Hello %FirstName%

September News...

Funky Friday is back at the Red House Lilleshall!

Funky Friday is coming home to the Red House Lilleshall! The disco is open to all young people aged 15+ with additional needs. Entry £3, carers free. Bar plus hot food will be available.

Romantic Relationships Questionnaire

The National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) and My Life My Choice are doing some research into romantic relationships for people with learning disabilities.
In this research they want to find out what helps people with learning disabilities to have romantic relationships. They also want to find out what stops people with learning disabilities having romantic relationships.
Please share this quick anonymous survey with your young people, who might want to share their views: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/338KB36

Free Taster Activities for Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities Throughout September!

Telford and Shropshire Special Olympics launched their month of free taster activity sessions for people with learning disabilities on Saturday 1st September. Some activities require booking, whereas others you can simply turn up! Check out the brochure of activities here: 
https://energizestw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Special-Olympics-September-Taster-Brochure-1.pdf

West Midlands Safari Park now have a Changing Places Toilet!

West Midlands Safari Park have recently announced that they now have a Changing Places Toilet installed in their new toilet block, ensuring accessibility for all.

The state-of-the-art changing facility includes an adjustable changing bench, a ceiling track hoist and WC. The Changing Room features enough space for individuals to use the toilet in safety and comfort, with additional room for at least two carers.

Pirates & Princesses Tuesday SEN Session

Every Tuesday Pirates & Princesses hold their exclusive SEN session from 4pm-6pm, this is an exclusive play session for families with adults and children with additional needs, siblings are also welcome. The cost per child is £3 (no age limit) and 50p per adult, with free squash available.

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

No long 'minblog' from me this morning as I've had a week of annual leave (in theory). But hey, for us parents we're never on 'holiday' or 'away from it all' - it's just a bit different. Some children and young people thrive with thought of not having to go to school, where some need a really rigid routine and lack of structure is more difficult. I see lots of families through our links on facebook and there are some great memories and stories that have been shared and no doubt will continue to be shared but please remember these are 'snapshots' of time - a happy photo might well only show a happy few seconds and represents the amount of hard work it's took to get someone out of that door, or the months and months of planning and de-sensitizing or co-ercing (all that behind the scenes stuff that no-one gets to know about. but really we know as parent carer community is important).

Some of us are getting into the back to school mode and I thought this link might be useful for some of you and may with tips that may help in supporting your child or young person getting ready for 'back to school' mode. If anyone has any other links they'd like to share please do so. https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-anxious-about-going-back-to-school/​

Come and join us at our Family Groups...

Thursday 13th September 2018: Your Voice + Family Resources from 7pm-9pm at Elephant and Castle Pub, Dawley, Telford, TF4 2ET

Wednesday 19th September 2018: Your Voice + Family Resources from 9.30am-11.30am at Hollinswood Community Centre, 7 Downemead, Telford, TF3 2EW

Monday 24th September 2018: Your Voice + Family Resources from 5pm-7pm at Pirates and Princesses, Unit 17, Cedar Court, Halesfield 17, Telford, TF7 4PF

Friday 28th September 2018: Your Voice + Family Resources from 9.30am-11.30am at Dawley Town Hall (opposite Langley School/CAMHS) New Street, Dawley, Telford, TF4 3JR

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.