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March News...
Dimensions Autism Friendly Screenings - March 2019
Dimensions work with ODEON, Cineworld, Vue, Showcase and Picturehouse to host autism friendly screenings. On Sunday mornings throughout the month, films suitable for all audiences are screened in a sensory friendly and inclusive environment. These adjustments aim to reduce over-stimulation and create a welcoming environment. to see the films being shown in March, please click here: March Screenings
Apprenticeship Drop in and Networking Event at Juniper Training
Juniper Training are hosting an Apprenticeship drop in session and networking event at Telford centre as part of Apprenticeship week. The event will be taking place on Wednesday 6th March 2019 2.00pm–4.00pm.
This is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about the Apprenticeships they offer, including a breakdown of the apprenticeship process; learning about the length of apprenticeships, wages associated, career pathways, employers and other services they work with together with showcasing the opportunities they currently have available.
Potential apprentices, are advised that you bring your cv to the event and for employers and other support services, please take along your business cards as they will have a lucky draw which will be announced after the event.
The event will take place at: Juniper Training, 9 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU (01952) 299016.
Event date and time: Wednesday 6th March 2019 from 2.00pm-4.00pm.
Parking: Car parking is available on the left hand side of the car park adjacent to their building. Alternatively, please use car park opposite.
To confirm your attendance or if you have any questions or queries, please contact Diane Jones on 01952 299016 or via email diane.jones@junipertraining.co.uk .
Telford Town Centre Quiet Hour
Telford Town Centre are introducing a Quiet Hour, this will take place on the first Saturday of every month between 9am-10am.
Priority Services Register
You can join the Priority Services Register if any of the following are true:
- you are disabled or chronically sick
- you have a long-term medical condition
- you have a hearing or visual impairment or additional communication needs
- you receive care or assistance from another person
- you are in a vulnerable situation
To register or find out more, click here: Priority Services Register
LD & Autism Training for Health and Care Staff Survey
You may be aware that the Department of Health and Social Care has published a consultation about training for health and care staff - that covers Learning Disability and Autism.
This work is been led by Caroline Dinenage - The Minister of State for Care.
We wish to gather views from local families to make a submission to the consultation on behalf of PODS Parent Carer Forum and we shared the key proposals and questions into the survey.
Please complete whatever questions you can - none of them are compulsory and we have kept the survey anonymous but if anyone wants to contact Jayne individually you are more than welcome to do so at jayne@podstelford.org. Thank you for taking the time to respond and know that your input will Make A Difference.
We are asking for responses by the end of March to give us time to collate the response for the consultation close date of 12th April 2019. To take part in the survey, please click the following link: LD & Autism Training for Health and Care Staff Survey​
Free Cycling Taster Session
A cycling taster morning is being held on Saturday 9th March at Wrekin Riders BMX Race Club. With their new flat track and balance bikes they are able to provide beginners cycling sessions for adults and children!
Please contact the club for more details by email: wrekinriders@outlook.com or calling Kirsty on 07811 749489.
Mindfulness March 2019
For anyone into mindfulness check out this Mindfulness March calendar. For more information on this subject, please check out our Face 2 Face page.
Paws Cafe Shrewsbury Quiet Session
Paws Cafe in Shrewsbury now have a quiet session in place. They offer a session once a week for their customers, with no music, reduced capacity, and spaces for carers. Please note there is a booking system in place. You can book through their Facbeook page: Paws Cafe
PODS March Evening Family Group - Learn How To Decorate Cakes - Thursday 14th March 2019
Come and join in a fun interactive workshop aimed at all abilities to have a go at some cake decorating techniques. Open to all PODS families, all ingredients and tools will be supplied. You even get to take home and share your master pieces with your family.
The Family Group will be held at The Elephant and Castle Pub, Dawley, Telford, TF4 2ET from 7pm-9pm. Tickets are just £2.50, click here to book your place: PODS Cake Decorating Family Group
Weekly Update from Jayne Stevens (Participation Co-ordinator)...
Friday saw an end to a busy week.. Back to school for most and I hope you've heard about school placements for your children and young people by now! It's an anxious time, and remember if you need any support with schools and the education system then IASS are the legally-trained people to help you!
We've had a great week with another brilliantly attended event and a focus on SEND - with a guest speaker - Assistant Director Heather Loveridge, Simon Wellman SEND Service Delivery Manager, Nicola Davis from Bridge School (Deputy Head), and Lisa Seymour with an update on Autism Education Trust training in school settings. We were pleased to also be supported from IASS Team (Julie, Becky and Maria who told us about the Tiered system and also their work with young people). It's always great to have feedback from these events, we will be able to share the slides in due course and the photos taken on the day. We've taken on board the messages about post 16+ of course and will pick this up locally as we continue to pick up regionally and nationally.
Our newly vamped website is now up and running, pop over and have a look - our team members Kerrie and Elaine have been working really hard on the development of this.
You might know that we have a team of parent reps and we meet each month, bringing together experiences from our community. This team help to shape the strategic direction and also represent us at meetings across health, social care and education and we have a rep who is working to bring the wider work of the Adult carers agenda closer to the needs of our family carers with young people too - lots of work happening there with key roles established to represent you. We also have champions in the community too - we are every grateful for their time and support, alongside those who work with us on events and volunteering opportunities and they all deserve my thanks :)
It's interesting to work 'off-site' sometimes and yesterday I had the opportunity to work out of Birmingham Central Library and met a very interesting lady who was working on a Masters degree around Epilepsy - I will be sharing some information that she linked me to over the next week.
Plans are afoot for our pamper event in the middle of June and if you know anyone who would be willing to offer their time and treats please get in touch for more information.
This next week sees me (and a trustee) attending a SEND Legal conference - we use the day to share information with families but also understand how the reforms should work at a strategic level and later on in the week is the Autism Professionals Conference in Birmingham which is sure to be very useful and informative, least of all linked to the move to include children in the Autism Act going forwards.
Thank you for reading - and remember it's your input as much as anything that helps us to Make A Difference :)
Jayne Stevens
Participation Co-ordinator
Come and join us at our New Look Family Groups throughout 2019!...
Thursday 14th March 2019: PODS/Face 2 Face Evening Family Group - Learn How To Decorate Cakes from 7pm-9pm at The Elephant and Castle Pub, Dawley, Telford, TF4 2ET. To book your place, please see above.
Wednesday 20th March 2019: PODS Family Group from 9.30am-11.30am at Hollinswood Community Centre, 7 Downemead, Telford, TF3 2EW. To book your place, please click here
Friday 29th March 2019: Face 2 Face Family Group from 9.30am-11.30am
Dawley Town Hall (opposite Langley School/CAMHS) New Street, Dawley, Telford, TF4 3JR. To book your place, please click here
Sunday 31st March 2019: PODS Family Group from from 9.30am-11.00am at the Wacky Warehouse, Bridge Builder Pub, Wrekin Retail Park, Arleston, Telford, TF1 2DE. To book your place, please click here
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.