Y Bont: a Global’s Make Some Noise-funded charity

7 September 2016, 16:46 | Updated: 7 September 2016, 16:48

Y Bont means ‘the bridge’ in Welsh, which perfectly represents how Y Bont connects families and provides valuable links to appropriate support for parents with disabled children.

Back in 1993, before we could connect in seconds over social media, a small group of families with disabled children worked to create an accessible and safe place where families could make and maintain contact with each other. Following fundraising and planning, the doors of a new purpose-built centre opened to the first 15 families in 1997, and the number has been growing ever since. 

A grant from Global’s Make Some Noise will help support the charity’s goal of funding a new Nursery Nurse to offer medical, communication and behavioural expertise. Over 2000 children and families have benefitted from Y Bont’s support services, parent workshops and play schemes, and we can’t wait to work with Y Bont to help share their unique play and learning activities with even more families, just like Ben’s.

Ben was diagnosed with Autism when he was three years old following concerns about his mobility, delayed speech and limited social skills. With ‘Stay and Play’ sessions, Ben now doesn’t stop talking and communicating. Ben’s parent talks about how Y Bont nurtures both parents and children through the early stages of a diagnosis.

“I needed someone who could provide me with all the information I needed relevant to my son and family, somewhere I could meet other parents to share experiences, somewhere that could help my son and a place I could cry and they would understand. To me, Y Bont was all this and more.

I believe that Y Bont is the centre of the network for parents, carers and young children with a disability – they are the foundation that empowers us to believe that our disabled child is a blessing.”

Visit Y Bont’s website to find out more >