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Face2Face Befriender Training & lots more...

Face2Face Befriender Training

We are growing our team!

Do you have a child or young person that's at least two years post diagnosis? Can you remember the emotions that as a parent carer you experienced and still do as you move on and face new challenges? That's why you are perfect to join our team and support other local parents who might struggle from time to time and need a friendly face, an understanding and non judgmental ear. An exciting opportunity to join our Face 2 Face Befriender team is coming up with the chance to join our free training. Training will take place during school run friendly hours 9.30-2.30pm on Tuesday's across 10 sessions (excluding any school holidays) Starting 13th March - for a chat and more information about the training give me a call - Shana Weare 07557 130 091 or email at face2facepods@hotmail.com

Waving not Drowning

The Waving not drowning project provides a helpline, newsletter, e-bulletin and occasional events and publications for parents of disabled children and carers of adults who want to combine paid work with their caring responsibilities. For more information on Waving not Drowing please click on the following link to the PODS National Links page on our website https://www.podstelford.org/national-links/​

Annual Health Checks for People with Learning Disabilities

The Annual Health Check scheme is for adults and young people aged 14 or above with learning disabilities who need more health support and who may otherwise have health conditions that go undetected. Ask your GP about them for your young person, click on the following link for lots more information regarding The Annual Health Check Scheme https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Childrenwithalearningdisability/Pages/AnnualHealthChecks.aspx​

Weekly Update from Jayne Stevens (Participation Co-ordinator)...​

The weekly roundup has a familiar theme - CAMHS - or as it is known now the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service namely "Bee-U". There has been a workshop held in Shropshire on Monday which I attended and then our own workshop here in Telford on Wednesday which was attended by parent carers and as many SEND Professionals. We have attended a Stakeholder Meeting today and shared our initial findings; an update has been posted in the PODS 'chat space' for any comments/discussions...

Meanwhile we've met with DWP regarding support on offer to young people seeking employment who have an autism/LD diagnosis and the work to support them via the EAST (Employment Advisory Support Team) - this is a Proof Of Concept project prior to a possible pilot but early indications of it are promising.

We've held another one of our Participation Steering Groups with nearly full attendance from everyone and discussed how all the different meetings we attend on behalf of families link in with each other - bit like a spiders web! We discussed plans for two 'Planning Tools' workshops that will run on 21st/22nd March for our families to help you develop support plans for your child or young person - whether or not you have a personal budget there are still options available to you. Look out for the Eventbrite link for these alongside more information. 

Next week it's half term and we are committed to running two family groups as we know how important it is for our families to have a voice and also access support via our Face 2 Face Service - one in Hollinswood and one in Dawley (check out our events for more information).

Thanks to everyone in my team for their support and Best Wishes to you all for a good week!

Come and join us at our Family Groups...

Wednesday 21st February 2018: Your Voice + Family Resouces from 9.30am–11.30am at Hollinswood Community Centre, 7 Downemead, Telford, TF3 2EW.

Friday 23rd February 2018: Your Voice + Family Resources from 9.30am–11.30am at Dawley Town Hall (opposite Langley School/CAMHS) New Street, Dawley, Telford, TF4 3JR.

Monday 26th February 2018: Your Voice + Family Resources from 5pm-7pm at Pirates & Princesses, Unit 17, Cedar Court, Halesfield 17, Telford, TF7 4PF.  

Monday 5th March 2018: ​Your Voice + Family Resources from 10.00am–12.00pm at Admaston House, Admaston,Telford, TF5 0BN​.

Thank you for reading our latest bulletin.

Kerrie Seagrave

Project Administrator on behalf of PODS Parent Carer Forum.

We hope you enjoyed reading our latest e-bulletin - we hope you continue to find it useful. If you have any suggestions to make it better feel free to let me know.