A Funding Special, Post 16 options, Health & #Christmas 1st December 2016 Dear All We all know there is less money around, and our piece on Aiming High prompted an influx of ideas‌
Charities and Grants to support families‌ With particular thanks - for preparing this list - to: Heather Mathew, Children & Young People Voluntary Sector Strategic Lead Manager, Richmond CVS E: heatherm@richmondcvs.org.uk T: 0208 843 7945
Turn2us is a fantastic website that offers help and information for anyone experiencing financial hardship or debt problems, or who is looking for funding to support an individual need within the family such as a short break. It has a grant and benefit search engine which can be tailored to meet your requirements including locality, and a phone helpline that is free to call and gives you access to trained staff who can talk you through your options. The service is available to individuals and organisations acting on their behalf. www.turn2us.org.uk
Cauldwell Children offer a range of support to children with disabilities including family support, short breaks equipment, treatment and therapies. You can apply direct and the process is straightforward. www.cauldwellchildren.com
The Family Fund If you are raising a disabled or seriously ill child, the family fund may be able to help with a grant for household items, equipment, sensory toys, a family break or something to help with college for 16/17 year olds. You can apply as a parent carer, or agencies can apply on their behalf www.familyfund.org.uk
The Family Holiday Association (FHA) supports families on a low income, that have not been on holiday for the past four years and have at least one child between three and 18 years of age can obtain financial support for a break during 2016 and 2017. The FHA can only accept applications from referring agents (such as a teacher, social worker or health visitor, etc) and not directly from families. https://www.familyholidayassociation.org.uk/ The website also has a great resource page which lists other charities and trusts that can support holidays and short breaks https://www.familyholidayassociation.org.uk/apply-for-abreak/other-holiday-charities/
Local funders There are a number of local funders such as Richmond Parish Lands Charity, Hampton Fuel Allotments and Barnes Workhouse Fund that offer grants to individuals and families particularly in relation to fuel grants, white goods and other household equipment and education. For a full list of the local funders http://www.richmondcvs.org.uk/documents/Meet%20The%20Funders%20Resources/Local%2 0Funders%20Guide.pdf
The Henry Smith Charity (Richmond) People experiencing hardship or distress who live in Richmond, Ham, Petersham or Kew. Applications in writing from referring bodies such as citizen advice and social services. www.richmondcharities.org.uk
Happy Days Children's Charity The Charity supports families with children aged 3-17 who have learning difficulties, physical or mental disabilities, acute, chronic or life limiting illnesses, been abused or neglected, witnessed domestic violence, been bereaved or act as carers for a parent or a sibling. Eligible applicants can apply for the costs of the following activities: Day trips/theatre trips/theatre workshops and Group Activity Holidays. http://www.happydayscharity.org/
The Glasspool Trust makes grants to individuals which has no restriction to the type of beneficiary. Its vision is of a society where people in need receive significant support to overcome hardship. Individuals cannot apply direct but social care, charities and advice agencies can apply on an individual’s behalf. For more information go to: www.glasspool.org.uk
Percy Bilton Charity - Grants for Individuals Qualified social workers or occupational therapists may apply for urgent, one-off financial assistance for essential items on behalf of individuals who are sick, disabled or over 65 on low income. The aim of this programme is to provide urgent one-off financial assistance for essential items. Applications can be made at any time as this is a rolling programme. http://www.percy-bilton-charity.org/
Always look on the Bright Side of Life Charitable Trust: Grants to make children smile. The trust awards one off grants to children in need for activities/ items (not household)/trips that children’s families are unable to afford. The child must be disadvantaged due to financial circumstances, disability/ill health or other category. http://www.thebrightsideoflife.org.uk/
And more… A list from HemiHelp General Information on Possible Grants and Funding http://www.hemihelp.org.uk/families/supporting_child/benefits_and_legislation/grants_and_f unding_families
Disability Grants Page This page is organised by need, ie Trikes & Bikes, medical needs, iPads etc http://www.disability-grants.org/grants-for-children.html
Puberty and Sexuality (for families of young people with SEND) A reminder… These are popular events, but we’ve got big rooms and so there are still spaces! The workshop will explore the issues faced by children/teenagers with special needs and the people around them when the child/teenager is going through puberty. This includes: identifying some of the characteristics of puberty that have a massive impact upon children/teenagers with special needs; provide some understanding in relation to anger management as a teenager; look at practical approaches towards inappropriate sexualised behaviour. Please contact sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com to book a place.
Thursday 8th December - 10am to 12noon The Langdon Down Centre, 2A Langdon ParK, Teddington, TW11 9PS Thursday 8th December - 7pm to 9pm King Charles Centre, Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, KT5 9AL Note: there is a Varsity rugby match in Twickenham that day, so best avoid central Twickenham in the afternoon!
…and while we’re thinking about puberty Some tips for talking about alcohol to young people with special needs, from Special Needs Jungle: http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/talking-alcohol-special-needs-teen/
Preferences for Post-16 Recently a letter arrived to parents of Year 11 young people asking for their preferences for post 16 provision. The letter came as a bit of a surprise, so to explain: young people with a statement or an EHCP are considered for places before they are offered to other students the process can be lengthy and involves the SEN Team consulting with the preferred settings (eg can they meet the young person's needs and, if so, whether can they offer a place?) the SEN Team must be satisfied on both counts the legal timescale for this process is tight and must be completed by 31 March 2017 the SEN Team asked for your preferences within 15 days, so that they can complete the consultations before Christmas 2016
The SEN Team offer their apologies… “We are sorry for any confusion or anxiety the letter caused. Ideally, we should have notified you in advance that you would be receiving this letter. We have certainly learnt from this and will put things in place to ensure this process is better managed in the future. To help us, to help you, please contact your Preparing for Adulthood co-ordinator, before Christmas, with your preferences”
Places to go for help… The young person’s current SENCo should be able to help you. Links to the list of Preparing for Adulthood co-ordinators can be found here, listed by borough: www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning/who-is-who-in-sen/sen-team-contact-details-and-case-allocation-lists You can also seek help from Independent Supporters: www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning/independent-supporters Please see Chapter 8 of the Golden Binder: www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/assessment-and-education-health-and-careplanning/the-golden-binder
Educational settings and advice: www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/post-16-education/maintained-andspecial-schools-with-a-post-16-offer www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/preparing-for-adulthood www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/uploads/afclocaloffer/document/file/262/OPPS_PACK.pdf
Health Reviews – Have Your Say
#1 Questions on NHS services - Richmond “The NHS continues to be under enormous financial pressure, with a projected £900 million budgetary shortfall in south west London in five years' time. Current ideas include a potential reduction in the number of acute hospitals in south west London. Would you like to ask questions to NHS commissioners, or com ment on the changes? If yes, come along to this event… Wednesday 7th December – 5.30pm onwards Duke Street Church, Richmond (near Richmond Theatre) “ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/major-change-in-richmonds-nhs-have-your-say-free-eventtickets-28656815306?mc_cid=cfec670d85&mc_eid=d00cf268c6
#2 Speech & Language Therapy – UK Review “The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) are in the process of reviewing the strategy for Children’s Speech and Language Therapy services across the UK. As part of this process they have launched a public online workshop to gather the views of children and young people (CYP), parents and carers, and other professionals/practitioners involved in supporting CYP e.g. teachers, other health professionals, decision makers and commissioners. Complete a short survey and join the conversation: https://rcslt-cyp.clevertogether.com/ The conversation will be open until 16th December 2016. All responses will be anonymised.” Would you like to take part in a group discussion on this subject? If yes, please reply to this email.
MRI - cartoon Amazing what you can find on SEND Family Voices’ Facebook page… A short animation for children about what to expect before and during an MRI scan. 3.08 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duQR23cR5Gs&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
Top Marks for the Local Offer! This morning (December 1st), members of the Local Offer Development Group (LODG) attended a peer review workshop in London with 14 other local authorities. It is a requirement that every local authority’s Local Offer is co-produced with families; the LODG is a mix of AfC staff, parent representation via SFV and young people. Each local authority had previously reviewed another authority’s Local Offer and submitted their findings. The morning was to discuss these in more detail. Alison Sears (SFV parent rep) said “It was an interesting meeting this morning at the Mott Macdonald offices. And… we’ve done it again - our Local Offer was deemed to be the best of those being reviewed today!” Well done Karen Lowry (Local Offer Content manager) and the LODG.
#Christmas and more You can find information on events happening over the holidays and in the lead up to Christmas by searching #Christmas on the Local Offer: https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/759-reasonably-adjusting-your-crackerschristmas-and-other-fun-things-to-do
Christmas Fair – quiet time Collis primary school's Christmas Fair is opening half an hour early to provide a quiet session for those with SEND and their siblings. Saturday 3rd December – from 12.30pm to 1pm Collis Primary School, Fairfax Road, Teddington, TW11 9BS There will be games, tombolas, craft activities. A Lego competition, pony rides and, of course a Santa’s Grotto. If your child’s school is offering a quiet time, please let us – and Karen at the Local Offer – know: sendlocaloffer@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Two Christmas Coffee mornings… (if you’re quick - you can get to both) morning - Christmas Coffee in Richmond – National Autistic Society Theme: We are delighted to welcome Sarah Ziegel, local author of 'A Parent's Guide to Coping with Autism' and parent of four boys with ASD. Friday 16th December – 10.30am to 12noon @ MeToo&Co, Twickenham Festive snacks will be provided, so if possible, please let us know if you'd like to attend as this will give us an idea of number of mince pies we'll need. We look forward to seeing you there. Please e-mail: richmond@nas.org.uk http://www.richmondnas.org/activities-news-and-events.html
afternoon -Christmas Coffee in Kingston – Express CIC Theme: Come along for our Christmas Coffee get together and meet an Educational Psychologist. Tom Connor, Specialist Educational Psychologist will join us. He is keen to meet with, and talk, to parents. So please come along with your questions. Friday 16th December – 12noon to 2pm @ Express CIC offices, Surbiton Spaces are very limited so please email info@expresscic.org.uk to book your space. https://www.facebook.com/events/1796712907234298/
Advent Calendar (Makaton) “A new Makaton Christmas treat every day during Advent! December 1st A Show of Hands sing: Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! Join in with our Countdown to Christmas. Make and share your own video using the hashtag #wetalkmakaton to appear on our video wall” https://wetalkmakaton.org/#sign-of-the-week As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and we'll always do our best to find an answer. With best wishes, Caroline North (for Kingston) and Romany (for Richmond) Phone: 07469 746 145 www.sendfamilyvoices.org