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Wills and Trusts Workshop & Lots More...

Wills and Trust Workshop - 8th February

Thursday 8th February 2024 at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

Join us for an informative workshop with a local solicitor. Learn about the importance of planning for the future by putting wills and trusts in place for your disabled child.

This event offers valuable insights and expert guidance on securing your child's financial and legal well-being.

The day will commence with a short presentation providing an outline of information surrounding Wills and Trusts, followed by the opportunity to book a free 1-1 appointment with the solicitor to discuss your individual situation.

Please book using the following links:

Presentation 

1-1 Session 

Holiday Scheme Consultation

Wednesday 31st January 2024 from 10am-11am at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

We have been running our very popular Holiday Scheme for over a year now with great success. Due to it's popularity we are often over subscribed and have tried varying methods of making allocation fair. However, families feel that these are sometimes unfair or we have encountered issues with the back office processes, so we are looking for ideas on how to better allocate our Holiday club places.

So we invite you to a one off session to give us your feedback and views on how we could better facilitate the offering of spaces. Tea, coffee and as many biscuits as you can eat will be provided, your views and ideas really matter as we strive to get it right, so please help us. 

To book your place, please click here: Holiday Scheme Consultation 

PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

Friday 26th January 2024 from 10am-12pm at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Telford, TF7 5UD

Come and join us at PODS Family Group in Blists Hill Victorian Town for a chat, relax and meet with friendly faces. Ask us for some advice or just enjoy a walk around the village.

Tickets are available at a subsidised cost of £3.00 per person. PODS will provide 1 tea/coffee/soft drink to each person booked, however you will have to purchase your own other refreshments if required. Places are limited and booking is essential, open to all PODS members living in Telford and Wrekin.

Please note that the tickets are non-refundable. Children, of any age, are welcome however if they are under 2 years old, no ticket is required. We will be meeting at the entrance at 10am, please let us know if you will be late or can no longer make it so as the group can enter on time.

To book, please click here: PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

PODS Counselling Service

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with you all, we are launching our very own PODS Counselling Service.

To further enhance the holistic support we provide, we are introducing this valuable addition to our services, offering a dedicated space for emotional well-being.

Our Counselling Service aims to create a safe and nurturing environment for parents and caregivers, it will provide a safe space for you to express, explore, and heal, working towards achievable goals to get you on the right path to wellness.

For more information or to book an initial consultation please, contact kerrie@podstelford.org

PODS Workshop - Understanding Autistic Friendships and Relationships

Tuesday 23rd January 2024 from 10am-12pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Radd, Central Park, Telford TF2 9TU

PODS is holding an online workshop for parents carers on Understanding Autistic Friendships and Relationships. The registered participants will have the option to attend it online at home or join in with us at PODS Hub.  The workshop will cover:

• The Autistic Perspective 
• Understanding Relationships
• Social Anxiety
• Helping with Avoidance behaviours
• Planning for success

All the registered participants who opt to join in from home, will be emailed the joining link.

To book your place, please click here: PODS Workshop - Understanding Autistic Friendships and Relationships

PODS Stop Motion Video Club

Monday 8th January 2024 - Monday 19th February 2024 from 4pm-5pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Stop Motion Video Club resumes from January 2024. The children/young people will be provided with Lego and Ipads to help make the Stop Motion Videos.   

Please contact Uma at: uma@podstelford.org for any details.

To book, please click here: PODS Stop Motion Video Club

PODS Lego Club

Wednesday 10th January 2024 - Wednesday 20th March 2024 from 4pm-5pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Lego Club is running sessions for children from 5-14 years old during Term Time. The children will be building as well as being able to improve their social and communication skills. 

Session costs are non-refundable, parent/carer/PA must remain on site for the duration of the session. Please ensure every child/young person attending has a ticket.

To book, please click here: PODS Lego Club

PODS Minecraft Club

Tuesday 9th January 2024 - Tuesday 27th February 2024 from 4pm-5pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

A chance to come together and enjoy a session of Minecraft. Please note Minecraft will be accessed via PODS iPads which are linked to one another to allow multiplayer options. Children will not be able to access their own Minecraft accounts for safety reasons. Sessions open to children and young people of all ages who are members of PODS including their siblings.

Drinks and biscuits provided. Session costs are non-refundable, parent/carer/PA must remain on site for the duration of the session. Please ensure every Child/young person attending has a ticket, those attending without a ticket will be turned away. Adult tickets are NOT required.

To book, please click here: PODS Minecraft Club

Participants Needed for Study on ‘What are Parents/Carers of Autistic Girls who Mask Perceptions of the Support from Professionals during and after their Child’s Autism Diagnosis?’

Sharing from Jaimie Guy...

"I would like to hear from parents/carers who would like to share their views please-if you know of someone who fits the criteria below I would be very grateful if you could please share this post with them as I really do need at least 2 more participants.

Hi,I am in my final year studying a Psychology & child development degree at Staffordshire university. I have received ethical approval to conduct my study ‘What are parents/carers of autistic girls who mask perceptions of the support from professionals during and after their child’s autism diagnosis?’.

I need 6-8 participants who will each have one individual interview, being asked a series of questions lasting approximately 30 minutes over Microsoft teams (you do not need to have camera on). If you are local and would prefer to meet in person this can be arranged.

All data collected will remain anonymous, the interview recordings will be destroyed after the transcription process. I will answer any questions and share appropriate information before conducting the interview.

Participants must meet the following criteria:

• Parents/carers must be 18 years or above for ethical reasons regarding consent and to follow BPS(British Psychological Society) guidelines.
• The child must identify as a girl aged from 5yrs to 13yrs
• The child must be on the autism assessment pathway or have a diagnosis of autism.
• Child exhibits masking behaviour

If you would like to participate in this research please email me on g016406k@staffs.ac.uk. Thank you in advance."

PODS Warm Hub

Join us at our Warm Hub this winter!

A haven for the community, where we come together for activities and support in the face of the cost of living crisis.

Lets make a difference, warm hearts and share the warmth!

Everyone is welcome.

Please see the poster below for dates and times, you will find us at 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU.

Essential Parenting

Please see the poster below for details on the services offered by Helen Davies.

You can also view her website here: Essential Parenting

The Additional Needs Coach - Community Project

The Additional Needs Coach is running a Community Project for children and young people, aged 7-19, for families in exceptional need.

For example:

• Low income.
• A child at risk of exclusion or Emotionally Based School Non-attendance.
• A child on the waiting list for a diagnosis for over 18 months.

Please see the poster below for further details. You can contact The Additional Needs Coach via email: deb.tanc@outlook.com for an application form.

Information from Telford & Wrekin Community Champions

Love your liver month- January

January is Love Your Liver awareness month.

A chance to show our liver some love and take some steps towards better liver health. Sadly in the UK liver disease is on the rise, with the three main preventable causes being drinking alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis.

The liver can repair itself from damage but only up to a point, so it’s important for us to know the risk factors and keep our liver happy and healthy. You can take a pledge to make a change to benefit your liver health via: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/love-your-liver-month/

Action for Happiness Calendar -  Happier January 2024

Please note the above material is subject to copyright, please contact PODS before sharing any of the information in this PODS Ebulletin.

Thank you for reading our latest Ebulletin, please stay safe & well. 

Kerrie Seagrave, Member Support Co-ordinator

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.