Hello %FirstName%

PODS Wellbeing & Mental Health Conference, Sleep Course & Lots More...

PODS Parent Carer Forum Wellbeing & Mental Health Conference

Tuesday 19th March 2024 from 9.15am-2.30pm at Holiday Inn Telford - Ironbridge, Telford, TF3 4EH

PODS Parent Carer Forum are delighted to announce our Annual Conference for 2024. We will covering Wellbeing and Mental Health, with a range of activities and updates. The agenda is below:

• 9.15am: Open for early attendees (feel free to come straight after school runs).
• 9.30am: Conference starts, housekeeping and introductions
• 9.45am: Update on projects from PODS team - counselling, challenges at Home, workshops and groups, etc
• 10am: Wellbeing activity at table with staff and volunteer facilitators
• 10.30am: Refreshment Break
• 10.45am: Presentation from National Speaker re "Healthy Parent Carers".
• 12noon: LUNCH served in restaurant
• 1pm: Choice of Workshops
  • Workshop 1 will cover Emotion Coaching - presentation/workshop by Dr Jane Park (Co-Principal Educational Psychologist)
  • Workshop 2 will cover an update from BeeU Learning Disability Team including behaviours of concern, an introduction to PBS and an introduction to learning disability by Dr Steve Farmer (Senior Clinical Psychologist)

TICKETS ARE FREE FOR PARENT CARERS DUE TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY.  PROFESSIONALS ARE WELCOME, BUT THERE WILL BE A SMALL CHARGE, PLEASE CONTACT jayne@podstelford.org to discuss/access password.

CONFERENCE WILL END AT 2.30pm

To book your place, please click here: PODS Parent Carer Forum Wellbeing & Mental Health Conference

PODS SEND Sleep Tight Course 

Are you having trouble getting your child/young person to sleep at night?

From Tuesday 9th April we will be running our 3 week Sleep Tight Course.

The course will cover- The importance of sleep, causes of sleep issues, sleep physiology, good sleep practice and strategies.

Sessions will last 1.5 hours and run weekly at 10am on 9th April, 16th April and 23rd April at the PODS Hub.

Parent/carers must attend all 3 sessions in order to successfully complete the course. Places are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis.

To register your interest please email uma@podstelford.org before 19th Mar 2024.

PODS Warm Hub

Pop along to PODS Warm Hub this Winter!

Here you can meet others, access hot drinks, soup and biscuits, have a cuppa and enjoy activities run by PODS staff! 

Everyone in the community welcome. You will find us at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU.

PODS Social - Drawing (12-25s)

Wednesday 13th March 2024 from 6pm-7.30pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS are hosting a Social Session for young people aged 12 years to 25 years and their siblings. All our Social Sessions have a very relaxed atmosphere but there is always a specific focus. This session is: DRAWING.

Tickets cost £3 per young person attending. All the materials needed will be provided to all the young people booked. 

Young People are welcome to bring their own anime creations and/or references. Parents/carers to stay on the site during the session. All tickets are non-refundable.

To book, please click here: PODS Social - Drawing (12-25s)

PODS MenSpace

Tuesday 12th March 2024 from 12pm-2pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

A chance to put the world to rights over cake and coffee! Join us at the MenSpace group. A group dedicated to male carers. These groups are guided by you, you can talk about whatever you want, and give us all chance to help each other out.

You will also be able to influence how these groups run in the future by feeding back what you want from the group and how we can achieve this. 

Please let Matt know if you have any problems booking on. Contact: Matt Downes-Ward - matt@podstelford.org 

To book, please click here: PODS MenSpace

PODS Social - Mini Golf (14-25s)

Wednesday 20th March 2024 from 6pm-8pm at Putt Putt Noodle Telford, Telford, TF3 4DA

PODS are hosting a Social Session for young people aged 14 years to 25 years. All our Social Sessions have a very relaxed atmosphere but there is always a specific focus. This session is: PUTT PUTT NOODLE.

Putt Putt Noodle is an indoor, 9-hole Adventure Golf Course, with food and drink available on site (to be purchased separately).

Tickets cost £7 per participant for 1 x round of adventure golf.

Booking Closes: 13th March 2024

Parents/carers do not need to stay on the site during the session - support can be provided at an additional cost if required. Please see Terms and Conditions. All tickets are non-refundable.

To book, please click here: PODS Social - Mini Golf (14-25s)

PODS Social Support Group at Admaston House

Monday 4th March 2024 from 10am-11.30am at Admaston House Community Centre, Telford, TF5 0BN

Join us at our friendly Family group, a chance to catch up on updates, discuss services and access non-judgemental peer support with fellow parent carers. 

Any family members welcome to join us and we'll supply the refreshments and treats too (donations welcome).

To book, please click here: PODS Social Support Group at Admaston House

PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

Wednesday 28th February 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 Minecraft Club

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

PODS Stop Motion Video Club

Monday 26th February 2024 from 4pm-5pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS Stop Motion Video Club resumes from Jan 2024. The children/young people will be provided with Lego and Ipads to help make the stop motion videos. Cost is £3 per child/young person.

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

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

Citizens Advice Telford & Wrekin - Have Moved 

Please see the poster below for Citizens Advice Telford & Wrekin's new locations.

Bridging the Digital Divide: Volunteer Opportunities Available

Sharing Extract from Tech With No Limits...

"At TWNL, our mission has always been to enhance well-being and job prospects through digital literacy. Our commitment to local digital inclusion has led us to deliver impactful projects that empower the elderly, disabled, and unemployed with essential computer skills – we provide a welcoming, friendly environment where training and activities are fun, and people are supported to learn step-by-step at a comfortable pace.

Thanks to a generous grant from The National Lottery, we are excited to expand our offerings with more IT Skills Courses for Beginners and a new Level 2 Course in Office 365. However, our ambitions to reach more people are matched by our need for more volunteers.

We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about helping people and us in delivering this project.

• Volunteer Role: Support learners in gaining IT and Office 365 skills.
• Commitment: 2 days per week for a minimum of 6 consecutive weeks. Ongoing, we run a rolling programme of 6-week courses in various community locations in Telford and Shropshire. If you can offer even a limited time commitment this can have a profound impact.
• Requirements: Basic knowledge in computers and Office 365, friendly and a passion for helping others. Driver (essential as our courses are mobile).
• We Offer: Free training and DBS checks, and mileage reimbursement.

Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those seeking to navigate the digital world with confidence.

You can contact Tech With No Limits here: Tech With No Limits

Information from Telford & Wrekin Community Champions

Marie Curie's Day of Reflection 2024

Marie Curie's fourth annual Day of Reflection is this March. It's a special moment to remember those who died during the pandemic. Telford & Wrekin Council will be holding an event on Friday 1 March at the recently opened Covid Memorial Garden in Telford Town Park to mark this special day.

Cllr Shaun Davies, Leader of the Council will open the event at 10am and will be followed by members of the Interfaith Council sharing words of reflection, followed by a one minute silence and an unveiling of the new Covid memorial plaque. To bring the event to a close the invited families of those who lost loved ones during the pandemic will place a daffodil in memory of their loved one at the base of the memorial.

For those unable to attend the Marie Cure Day of Reflection website provides ways for all to get involved:

• Take time to reflect.
• Share their name – for this year’s Day of Reflection Marie Curie have created a special yellow petal that can be downloaded and used to share the name of a person you’re remembering on the day. Download here.

For lots more resources and support you can access the Marie Curie Day of Reflection website.

Telford & Wrekin Council will also be lighting the Southwater One building yellow on Sunday 3 March and the Covid Memorial Garden is open all year round as a place for quiet reflection.  

Alzheimer's Society Support Groups

In Touch Telford Group – Tech Training for Visually Impaired People:

In Touch Telford Group are holding Tech Training for Visually Impaired People and share the following:

Are you visually impaired or have a friend, family member or neighbour who lives with sight loss? Technology can help with daily living tasks, support independence, and ensure that you stay in touch with loved ones. Join our free demos and training sessions on smartphones and tablets, for both Apple and Android devices.

‘In Touch Telford’ are a friendly group of both sighted and visually impaired volunteers who have been trained by the RNIB on the accessible use of handheld devices. The team members have first hand experience and sympathy for the problems that people living with sight loss face when trying to keep their independence. Join this free informal drop-in service as many times as you wish. No prior experience of technology is needed. Bring your own phone or tablet or try one of our demonstration iPhones, Android phones, tablets or iPads.

WHEN: Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 11am-1pm. Excludes January and December.

WHERE: Telford Central Library, Southwater Square Telford Town Centre, TF3 4JG. Free drop-in sessions.

Find out more here: In Touch Telford Group – Tech Training for Visually Impaired People

Action for Happiness Calendar -  Friendly February 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.