The Challenging Behaviour Foundation

• Learning Disabilities
• Learning Disability Support

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) is a registered charity that was founded in 1997 by Vivien Cooper OBE, the parent of a child with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges.

We are the only charity focussed specifically on children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges.

How do we make a difference?

We are making a difference to the lives of children, young people and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, by:

Providing information

We provide practical information for families and professionals about understanding and supporting children, young people and adults whose behaviour challenges.

Providing support

Our Family Support Workers can offer individual support and information over the phone and by email. We also offer peer-to-peer support through our Carers’ Catch-Ups, and email networks for family carers and for professionals.

Carers’ Catch Ups

Informal peer support groups hosted by a family carer on Zoom.

Current general timetable
Chat with others who understand the ups and downs of caring for and about someone with a severe learning disability.  

Monday 2nd December 2024: 10am – 11.30am

Monday 6th January 2025 : 10am – 11.30am

Monday 3rd February 2025 : 10am – 11.30am

Monday 3rd March 2025 : 10am – 11.30am

Current timetable for focussed sessions

Chat with others about a particular topic; share your experiences and hear from others about theirs.

Please note these are not training sessions, they are hosted by a volunteer with lived experience.

If you would like to join any of the general or focussed sessions, please email support@thecbf.org.uk and we will send you a Zoom link.

Listening Ear Calls

Support calls from a fellow family carer who is trained in active listening.

Sometimes it helps to ‘offload’ to someone who understands what you are going through. This is not a counselling, information or advice service. These calls will be purely a listening ear, giving you the time to talk. The support is non-judgmental and confidential.

For more information or to book a call, please email support@thecbf.org.uk or call 0300 666 0126

Please be aware we are a UK based charity and can only offer this service to families within the UK.

Private Facebook group: The CBF Family Forum

The private Facebook group, The CBF Family Forum, is open to family carers of children and adults with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges. The group moderators are CBF volunteers and family carers. The group is a welcoming and supportive community, with opportunities to share personal experiences, ask and answer questions and form relationships with one another.

To join the private group, click on the link below, answer three eligibility questions, and agree to a set of group rules. Applications to join are then reviewed by CBF volunteer administrators.

Family Carers’ Email Network

Join our Family Carers’ Email Network and get in touch with families around the UK to share experiences, get information and peer support.

Family support service

The CBF Family Support Service can provide information and support about the needs of your relative with a severe learning disability. We can help you navigate the complex health, education and social care systems. Our support is confidential and we won’t judge you or tell you what to do.

Open to parents, siblings or other close relatives of children, young people or adults with severe learning disabilities who display behaviour that challenges.

By severe learning disabilities, we mean someone with very limited or no verbal communication, as well as a great difficulty in learning new skills or completing everyday tasks.

Family carer advocacy resource

Who is this resource for?

Family carers whose relatives are adults (aged 18 years old and over) who have a learning disability, autism or both and are either:

Currently in a mental health service
Have recently been discharged from a mental health service
Have a history of admission/discharge/admission
Are at risk of being admitted to a mental health service
Although aimed at family carers of adult relatives, this resource will also be useful for family carers of relatives who are in the process of transitioning from children to adult services and have been identified as needing specialist support because of a mental health diagnosis and/or behaviour described as challenging.

The primary audience is family carers advocating alongside or on behalf of their relative, but the resource will also be useful for organisations and individuals working in partnership with family carers and their relatives.https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/information-and-guidance/rights-and-the-law/00-family-carer-advocacy-resource/