We've been busy sharpening our shoes and polishing our pencils which can only mean one thing - it's September! We hope that the return to school has been a positive experience for you and your family.
We're welcoming a new colleague to the team this September - Kelly is joining our Business Support Team, who are the hardworking lot who process personal budget applications and generally keep us shipshape. If you happen to speak to Kelly on the phones, do give her a warm welcome.
We've got some new short breaks and activities to tell you about this month, as well as some new support groups AND an invitation to help us plan the future of short breaks in Suffolk, so keep on reading and we'll tell you more...
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Non-Verbal Youth Theatre, Bury St Edmunds
The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds are launching some non-verbal Youth Theatre groups to support young people who are learning disabled or neurodivergent to build their confidence, make new friends and participate in a fun and friendly environment. Contact Emma Thorpe, Young Person's Producer, at emma.thorpe@theatreroyal.org, or visit Theatre Royal | Youth Theatre
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Achieving Aspirations: Brickscape Club
Brickscape is a monthly activity club in Felixstowe aimed at Lego enthusiasts looking to spend some time doing what they love, meet new people and make friends in a fully supported environment. Brickscape are next meeting this Saturday 18th September, 10am-1pm, and sessions cost £10.
For more information, email Sam at s.boulton@achievingaspirations.uk.
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Pro Corda: Free Musical Theatre Workshops
Pro Corda are running some FREE musical theatre workshops this October for under 18s with SEND who are also eligible for free school meals. To find out more, visit Procorda | Holiday Hub or email laura@procorda.com
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Involve Active: Halloween Activities
Involve are spookily ahead of the game with their planning, with two Halloween themed days this October! The 28th is an activity session for 5-25s with SEND and siblings/young carers, while the 29th is a family fun day with fancy dress, crafts, a halloween trail and more. Contact jennieinvolve@gmail.com or call 01502 501542 to book.
To find out more about Involve, Pro Corda, Achieving Aspirations, Leading Lives and all our lovely AU grant-funded providers, why not head over to the provider section of our website and see what else is on? Activities Unlimited | Providers
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Disability Football at ITFC
Ipswich Town Football Club are continuing to run their inclusive football sessions for both adults and young people:
Adults 17+ (Premiership): Mondays 5-6pm
Adults 17+ (Championship): Thursdays 5-6pm
Youth (5-16s): Saturdays 10-11am
Email leanne.smith@itfc.co.uk or visit ITFC Trust | Book Now to book.
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Leaving Lives: new social club for adults with autism
Leading Lives are opening a new social club in Ipswich for adults on the autism spectrum. First Friday of each month between 6-8pm, beginning Friday 1st October. Come and meet like-minded people in an informal setting, you are welcome to bring along a friend or family member. To find out more, visit the Leading Lives website or call 01473 602931.
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Ormiston Families: Breaking Barriers
Ormiston Families' Breaking Barriers service supports children and young people up to the age of 19 who have been affected by the imprisonment of a close family member, by providing a safe 1:1 space to play and express themselves. To find out more, visit Ormiston Families | Breaking Barriers
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ACE Anglia: Suffolk People First
ACE's quarterly online conference for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, family carers, support workers and providers is this Friday,17 September between 10:30-12:30, and the theme is Employment and Volunteering. Confirmed speakers include a Disability Employment Advisor from the Department for Work and Pensions, Work Well Suffolk, Community Action Suffolk and more - to book, visit Suffolk People First online conference.
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Psychology In Schools - Parent / Carer Workshops
The Psychology in Schools Team are running a series of workshops to help parents and carers support their children and young people’s mental health, including:
- Supporting our young people to manage big feelings
- Supporting our young people to manage uncertainty
- Supporting our young people with challenging behaviour
- Supporting our young people with self-harm
For more info or to book, visit Psychology in Schools | Workshops
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Suffolk Family Carers - Autumn Programme
Suffolk Family Carers are running a programme of events and workshops to support family carers this Autumn. To find out more about what they've got coming up, visit their events page: Suffolk Family Carers | Events
If you aren't already aware, we also provide funding to SFC to support young carers throughout Suffolk; so if you have a child who provides care to you or a sibling, do take a look at their Young Carers page too.
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Behaviour Safe: new dates for Autumn 2021
Behaviour Safe At Home supports family members living with children who display extreme behaviours, to improve the safety of everyone. The focus of the programme is on early intervention to help prevent behaviour escalating and reduce the need for restrictive interventions. Guidance is given to help parent/carers make positive choices when managing difficult behaviours. The team are now able to offer face-to-face courses again, and have the following dates available:
7 & 14 October (10am-4pm): The Mix, Stowmarket (£30)
8 & 15 November (10am-4pm): Waveney Gymnastics Club, Lowestoft (£30)
25 October (10am-3pm): Siblings one day course (free) – to encourage siblings to share their experiences and learn practical techniques on how to cope with their sibling’s difficult behaviour. Held at Suffolk Family Carers, Claydon, Ipswich.
For more information, please email SENDBusinessSystems@suffolk.gov.uk. Places are limited and will be allocated upon receipt of the booking form and payment on a first come, first served basis.
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Supporting People with LD coming out of lockdown
Roger Blake, Learning Disability and Autism Specialist Nurse in Ipswich has been in touch with some links to resources families might find helpful as the country moves further out of lockdown:
How to support people with a learning disability to ease out of lockdown
This video explains to carers and families how people with a learning disability might be feeling as we ease out of lockdown. This video also provides some tips and resources for carers and families to do with the person with a learning disability to help ease the transition out of lockdown.
Coming Out of Lockdown
This video is for people with learning disabilities, to help them to understand the new rules as England comes out of the Coronavirus lockdown. It also provides guidance to help them adapt to these changes in rules.
Feeling Anxious when coming out of lockdown
This video explains to people with learning disabilities that it is normal to feel worried or anxious about coming out of lockdown and offers advice on how to manage their feelings and emotions that arise due to lockdown ending.
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Level Two Mentoring Service
Level Two Youth Project offer 1:1 mentoring for young people aged 7-25 who are struggling. Young people can simply talk, play games, go for a walk, go to a cafe, do artwork, go litter picking, whatever they would like to do. For more information, contact Kirsty Coldwell on kirstycoldwelllevel2@gmail.com or 07392 964461.
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Consultations & Co-Production
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Help us make provision even better!
Suffolk County Council are currently reviewing the Short Breaks / respite provision for children and young people with SEND within Suffolk, and we’d like to ask for your help.
We are already aware of some gaps, such as provision for under 8s, planned respite and our provision for children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs, but we would like to hear any other gaps you are aware of and get your opinion on what works, what doesn’t and what might need to change. We will then use this feedback to guide us when planning and commissioning services in the future.
We are holding a Virtual Short Breaks Provision Co-Production Event on Friday 1st October from 10am-1pm. If you would be interested in attending, please email info@activities-unlimited.co.uk by Friday 24th September and we will send you the meeting link.
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Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Success for GB!
After an incredible two weeks in Tokyo which saw the GB Paralympians reach the podium in more sports than any other nation at a single Games, the British team came home in a blaze of glory. Team GB finished second on the medal table with 124 medals across 18 sports, including 41 gold, 38 silver and 45 bronze.
If you or someone in your household has been inspired to take up a sport, you might like to take a look at our Local Offer website, where we've got more than 80 organisations registered who run inclusive sporting activities. If you know of an organisation providing inclusive sport in Suffolk who aren't listed, we'd love to know about them and make contact: drop us a line at localoffer@suffolk.gov.uk and let us know more!
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That's all from us today! We hope there's something in there you've found useful. Don't forget to send us your "Out and About" photos if you'd like to - we love to see how you use your short breaks budgets, it makes it all worthwhile for us.
Until next time, best wishes from all the Activities Unlimited Team
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