Welcome, Magical times, Short Breaks & Respite 8th February 2017 Dear All We’ve been busy – and here follows a brief newsletter on local news… Our next newsletter will cover national news… and the very important Lenehan Review and call for evidence on residential schools.
Join us on Facebook SFV have set up a new page on Facebook. Please like it and join us in spreading as much information as we can on SEND news, stories and information that affect us all in Kingston and Richmond. https://m.facebook.com/SEND-Family-Voices-415063115499434/
Music & Magic We would like to say thank you to everyone who took part in the Music & Magic event last Saturday 4th February – and to say sorry to all those we had to turn away. The response to this event was incredible – far exceeding our expectations. We’ll keep to our promise that everyone we turned away (and who’s details we have) will receive an advance invite to the next event. We’re also aware that there are things we can repeat, and things we can improve. We have some ideas, and would love to hear yours. On the day, 107 different families attended; a total of 145 children & young people (some young adults coming by themselves), accompanied by 110 adults. “I just wanted to say a big thank you for yesterday's afternoon of magic and music etc. It was lovely to see both my ASD and neurotypical sons enjoying themselves within the same environment. It was also brilliant for me, as a single parent, to take them to something suitable on a weekend day.” "There was just the right amount of space, entertainment interesting activities, lovely staff [volunteers], even snacks and goodie bags." We will be doing this again, and we’d love to hear what you would like from a repeat event.
Music & Magic - NHS NHS England & Healthwatch (Kingston & Richmond) part-funded this event. NHS England are keen to hear from you about your experiences of their services. Please contact Shelley Eugene direct to take part: Shelley.Eugene@swlondon.nhs.uk Or… we can forward a copy of their survey. Just let us know by replying to this e-mail.
Music & Magic - Short Breaks We also managed to complete a good number of surveys for our Short Breaks consultation. Here’s more information… "Short Breaks" refers to any activity that a disabled child or young person does. As well as overnight/s away from home, it also includes things like swimming, football and dancing, as well as home and community support and ‘Aiming High’ funding.
ALL disabled children are currently eligible for some short breaks. Please attend SEND Family Voices open meetings to tell us what your family want. Whether your child attends a great activity that you want recommissioned, or you want to suggest something that is not currently available, NOW is your moment to directly affect the services that your child will receive from next year.
All participants will be entered into a draw to win a £50 voucher of choice… Wednesday 22nd February - 7pm to 9pm The Strada, Market Place, Kingston, KT1 1JT Monday 27th Februrary - 7pm to 9pm The Railway, Victoria Rd, TW11 0BB (by Teddington station) Wednesday 1st March - 10am to 12noon The Strada, Market Place, Kingston, KT1 1JT Friday 3rd March - 10am to 12noon Me Too & Co, The Crossway Centre, Richmond, TW1 2PD It would help us if you could reply to this e-mail and let us know which event you will be attending.
For new subscribers… SEND Family Voices is run by volunteers. We are all parents and carers of children and young people. Some of us represent disability specific support groups and others just find time in our complex lives to do a bit more (at the moment). We are wholly independent of all statutory services. You can read more about us here: www.sendfamilyvoices.org/about-us
Have your say – on designing new respite provision…. Kingston Council and Achieving for Children have plans to create a new respite provision on the Moor Lane site, in Chessington. This kind of respite may also be termed ‘overnight short breaks’. The clearest summary of these plans can be found in the (Kingston) South of The Borough Neighbourhood meeting presentation. See link here: http://www.sendfamilyvoices.org/overnight-short-breaks-proposals/
Families in both Kingston and Richmond will be able to use this provision. This new provision will be owned and funded by Kingston Council, and managed by Achieving for Children (as providers of children’s services). Earlier this week, Kingston’s Growth Committee approved the proposal. Now… it’s our turn to comment on the designs so far. Monday 6th March – 10.30am to 12noon
Venue tbc – Kingston If you would like to attend the consultation on the designs, please reply to sendfamilyvoices@outlook.com If you have any queries about these proposals beyond the design, please contact info@achievingforchildren.org
What’s new on the Local Offer? SEND Family Voices’ film on Reasonable Adjustments - in young people’s own words - now a subtitled version https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/pages/home/education/the-duty-to-make-reasonableadjustments-for-pupils-with-additional-needs Wednesday 1st March – Planning event for young people’s services (Kingston)… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/888-a-one-day-workshop-to-develop-our-bigplan-for-children-young-people-and-adults-with-learning-disabilities-in-kingston With earlier news item for more context… https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/blog_articles/698-kingston-all-age-learning-disabilityprogram-a-briefing-for-staff-carers-and-people-interested-in-services-for-people-withlearning-disabilities?term=stephan Wednesday 8th March - Join us at the SEN session on The World of Work Roadshow. https://www.afclocaloffer.org.uk/events/22740-world-of-work-roadshow-2017?date=2017-0308
Exceptional Minds This is based in America; perhaps there is something similar here? “Exceptional Minds is an animation studio and digital arts school for young adults who fall on the autism spectrum.” http://create.adobe.com/2017/1/19/exceptional_minds_where_autism_is_no_barrier_to_suc cess.html?trackingid=RTQCN7LC&mv=email 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