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#StayAtHome    #StaySafe    #TogetherAtHome
Events Update - May 2020
Welcome to our events email for May.
We hope everyone is well.
Croydon Mencap clubs and offices are closed until further notice, but you can still contact us by email or telephone.
Our staff are keeping in touch with members, carers and families by telephone, email, post and Zoom video meetings.
If you need some help, or a chat, you can contact us by email at info@croydonmencap.org.uk or you can call us on the usual number, 020 8684 5890.
Please take care and keep in touch! 
Croydon Mencap News...
Our latest newsletter has been sent out to members by post. You can also read it online on ISSUU or download the pdf (link below)
Click here to download the pdf
We are holding an online forum on Tuesday 12th May, please contact us if you would like to take part
Chill and Chat are holding Zoom sessions, please contact us if you would like to join in!
We are making and sharing activity videos on our YouTube channel.
We have Craft Tutorials with Beckie and Cooking with Liz.
Beckie and Liz both work at Clubs @ Leslie Park. Please subscribe to our channel to see all our videos as soon as they are added! 
Craft with Beckie - How to make Sock Bunnies
Croydon Mencap are now on Instagram!
 We would love you to follow us! We would love you to follow us!

We are very excited about our new Volunteering Buddies Project...

Do you need something to look forward to for when we are back to normal? Have you heard about all the people volunteering at the moment? Have you thought “I want to do that, but would need some support”? 

Well we could have the opportunity for you!

The Volunteering Buddies Project will match you with a trained Volunteer Buddy to support you to get ready for a role and get started.

If you are interested, email or call Abi for more details and a short form.

abigail@croydonmencap.org.uk
07307 163787

The Wiggles social distancing song! 
Other news and information...
The Taxicard scheme has been adapted to help users during the coronavirus pandemic – You can now use your Taxicard for:
  • Taxicard drivers to pick up and deliver essential supplies for you 
  • Allow friends and family to travel on your behalf using your Taxicard for the same purpose
Croydon Covid-19 Mutual Aid Facebook group can help you to find and join your local WhatsApp group where you can help, or ask for help, within your local community https://www.facebook.com/groups/croydoncovid19/
Croydon People First are producing great newsletters
Please contact them to join their mailing list
info@croydonpeoplefirst.org.uk
Click here to download the latest Croydon People First newsletter
GIG BUDDIES AT HOME is a fab weekly newsletter from Gig Buddies Croydon. There is a new newsletter every Tuesday, sharing activities you can do at home and online. Contact Gig Buddies to subscribe to the newsletter - info@gigbuddiescroydon.co.uk or read it on their website http://www.gigbuddiescroydon.co.uk/gig-buddies-at-home/
Click here to download the latest Gig Buddies Croydon newsletter

Easy News is the first news magazine designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities, aimed to encourage discussion around news stories and keep readers informed about the world around them. Easy News uses simplified text and useful pictures to create accessible, politically neutral summaries of key news stories and events. https://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/easy-news

Down syndrome and Covid-19 survey from the Down's Syndrome Research Foundation UK and Positive About Down Syndrome

They would like to reach as many UK families as possible to collect data to establish some baseline findings:  
  • How many people with DS in the UK have had a confirmed case of Covid-19 and how many suspected?
  • How has it affected those people, what treatment did they require and how did they respond?
  • Is it possible many are not showing symptoms, much like neuro-typical children/adults?
They would like all people with DS in the UK represented, whether they have had Covid-19 symptoms or not.  

The survey needs to be completed by Tuesday 5th May
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/28TDZCN

FLARE Recruitment

The Council for Disabled Children are looking for disabled young people and young people with special educational needs (SEN) aged 12-25 years old to be part of our young people’s advisory group, FLARE.

Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, we cannot meet up as group as usual for the time being. However, we are looking for new members now and then will be resuming our face to face meetings later on in the year!

FLARE stands for Friendship, Learning, Achieve, Reach and Empower. It’s really important that disabled children and young people and those with SEN to be involved in the decisions that affect their lives. FLARE work together to share their views and experiences with the Department for Education and other organisations to help them understand how children and young people want to receive support and what services they need.

FLARE meet 6 times a year and you will need to be able to travel to London to share your experiences, give feedback and advice, and also talk to professionals about how to make positive changes to improved things for disabled young people.

Please download the application form which has more information on it and explains how to apply!

We accept video applications or you can call us to arrange a time to talk to us.

Please email all your applications to Charlotte at cohalloran@ncb.org.uk by Sunday May 31st 2020.

https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk/news-opinion/news/flare-recruitment

Let's talk loneliness campaign...

Loneliness is an issue that can affect us all at some point in our lives. It’s time we started talking about it.

The #LetsTalkLoneliness campaign encourages everyone to start the conversation and say it’s OK to feel lonely and it’s okay to talk about it.

The website brings together organisations, resources and inspirational stories that are united in a shared aim, to get more people talking about loneliness.

At the moment, whilst we are all staying at home, the website advises us to: 
1) Keep in touch with family / friends / neighbours
2) Ask for help if you need shopping, medicine, or are feeling lonely

https://letstalkloneliness.co.uk/

Please remember that Croydon Mencap is still here for you. You can email us or call us if you need some help or just a chat. email: info@croydonmencap.org.uk tel: 020 8684 5890
Things to do while we are all staying at home
Mencap TV – posting new videos every day (except Saturday) on the Mencap YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MencapDirector and also shared on their social media

  • Monday – Move with Mencap
  • Tuesday – Cook with Mencap
  • Wednesday – Create with Mencap
  • Thursday – Party with Mencap
  • Friday – Fun with Mencap
  • Sunday – Chill with Mencap
If you find it relaxing to watch fish swimming around a fish tank, this is a really big tank to watch! The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, Devon, is sharing lots of different activities and live video on their Facebook and YouTube. They have also made some 7 minute videos to help people relax. So click on fullscreen, sit comfortably, and enjoy! 
If you are enjoying watching theatre shows -  drama, comedy, dance, musicals, opera - online at the moment, check out the list on the What's On Stage website. The list of shows is being updated every day. https://bit.ly/2KPoR7t
If you would like some different programmes to watch, Amazon have a collection of family programmes, free for everyone with an Amazon account. You don't need to have Prime membership 
https://bit.ly/freefamilytitles
PAMIS support people with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
They have a virtual (online) activity programme:

http://pamis.org.uk/services/virtual-activity-programme/
We are loving all the Singing Hands activities on their Facebook and YouTube. Singing Hands use Makaton in all their videos. They have original songs and signed stories - and this is one of their Makaton Carpark Karaoke pop songs - we hope you like it! 
There are more links on our website
www.croydonmencap.org.uk/covid-19-2020/coronavirus-useful-links/
If you shop online you could raise money for Croydon Mencap at no extra cost to you! Please click on the AmazonSmile or easyfundraising pictures below for more information and to sign up. Thank you.
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