Ice cream, sen panel, united nations & ballet

Ice Cream, SEN Panel, United Nations & Ballet 5th July 2015 Dear All It’s been hot – perhaps that’s why I’m thinking of Ice Cream for the title and post below…

Young People, Ice Cream & the Local Offer The Local Offer ‘belongs’ to the community – and is funded & facilitated by Achieving for Children. This resource needs parents, carers, children and young people’s input – it belongs to us. The Local Offer launch event is fast approaching...

Monday 13th July – 4pm to 7pm Langdon Down Centre, Teddington The Local Offer project team (which include parents and young people’s representatives) is keen to see as many families as possible. At the launch there will be:  Demo stations of the Local Offer (and how to make it work for you)  Free refreshments & ice creams (there’s a lovely outside area)  Art Activities for children and young people (run by both adults and young people)  A social media zone run by young people  A photo booth (for you and…?)  Lots and lots of information from local services Places are limited; so please book onto the Local Offer launch event here: http://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/14352-official-launch-of-the-local-offer-for-kingstonand-richmond?date=2015-07-13

SEN Panel update As you may recall from an earlier edition of this bulletin, we at RSFV have been working with Anna Chiva (Head of SEN) to look at ways in which the SEN Panel process could be made more transparent to families and young people. We recently had a meeting where a number of options were debated and these discussions are on-going. As soon as there is a concrete proposal that we are all happy with then we will be in touch to get your feedback and input. If you have any strong views in the meantime then please do get in touch (we have already invited one parent to attend our steering group meeting to discuss this topic).

In the short term there is some positive news in that we have clarified that all parents are entitled to receive the minutes of the part of the panel hearing where their case is discussed.

All panel meetings are minuted and minutes are usually available within 2-3 days of the meeting. Your SEN Case Officer should tell you when the relevant panel will be held. If you would like to receive the minutes following the Panel then you just need to request from your Case Officer and they will send them to you. We would be interested to hear from anyone who has done this / is going to do this to understand how useful this is.

Survey of medicines’ safety communications If your child or young person takes a lot of medication, please complete this short survey on:  your experience of regulatory safety communications  your views on their effectiveness

 which information channels you prefer “It is part of an EU-wide project called SCOPE (Strengthening Collaboration for Operating Pharmacovigilance in Europe). This project aims to help medicines regulatory agencies including MHRA fulfil the requirements of pharmacovigilance legislation introduced in 2012.

Your answers will be used to optimise regulatory safety communications.

This survey is anonymous and will take roughly 15 minutes to complete. We will not use your name if we publish the survey results. If you would like to receive a copy of the publication please fill in your email address on the final page.” https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/survey-of-medicines-safety-communications

Sexual Health At the sexual health services group last week, the Wolverton clinic at Kingston hospital told the audience about a new project they are running specifically aimed at people with learning difficulties and autism – the project is targeted at young people but has no age cut off point for access.

Called Connect it’s offered on a weekly basis, it does not require a referral and is described as a relationship and sexual health advice service. The service is staffed by a consultant and specialists; it is proving very much needed and is accessible to anyone from either borough.

More information about what they provide can be found at: http://www.sexualhealthkingston.co.uk/community/connect http://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/organisations/14397-connect-at-the-wolverton-centrekingston?term=connect

See it - Say it - Change it (United Nations) You may remember that we publicised the participation of a young person from Richmond working as one of the 22 involved in the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) See it, Say it, Change it project. To consult more widely, the young person worked with the existing participation group of Young People in Kingston & Richmond.

A short film (3 minutes) about how they have researched and written the report and what they think needs to change is here: http://www.crae.org.uk/news/see-it,-say-it,-change-it-film-about-childrens-report-to-un/ The report was submitted to the UN on the 1st July 2015, you can read it here: http://www.crae.org.uk/media/78664/crae_seeit-sayit-changeit_web.pdf You can also read the Civil society submission to the UN Committee here: http://www.crae.org.uk/media/78665/crae_civil_society_report_to_un_web.pdf

In brief…

The UK Young Ambassadors are recruiting!

A great opportunity for young people to join a team of International Representatives; for more information and how to apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z1trHNGzeaUv4WEnhrPZV2Z6VxCrroRXYIZUXIJO26M/viewf orm?c=0&w=1 Closing date is 15th July

Deaf Education Advisory Fellowship (DEAF)…

Details of an information day for student with deafness or other sensory loss: Friday 10th July 2015 9.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.

University of East London All students Year 10/11/12/13, support workers, parents and carers all welcome. Lunch is provided. Please email to register (and for your chance to win a tablet) info@deaf-fellowship.org or call 0161 945 6058 or text 07544 310 45 Holiday in the Algarve Here is the story, via SEN Jungle, of how a team built a fully accessible, sensory holiday location for families of children with SEND: http://www.specialneedsjungle.com/a-labour-of-love-to-create-an-accessible-algarveholiday-centre/ And the link to the centre follows: http://centrealgarve.org/ Ballet to inspire A lovely video (5 minutes) of young people with cerebal palsy learning to “let their bodies go” with the New York City Ballet Company. Persist through the introductions and watch how everybody’s perceptions change; then have the tissues ready!! It’s a public Facebook page, so you don’t need an account to view it: https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1042282075812650/?fref=nf As ever, if you have any queries at all, please ask and I'll do my best to find an answer.

With best wishes, Romany RSFV phone: 07469 746 145 www.richmondsendfamilyvoice.org