Dear AU Member...
It's been a few weeks since we sent you an eNews, which is very remiss of us, our apologies!
We hope this finds you all well and that you've been able to enjoy the sunshine of the last couple of weeks, even if the forecast for the weekend isn't looking too promising.
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Speaking of sunshine, you might have noticed that we've gone a bit yellow this week! That's because today is "Wear Yellow" day, to raise awareness of and funding for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Below is a photo of AU Comms Team Mascot Teddy doing his bit to aid awareness. No bandanas were harmed in the making of this photo (largely because it was wrestled from his jaws about two seconds after this photo was taken) ...
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If you've been involved in a yellow-themed event, we'd love to hear about it and feature your photos in a future edition, so do let us know.
Here's our little round up of what else is happening over the next few weeks:
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Groups, Activities and News
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Learning Disabilities Week 2021
We know that for many people with a learning disability, getting creative has been a way to stay connected and positive through the challenges of the last year. Mencap have made creativity the theme for this year's Learning Disability Week, and as part of that they've launched some downloadable resources to help you get creative - just the thing for a rainy weekend! Download the Mencap resources here.
If you've already taken part this week, we'd love to see your creations - drop us a line at info@activities-unlimited.co.uk and you could see your masterpiece in a future edition!
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Ipswich Disability Football
Ipswich Town now has a disability football team! 💙 Players are encouraged to be friendly and supportive, with a particular focus on players enjoying the football they are accessing - from training to matches. As well as the adult team, there's also a youth one - for more information on either, email Leanne.smith@itfc.co.uk
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East Anglian Sailing Trust
EAST are running Saturday sailing sessions for young people with additional needs aged 10-18, with sessions for older young people on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visit the EAST website here, or to book, call 0333 0880 3278 or email info@e-a-s-t.org.uk.
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Eye Arts Club
EAC are back with their 'Sensational' new club, offering art, animation, drama and movement for children aged 7-17. The next two sessions are 19 and 26 June 10 am - 12 noon, and AU members can attend for just £8 a session. To find out more, visit the EAC Facebook page, or to book, contact Liz on 01379 668464 or lizwaugh@btinternet.com.
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Press Start Stars
Press Start Stars are back! Join the team at Press Start Gaming Lounge in Ipswich for this inclusive group for children with additional needs and their families, aimed at anyone who enjoys gaming. Every other Sunday from 10am - 12 noon, visit the Press Start Facebook group for more information.
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Brickscape
Achieving Aspirations are launching a new monthly Saturday club in Felixstowe, aimed at Lego enthusiasts. The club aims to offer opportunity for young people ages 8 to 16 to not only indulge their passion for Lego, but to meet new people and make new friends in a fully supported environment. Places are limited - email annaboulton@achievingaspirations.uk to express an interest.
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Teaming Up Juniors Saturday Clubs
Avenues East are running three Saturday Juniors Clubs, in Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Stowmarket. Aimed at 10-15 year olds, these fun groups involve sports, games, crafts, walks and more.
To find out more visit the Avenues East listing on our website, or to book your place, email css@avenuesgroup.org.uk .
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Independent review of SEND Services
Suffolk County Council this week announced that the way parents and carers are kept informed of their child’s special educational needs and disability services in Suffolk will be independently reviewed.
You can read more about this news item here.
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Complete Life - new holiday club in Newmarket
We're excited to let you know about a new provider to the AU Family! Complete Life are running a new holiday club opening this summer in Newmarket for children aged 8-18 with additional needs and/or Autism. Running four days a week from 26th July - 27th August, sessions will include arts and crafts, swimming, music, sports and more.
For more details, you can visit their listing on our website, email sophie.allen@complete-life.co.uk or call 07511 408 548.
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Leading Lives Residentials
The lovely folk at Leading Lives have been in touch with the exciting news that they're running some two night summer sleepovers in August for 16-17 year olds with learning disabilities and/or autism! Join them for games, activities, food and fun, all organised by trained Leading Lives support workers. Dates and locations are as follows but places are limited, so to book, email yp.referrals@leadinglives.org.uk or call 01502 580844.
Stowmarket: 2-4 August
Bury St Edmunds: 4-6 August
Lowestoft: 17-19 August
Ipswich: 24-26 August
To find out more about Leading Lives, you can visit their website here: Leading Lives
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Surveys and Consultations - have your say!
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AU Holiday Lodges
You may recall that earlier in the year we sold Cliff Lodge, one of our three holiday lodges. We intend to use some of the proceeds from that sale to improve our provision to families, including updating the lodge at Fritton. To that end, we have created a short survey to ask what features you would like to see at Fritton Lodge, and we'd like to invite you to fill it out here.
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Accessible Taxi Services in Babergh & Mid Suffolk
The licensing team at Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Councils are currently working with the Mid Suffolk Disability Forum to understand how wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility use taxis and to ensure taxi services are accessible for everyone. As part of this piece of work they have designed a short survey to ask people's opinions and experience. To fill out the survey, click here.
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Suffolk Parent Carer Network Update
You may have heard that Suffolk Parent Carer Network is ceasing in it's current form at the end of this week. We are grateful to SPCN for all the time they have given us at AU with particular thanks to Lucy Buckle, who has worked so hard with us on our Service Review over the past year.
Contact, who co-ordinate Parent Carer Networks across the country, are now working with SPCN, Suffolk County Council and interested parties to decide what should happen next. If you would like to express your opinion as to what should happen next, you can contact them here.
In the meantime, we would like to reassure parents that we will continue to listen to all feedback we receive, and will continue to work with AU parent carers on our service review going forwards. If you would like to be involved in this process, you can email us at info@activities-unlimited.co.uk and we will add you to our list.
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Specialist Education Services
The Specialist Education Service, which is the part of Suffolk County Council where teams like the Dyslexia Outreach and County Inclusion Services (amongst others) are based, are changing the way they work from September 2021. They are inviting families to come and hear about these changes at a series of online meetings being hosted by SENDIASS. To find out more and book your place, you can download their flyer here.
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Supporting Young People with Low Mood
There are still a few tickets left for this online Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation Trust Psychology In Schools Team event on the 29th June - click here to find out more and book your spot: NSFT Event Tickets
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Suffolk SENDIASS - events coming up
SENDIASS have a range of webinars and virtual coffee mornings coming up to support families - to find out more and book your place, visit their What's On page here: SENDIASS News and Events
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Greater Anglia: Assisted Travel
Greater Anglia have recently published a new Assisted Travel policy, letting customers know what support they can expect when travelling and how to go about accessing it. To find out more, visit their page here: Greater Anglia
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Suffolk Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0800 977 5690
And lastly...as much as we're looking forward to watching the match tonight, we were saddened to read that statistics show that domestic abuse increases by up to a third during major football tournaments. With that in mind, a new Suffolk Domestic Abuse Helpline has been opened. Anyone can call for free 24/7 on 0800 977 5690.
Suffolk Libraries and Suffolk County Council have also this week launched a campaign to raise awareness of how libraries can act as safe spaces for anyone suffering domestic abuse. You can find out more here: Suffolk Libraries
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That's all from us for today! We'll be in touch again soon. Even if the sun won't shine, we're still wishing us all a safe, victorious, glorious weekend,
Best wishes,
The Activities Unlimited Team
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