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PODS Summer HHAH Visit to Wenlock Priory & Lots More...

PODS Summer HHAH Visit to Wenlock Priory

Join us at Wenlock Priory on the 30th July at 10am for a morning of exploring the ruins of a monastery, outdoor games and a hearty picnic with our team.

Revel in the beauty that English Heritage sites have to offer, with a small shop with offering Knick knacks and beautiful gardens to bring peace and tranquillity to a busy day.

Follow the link to book https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/Parents-Opening-Doors-PODS/t-yaoekzz

PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

Wednesday 16th July 2025 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. Tickets are non-refundable.

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

Challenges at Home - New Sessions

Challenges at Home will finish before the summer holidays with our last session on 17th July - we are hosting a 'social stories' based session. More information about social stories is here:

"Social stories are a personalised, visual approach that:

1. Describe a social situation or context in a way that helps people with developmental disorders to understand

2. Helps a child or young person to make sense of social situations, routines, the meaning of language and the unwritten social rules

3. Helps a child or young person"

Please book a place here: Challenges at Home - New Sessions

PODS Parent Carer Forum Update

Hiya – Jayne here, your Strategic Lead for the PODS Parent Carer Forum.  I’ve pulled together key topics and conversations, based on what I’m hearing from our Parent Reps, and wider team members, what’s important to know about and how your voices have been heard in developing local services. 

Please also look at the ebulletins that come to you on a Monday teatime for regular updates, opportunities to get involved and be part of helping us to ‘Make A Difference’.

If there is anything in this bulletin that you want to talk through, ask questions about or anything really, then get in touch with me:

jayne@podstelford.org / 0777 534 2092 (call or text)

Thank you very much for reading, Jayne Stevens

To read the Forum update in full, please click here: PODS Parent Carer Forum Update

PODS July Activities

Join PODS this July for a variety of activity sessions! Parents and carers must attend and tickets are required for all children and young people.

The activities are open to children and young people, including siblings. 

Please Note: These sessions are not part of the HHAH Scheme.

To book, please click on the links below:

Blist Hill 

Complex Needs Session 

Trains & Construction - SOLD OUT

PODS Bikes Session

Thursday 17th July 2025 from 4.30pm-5.30pm at Telford Bike Hub, Town Park, TF3 4EP

PODS is organising Bike Sessions for the children and young people. The session will be held at the Telford Bike Hub, Town Park. There will be adapted bikes available if needed. Each person using the bike needs to be booked. Parent carers to stay on the site with their children/young people during the session. The tickets are non-refundable.

The nearest car park to the Telford Bike Hub is Dark Lane Car Park and the postcode is TF3 4HD.

To book, please click here: PODS Bikes Session

Little Buds

PODS are happy to announce we have created a specialist Stay & Play group for families within Telford who have had a premature baby or a stay on the Neonatal unit. Families are welcome within the group up until they start school. 

This group will run every Monday during Term-time 10am-11.30am at our PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU. 

Our first one after the summer holidays will be on Monday 8th September. 

We look forward to meeting our new families!

PODS Minecraft Club

Held on Tuesday's, Term Time only, 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 Picnic in the Park - **Please Note Later Date**

Monday 18th August from 10am-4pm at Charlton School, Apley Avenue, Wellington, Telford, TF1 3FA

Come along and join in the fun at our annual Picnic in the Park.

We will have lots of fun activities and workshops available on the day.

For more information, please contact Joanne Smith-Martin by email: joanne@podstelford.org or call: 07816 643747.

Nurture & Grow

Care in the Community by the Community

Nurture and Grow provides specialist PA support for children and young people aged 0-25 with disabilities and additional needs.

We are now accepting applications for support from individuals who are self funding or using direct payments.

Please follow the QR code in the poster or click below to apply:

Nurture & Grow Personal Support Application

Fully trained support workers providing 1:1 and 2:1 care.

Blossom & Bloom Stay and Play Session

Blossom & Bloom is a stay and play session for infants and pre-schoolers aged 0-5. There will be fun activities every week, come for a coffee, meet other parents in our welcome and inclusive environment. 

This will be open to all children prior and post diagnosis, this group every Tuesday term-time only it will run 10-11.30 at PODS hub for any extra information contact Louise@podstelford.org 

Stakeholder Survey: Shaping the Future of Diabetic Eye Screening Programme: West Midlands

Sharing from NHS England...

"NHS England invites you to participate in shaping the future of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme. Your input is invaluable, and we hope you will take part. 

We are committed to ensuring our service is the best it can be. To help us make informed decisions, we invite you to share your views. We welcome feedback from stakeholders, support organisations, and anyone with an interest in our services.

Please click here to participate—it will only take a few minutes. 

Thank you for contributing to the future of the Diabetic Eye Screening Programme. 

Any queries or questions to be directed back to myself (sophia.taylor5@nhs.net) or Sarah Croucher (sarah.croucher2@nhs.net)"

Launch of Damson Family Hubs 

Sharing from Family Hubs...

"We are excited to share that we are launching ‘Damson Family Hubs’ with our partners at 2 locations in Donnington:

• Donnington Community Hub, St Matthews Road, Donnington, Telford, TF2 7RB and
• The Silver Threads Hall, next to Lawndale, Wellington Road, Donnington, Telford, TF2 8AD

There will be free activities for children – facepainting and food tasting at both events, slime making and crafts at Donnington Community Hub and planting and crafts at The Silver Threads Hall, and lots of lovely services for families to meet to understand how they may be able to support them."

Action for Happiness Calendar - Jump Back Up July 2025

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.