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PODS Christmas Raffle, Christmas Opening Hours & Lots More...

🎁🎄PODS BIG Christmas Raffle🎄🎅 🎁 

Get into the festive spirit and participate in our Christmas raffle to help raise vital funds for PODS!

We have lots of fantastic prizes to win for both adults and children, including-

🌟Frozen Amazon Tablet, 

🌟Special Addition Jelly Cat, 

🌟Toys, 🌟Crafts, 🌟Alcohol, 🌟Beauty Products, 🌟Perfume , 🌟Family Entrance Ticket for Exotic Zoo, 🌟Cut and Blow Dry at U2 Donnington🌟Aftershave,🌟Chocolates. 

There maybe more prizes to add! 

🔸🔸Tickets are £2 each🔸🔸

Please remember to comment on the post on PODS FUNDRAISING PAGE on Facebook once payment is made. 

The live draw will take place on Thursday 18th of December at 10am.

PODS Christmas Opening Hours

During the festive period there will be restricted availability from PODS staff from 5pm Friday 19th December 2025 through until Monday 5th January 2026. As our Staff and Volunteers take a well-earned rest with their families and disabled children.

PODS Hub will be closed during this time too, with the exception of pre booked groups and activities.

We will re open on Monday 5th January 2026.

Reponses to emails and messages will be limited. We will have scheduled posts going out on social media, so please look out for them.

In an emergency, please use the numbers below. If you contact PODS, please be aware that it may not be picked up until the next working day.

Family Connect: (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm excluding bank holidays) 01952 385385

Emergency Duty Team: For anyone who has immediate safeguarding concerns outside of office hours or on a bank holiday, including Christmas Day is 01952 676500.

Childline: 0800 1111 (for children) 0808 802 5544 (for parents)

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: (24/7) 0808 2000 247

Urgent NHS Mental Health Helpline: (24/7) 0808 196 4501

Samaritans: (24/7) 116 123

Mind: 0300 123 3393

Citizen’s Advice: 0800 144 8848

Corum: 020 7520 0300

PODS New Year Fun Craft & Crazy Golf Sessions

PODS New Year Fun Crafts

PODS is holding a Calendar Making Crafts session for the children and young people, there will be light refreshments and snacks available. Each child /young person attending must have a ticket. Parent carers must accompany their child/young person but do not require a ticket.
Please note tickets are non refundable. 

Please do not purchase tickets if you are already booked onto the HHAH Christmas Craft sessions or Putt Putt Noodle session to allow as many families as possible to enjoy the Christmas activities on offer.

To book, please click here: PODS New Year Fun Crafts

PODS Crazy Golf Sessions

PODS is holding an indoor crazy golf session for the children and young people. Parent carers will also need a ticket, please select from a participating ticket enabling you to play (maximum of 1 adult player per booking) or a spectating ticket for non players only. 
Each person attending must have a ticket. Parent carers must accompany their child/young person at all times.
Please note tickets are non refundable. 

Please do not purchase tickets if you are already booked onto the PODS Christmas HHAH Crafts Session or New Year Crafts.

To book, please click here: PODS Crazy Golf Sessions

Christmas at Attingham - Free Visit

Wednesday 10th December 2025 from 4.30pm-5.30pm at National Trust - Attingham Park, Shrewsbury, SY4 4TP

Come join us for Christmas at Attingham! Attingham Park has kindly invited us to visit the Mansion where you can marvel at this year's Christmas decorations. Price: FREE

This is a SEN specific relaxed session and PODS families will have sole access to the Mansion for the hour.

For more information about Attingham and the Mansion at Christmas please visit: A Very Attingham Christmas

If you have any questions please email matt@podstelford.org. 

To book, please click here: Christmas at Attingham - Free Visit

PODS Social Support Group at Blists Hill

Thursday 11th December 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 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

PODS SEND Ice Skating Session at Telford Ice Rink

Friday 12th December 2025 from 5pm-6pm at Telford Ice Rink, Telford, TF3 4JQ

Come and join PODS for the SEND skating session at Telford Ice Rink! Please note that this is open to the public and not a private hire.

Please ensure you bring your child’s TLC Card. Further charges may apply if you do not bring a TLC Card.

We will also require you to bring proof of carers and needs (T&W request sorry).

Stability aids are available free of charge and skates aren't required during this session. Wheel chairs are able to access the pad.

Open to all ages, including siblings. Parent/carer attendance is required at all times. Non-refundable.

To book, please click here: PODS SEND Ice Skating Session at Telford Ice Rink

Special Approach to Making It REAL

Thursday 5th February 2026 and Tuesday 24th February 2026 from 12.30pm-2.30pm at PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, Telford, TF2 9TU

PODS and Family Hubs are offering a Special Approach to ‘Making it REAL’ workshop for families with children aged 0-5 years with Special Educational Needs.
 
This engaging workshop supports parents to build their knowledge and confidence in helping your children develop early reading and writing skills, while creating a positive and supportive home-learning environment.
 
You only need to book one session. If you would need a creche place to enable you to attend please let us know.

To book, please click here: Special Approach to Making It REAL

PODS Parent Carer Forum Annual Experience Survey - 2025/26

Please help PODS Parent Carer Forum to 'Make A Difference'

"Sharing experiences, driving change, building futures - empowering SEND families"

PODS Parent Carer Forum is the officially recognised parent carer forum for Telford & Wrekin.  To ensure your voices are represented, we receive a yearly grant from the Department for Education to enable Participation and Co-Production, including this survey.  We are collecting experiences of health, social care, education and community services from families with children and young people aged 0-25years via this survey, and a report is published in due course.

This survey will take approximately 6 minutes to complete.

As a thank you, if you wish to be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 shopping voucher, please complete your name/email/telephone details at the end of the form.

Thank you for completing, from the PODS Parent Carer Forum.

Link here: PODS PARENT CARER FORUM ANNUAL EXPERIENCE SURVEY - 2025/26 – Fill in form

🌸 New Monthly Drop-In at the Cherry Blossom Family Hub 🌸

We’re delighted to announce that from 24th November, families can access a brand-new monthly drop-in service at the Cherry Blossom Family Hub (PODS Hub), Central Park, Telford.

📍 Location: PODS Hub, 1 Hawksworth Road, Central Park, TF2 9TU
🗓️ When: Last Monday of every month (term time only)
⏰ Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm

This relaxed, friendly session is open to all parents and carers, offering:

✅ Advice and signposting to local support
✅ Information on parenting and available courses
✅ Guidance on accessing community activities
✅ Family Hubs information and support

No need to book – just pop in for a chat, a warm welcome, and access to a range of support designed for families.

We look forward to seeing you there! 💜

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. 

We look forward to meeting our new families!

Please Note: On Monday 15th December from 10am-11.30am it will be the Little Buds Christmas Party and Santa will be there!

Blossom & Bloom Stay and Play Session 

PODS Stay & Play Session for children aged 0–5 years with SEND. This will be open to all children prior and post diagnosis.

The sessions are every Tuesday term time only from 10am-11.30am at PODS Hub.

Come along and enjoy a warm, welcoming space for you and your little ones.

🌸We can’t wait to see you there!🌸

Please Note: On Tuesday 16th December from 10am-11.30am it will be the Blossom & Bloom Christmas Party and Santa will be there!

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 Lego Club

PODS Lego Club runs every Wednesday during Term-Time from 4.30pm-5.30pm 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 be able to improve their  to 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

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.

Job Vacancy at Challenging Perceptions 

Challenging Perceptions currently have a Job Vacancy for a Dad Co-ordinator.

For Application forms applicants can email: info@challengingperceptions.co.uk / Ref: Dadrole

Due to the nature of the role and their organisation CVs are not accepted, however they can be sent with completed application forms.

Parent Workshop - Knife Crime: Helping Young People Make Safe Choices

Please see the poster below for details on a Knife Crime Workshop for Parent Carers.

To register, please scan the QR Code in the poster.

Sensory Snips

Coming soon to the PODS Hub 'Sensory Snips' a hairdresser specialising in haircuts for children and adults with SEND.

Please contact Cody on 07735 073870 for more information, prices or to book. 

Action for Happiness Calendar - December Kindness 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.