Summer Programme 2014

Summer 2014

What’s on‌.

Registered Charity Number 1142372

Welcome to the first newsletter promoting the work of Little Miracles and the activities running

from The Spinney on Hartwell Way, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough. Please feel free to pass this copy on to any family, friends and colleagues to help us spread the world!

Thank you we really value your support.

The Spinney is a community building where lots of different organisations work together in order

to provide as many sessions for you and your family as possible please do get in contact if you would like to get involved in anyway. Little Miracles is the main tenant in the building that supports families that have children with disabilities, additional needs and life limiting conditions thus many activities have a strong focus on supporting these families.

In addition to Little Miracles there is a Management committee made up of local residents and voluntary groups using the centre, The Scout Association, Families First (who provide open access play,) the council providing a youth club and many other voluntary organisations that run sessions from The Spinney.

We deliver a range of services as detailed in this booklet including short breaks, play activities,

emotional support, disability specific services, emotional support, work experience, training, day trips, holiday clubs, a community cafe and they are all chosen by you so please do get in contact with your ideas.

We NEED to fundraise at least ÂŁ6000 per month in order to continue running these services for you please do give in anyway you can to support us with this donations of toilet roll, food (no nuts please,) cleaning products (particularly antibacterial spray and washing up liquid), and craft items.

We rely on around 70—100 volunteers per year to help with fundraising, deliver sessions, to give advice, to provide support, to help with administration, working in the cafÊ, cleaning, keeping on top of the maintenance etc. We are firm believers that everyone can help so please get in contact to find out how you can support us.

Contact us by phone on 01733 262226 or by email to admin@littlemiraclespeterborough.org.uk www.facebook.com/littlemiraclespeterborough www.facebook.com/TheSpinneyPlaycentre www.littlemiraclespeterborough.org.uk

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History

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The Spinney adventure play centre originated in the summer of 1972 when the Peterborough Development Corporation and the City Council built a purpose built play centre and Westwood and Ravensthorpe Community Association ran a play scheme during the summer of 1972 and it was officially opened in 1973.

The Spinney proved to be very popular with the Tree Tops play group, The Scouts Association and Open Access Play running from the centre however services and funding were gradually withdrawn and The Spinney was threatened with closure many times. It is through the actions of local people which kept it open but lack of investment meant the building fell into disrepair with only the Scouts and the Youth Club using the centre. In early 2013 when the Peterborough City Council announced the closure of the centre and sections of the roof subsequently collapsing due to torrential rain over the summer things were looking bleak for the play centre.

Local residents, Little Miracles and The Scouts Association banded together to save The Spinney forming a management committee to work together to enable this to happen. From this partnership Little Miracles as a project funded by Children in Need applied and were selected by DIY SOS to rebuild the centre and create a space where children would want to play again. The show aired on Children in Need appeal night emphasising the amazing facilities that had been created and the groups for the families whose children have additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions however The Spinney is so much more than this.

The Spinney now is a community hub with lots of exciting things happening, with groups, activities and training for whole of the community most of which are offered for free so please do pop along and say hello whether it be to have a cup of tea, to further your employment prospects, to get essential support or meet other mums we cannot wait to meet you.

The whole centre is wheelchair accessible and comprises of a counselling and holistic therapy room, an interactive sensory room, modern kitchen facilities, main hall, football pitch, wheelchair accessible trampoline, tree house and roundabout, sensory garden and contemplative cairn it is also available for private hire please do contact admin@littlemiraclespeterborough.org.uk for more details.

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What is at the Spinney?

The Sensory room offers a stimulating environment for all children and is available to book and during certain sessions. We also have a quantity of sensory items available to hire on a short term basis

The counselling room is an oasis of calm where our one to one sessions take place including all counselling , bereavement support, individual meetings, benefits advice and holistic therapies.

The main hall is where most of the groups aimed at the children take place with a wall for projecting films on for movie night it is a haven for safe and stimulating play.

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Perfect for birthday parties!

The fully equipped kitchen is used to prepare food and the children's cookery groups.

Then Den is used as a retreat for teenagers and also for Reiki and art therapy with the doors opening straight into the garden.

Outside we have a sensory garden, various play equipment with disabled access including a tree house, swing, roundabout and supportive swings, cause and effect toys as well as typical equipment and a five a side football pitch.

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Little Miracles Little Miracles is a parent led charity that specialises in supporting families that have a child with an additional need, disability and/or life limiting condition. We run daily activities where the children (including siblings) are welcome to come and play, and parents get a chance to socialise with other families. We run lots of sessions so you can pick and choose which ones are suitable for your family and you are welcome to attend as many or as few as you wish but please do let us know any specialist requirements in advance so we can make adjustments as required.

We are a registered charity that started after a chance meeting between two parents with disabled children and a shared vision that families whose children had disabilities could benefit from speaking to other parents in the same position as themselves and a commitment to enable the families to be able to access social activities and support essential for raising their children.

The charity officially started as a weekly coffee group in 2010 but it quickly needed to register as a charity, to run trips and holiday activities and provide additional services. Within 18 months of the first meeting the charity opened its first centre over in Werrington delivering services everyday for families allowing them to pick and choose what was suitable for their family.

In early 2013 it was apparent that the families had outgrown their existing centre with the council announcing the closure of eight children's centres in the city the trustees looked at many of these centres alongside other properties for the charity to grow into. Out of the venues two were identified as having potential but with its two and a half acres of outdoor woodland space and being in an area where many of our families lived The Spinney was chosen.

Initially we planned to launch a ten year campaign to rebuild The Spinney however we also applied to DIY SOS to help us and after a number of rounds where chosen to be their Children in Need project and to receive a complete new building rather than the usual renovation.

We now run a wide variety of sessions and are responsible for the day to day running of The Spinney.

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Monday During term time Counselling—We offer three slots of talking therapy for families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions on an appointment based system typically for a minimum of eight sessions please get in contact to discuss your requirements.

Peterborough Home Education Group—10-12 This is a session ran by families that home educate in Peterborough. Anyone with an interest in home education is welcome to attend.

Lunch is served between 12 and 1 I Can Cook! - 1-3 pm a cookery session aimed at the under fives Jujitsu—4-5 This is an outreach group in Werrington for children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions booking is essential Beaver Scouts — 5-6.30 pm for 6-8 year olds with 58th Ravensthorpe and Westwood Scout Group please contact 01733 268223 for details Cub Scouts—6.30-8 pm for 8– 10 1/2 year olds with 58th Ravensthorpe and Westwood Scout Group please contact 01733 268223 for details Scouts—6.30-8 pm for 101/2 to 14 year olds with 58th Ravensthorpe and Westwood Scout Group please contact 01733 268223 for details

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Tuesday Counselling—We offer three slots of talking therapy for families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions on an appointment based system typically for a minimum of eight sessions please get in contact to discuss your requirements.

Playtime— 10 –12 a weekly playgroup for any family to come and enjoy the different areas within the centre including the sensory room and get involved in both free play and adult led activities.

Lunch is served between 12-1 Community Café— 1-3 a chance to catch up, meet with friends enjoy a coffee and a cake and the children are also very welcome to come and play Open Access Play—3.30-6 this is an Open Access play session delivered by Families First Peterborough where children can play unaccompanied please note this is not a childcare scheme and therefore although there will always be a minimum of two play workers on site your child will not always be supervised please get in contact on to discuss if this will be suitable for your child. For children in school year 1 until their 14th birthday Orton Outreach Group—1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month afterschool till 5 at Herlington Childrens centre Hampton Outreach Group —2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month afterschool until 5 at Hampton Childrens Centre Youth Club—6.30-8.30 delivered by Peterborough City Council is aimed at 11-18 year olds Child Psychology sessions 6-8 pm we currently offer two slots of play based therapy for children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions on an appointment based system typically for a minimum of eight sessions please get in contact to discuss your requirements.

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Wednesday Reiki— 10-1 Please contact us to discuss your requirements and to book Reiki is a gentle and non invasive complementary therapy that can be used to ease stress, relieve pain, bring relaxation to name but a few.

Gel nail polish and gel real nails— First Wednesday of the month from 10-3 we will be offering Shellac manicures reduced from £20 to only £12 please get in contact to book Sing and Sign— 10.30-12 aimed at families whose children have additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions (both hearing and hearing impaired) to help aid early communication teaching basic British Sign Language signs Lunch is served between 12 and 1 Alternative Education Group—1-3 for families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions who find themselves in alternative education provision including home educating, flexi schooling or not in education, employment or training.

Italian—3.30-4 pm come and learn basic Italian.

Life Skills—3.30-5 cooking and living skills aimed at families that children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions to be able to play in a stimulating environment after school.

Dinner is served between 5 and 6 pm Adult Dyslexia sessions—6.30-8 aimed at improving the literacy of adults with dyslexia

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Thursday Emotional Support—9-10 a peer to peer support service between parents that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions who are on the same journey just a little bit further along in the process. This can also be offered at different times so please do get in contact to discuss your requirements Benefits Support—10-2 specifically around disability services including disability living allowance for children and family fund applications. This can also be offered at different times so please do get in contact to discuss your requirements Early Developmental Group– 10-12 aimed at under fives with additional needs and disabilities and life limiting conditions this is an opportunity for parents and carers to meet and their children to socialise with activities available aimed at aiding developmental play.

Lunch is served between 12 and 1 Coffee and a Chat—1-3 is a group aimed at parents of children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions to meet, chat and socialise children welcome Construction Club—4-5 aimed at children with additional needs, disabilities and life limting conditions utilising Lego, Megablocks and Kapla blocks.

Homework Club—4-5 pm for families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions ran by a reading recovery worker Dinner is served between 5 and 6 British Sign Language Level 1—6-7 although this activity is open to all priority will be given to those with a deaf family member. Limited spaces please get in contact asap

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Friday Counselling—We offer three slots of talking therapy for families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions on an appointment based system typically for a minimum of eight sessions please get in contact to discuss your requirements.

Art—10-12 come and explore art and sensory play aimed at children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions and there siblings Lunch is served between 12 and 1 Reflexology—12-4 an alternative therapy involving applying pressure to the feet based on the theory that areas correspond with different areas on the body.

Community Café— 1-3 a chance to catch up, meet with friends enjoy a coffee and a cake etc children are also very welcome to come and play Miracle Mayhem—3.30-5 an afterschool free play group with both adult and child led play aimed at families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life limiting conditions Street Dance—4.30-5.30 with Dance No End open to over 5s to come along and learn street dancing Football Club—4.30 –5 for under fives 5-5.30 for six to eleven year olds 5.30-6.30 for 11 and over Dinner is served between 5.30 and 6.30 Tics and Tourette's—a supportive group for families affected by Tics and Tourettes 6.30-8 pm the first Friday of every month Crafts for adults—6.30-8 a crafty group for adults on the third Friday of the month come and try something new.

Movie Night—6.30 for 6.45 start a series of universal films aimed at all families

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Weekends Saturday Boxing —9.30-11 with Peterborough Amateur Boxing Club open to all over 8.

Open Access Play— 11.30-3.30 (2.30 on the first Saturday of each month) this is an Open Access play session delivered by Families First Peterborough where children can play unaccompanied please note this is not a childcare scheme and therefore although there will always be a minimum of two play workers on site your child will not always be supervised please get in contact to discuss if this will be suitable for your child. For children in school year 1 until their 14th birthday ADHD Support and Play— 3-5 first Saturday of the month a group aimed at families affected by ADHD where the children can play and the parents can meet and support each other.

Sunday Dyslexia Workshops—10.30-12.30 on the fourth Sunday of each month delivered by Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Dyslexia Association January—’What is Dyslexia’ - how to recognise dyslexia and strategies to help February—’Supporting children with dyslexia to read’ - covering how children learn to read (phonics and whole word recognition), why some children struggle and strategies to help and the important of comprehension.

March— ‘Supporting children with dyslexia and writing’ - the mechanics of writing, cognitive processes and motor skills.

April—’Supporting children with dyslexia and spelling strategies’ May— ‘Improving memory and organisation for those with dyslexia’ covering the different elements of memory (short, long and working) and how to help with each and personal organisation and organisation for writing.

June—’Evaluation and next steps for your child’

For more information please contact Jacky 07737 986 543 or visit www.pacdda.org.uk

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Complementary Therapies Counselling We offer talking therapy (typically a minimum of eight sessions) although you can have as long as you require please get in contact to discuss your requirements.

Massages We understand that life can be stressful and so offer reduced price massages with Elisa at £10 per 30 minutes it is the ideal way to relax from 10.30 –2.30 on 8th January, 29th January, 12th February, 27th February, 12th March, 2nd April, 16th April, 30th April, 14th May, 29th May ,12th June, 26th June, 9th July 23rd July

Manicures We offer Gel Polishes and Real Gel Nails on the first Wednesday of every month please be aware there is a charge for this activity please get in contact to book.

Reiki Reiki is a holistic gentle and non invasive complementary therapy that can be used to ease stress, relieve pain and bring relaxation.

Reflexology Is an alternative therapy involving applying pressure to the feet based on the theory that areas correspond with different areas on the body.

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Adult Learning Adult Learning We are proud to be able to offer a variety of adult learning courses including Level 1 British Sign Language Level 2 Customer Service Team Leading Principles of Business and Administration Understanding the Safe Handling of Medicines Equality and Diversity Principles of Dementia Care Mental Health Awareness Nutrition and Health Understanding the Care and Management of Diabetes Understanding End of Life Care Working with Individuals with Learning Disabilities Prevention and Control of Infection Level 3 Childcare Customer Service Business and Administration

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May Half Term Saturday 24th May 9.30-11 Boxing with Peterborough Amateur Boxing Club 11.30-3.30 Open access play with Families First Sunday 25th May 10.30-12.30 Dyslexia Association 1.30-3.30 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Group monthly meeting Tuesday 27th May 10-3 Open access play with Families First 10.30 Trip to Sacrewell Farm Wednesday 28th May 10-3 Cooking and play at the centre 2pm—Special Needs Vaulting booking essential please contact us to discuss your child's needs Thursday 29th May 10-3 Adaptive Multi Sports Day Friday 30th May 11-12 Swimming at Peterborough Regional Pool 2pm—Bowling at Lakeside Superbowl 5.45-7.15 Activity World 1st June 6pm Ice Skating 7th June Coach trip to London Zoo please contact us to book

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The Spinney Hartwell Way Ravensthorpe Peterborough PE3 7LE 01733 262226 www.littlemiraclespeterborough.org.uk We always needs help fundraising, working with the children, supporting families, administration, planning activities and trips and all contributions are very welcome. Please do get in contact to find out more information. Even if you can not offer a regular slot there are always other things to get involved with for eg collections—we can exchange clothes, empty ink cartridges and mobile phones for cash!

THE SPINNEY IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO HIRE FOR PARTIES PLEASE GET IN CONTACT

Do you wish you had more guidance in how to interact with children with autism? Think Autism provides guidance, consultation, support and workshops to parents and professionals across the UK. Staff training designed specifically for SCHOOLS also available. Please visit www.thinkautism.co.uk for more information or contact Elisa Ferriggi on 07961 027 007 or elisa@thinkautism.co.uk

Little Miracles is also part of the Contact a Family Local Groups Network scheme and an affiliate group for BLISS