure activities.

And he is hoping to hear from parents of disabled children and young people about their views on the development of existing and new services in St Helens. He also wishes to contact groups already working in the area of disability and children's services.

Ken, who is based at the Star Children's Centre, College Street, said: "We want to contact families, children and young people who may feel excluded from the system - as well as those who are receiving services - and ask them what sort of services they feel are important for their children.

"We already know that many children and young people with disabilities do not enjoy their rights to ordinary childhood activities such as youth clubs or leisure facilities. We also need to know if there are gaps in services which could be highlighted to help families, children and young people."

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