The HemiHelp Helpline at your service
What is the helpline?
HemiHelp offers a Helpline service to anyone and everyone five days a week during term-time from 10:00-13:00. It is also now open on a Monday evening 20:00-21:00 (except on public holidays). It is run by parents who have children with hemiplegia themselves and therefore have experienced or are experiencing many of the challenges that you are facing yourselves.
Our volunteers' children range from Primary School age to late teenage so, between them, they have gone through most of the developmental stages of a child with hemiplegia. They have all been trained by the Telephone Helplines Association on how to manage phone calls of all different types.
How do I get in touch?
The HemiHelp Helpline can be reached on 0845 123 2372. The helpline is open from 10:00-13:00, Monday to Friday. It is also now open on a Monday evening from 20:00 - 21:00 (except on public holidays). If you call outside these times, you can leave a message and one of our helpliners will call you back. Or if you prefer to contact us by email, you can contact us at support@hemihelp.org.uk
Who are the helpliners and what do they do?
A Helpliner writes...
When my son was first diagnosed with hemiplegia, my first thought was – what’s that? I’ve never heard of it. My second thought was – help! What I am I going to do now. I was very lucky in that I was introduced to HemiHelp when my son was only eight months old – he is now 11. One of the first things I did was call the helpline and speak to a lovely mum who immediately knew what I was talking about and understood what I was going through. All of you reading this article will know what it means to talk to someone who KNOWS!
As HemiHelp Helpliners, when we are 'on duty', we have a huge file which covers many different aspects of life with hemiplegia. We are asked such a variety of questions, many practical like 'Where can I get shoes of different sizes or trousers with elasticated waists?' We also sometimes find ourselves involved in lengthy emotionally-charged discussions which we try to deal with to the best of our abilities. Sometimes we receive calls from professionals; GPs, physiotherapists or teachers. If we can’t answer the question, we try to direct the caller to someone who can.
Read an interview with another HemiHelp helpliner >>
How can I become a helpliner myself?
Being a ‘helpliner’ is a most rewarding voluntary job. There is no better feeling than to put down the phone to someone and to feel that, in some way, you have made them feel better for having made that call. If you would be interested in joining our team, please contact Helen at the office – we would be delighted to hear from you. We'd be really happy to hear from adults with hemiplegia, as well as parents.
What we can't do
The HemiHelp Helpline is available to members and non-members alike. It is run by professionally trained volunteers, all of whom are parents of children with hemiplegia, and aims to provide support and information for families affected by hemiplegia. We cannot advise families what to do, but we are able to share experiences and information and to signpost users to further sources of help. We are not qualified to give medical advice. HemiHelp will not be liable as a result of any action taken by a user following a conversation with a helpliner.
