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Welcome to our August news.

A warm welcome to our families, friends and colleagues. We hope you are keeping well and are having a lovely summer. The sun has got his hat on hip hip hip hooray the sun has got his hat on and he’s coming out to play!

Let’s hope our summer isn’t over just yet. The team at ECN are as busy as always, planning our autumn events and getting involved in more co-production work. (Co-production is our favourite word 😊)

As families caring for a family member with a learning disability, there are some subjects we might rather not talk about. Having conversations about things like relationships, sex, and appropriate behaviour can be challenging for us to have with our loved ones with a learning disability. It would be easier to close our eyes to some of the aspects that come with being an adult, but we want you to feel confident to take that step and talk about these things.

The Essex Carers Network are pleased to be welcoming the health promotion specialist team at Terrence Higgins Trust Essex and Thurrockwho will be delivering this FREE in-person workshop to share with us some useful information and resources which will help us have those conversations with our loved ones in the best way when the time is right.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:

• 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗲

• 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

• 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿.

• 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

• 𝗖𝗼𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲

• 𝗦𝗧𝗜’𝘀/𝗛𝗜𝗩

As well as families, we welcome workers who directly support people with a learning disability, as we feel it will help them to understand these issues and have the tools to help them to support people well.

Tuesday 19th September 2023-In- person at the Central Baptist Church, Victoria Road South Chelmsford CM1 1LN.

Monday 25th September 2023- Online via Zoom

(Use the button links below to book a place)

Alternatively email or telephone 01255 554 029 to let us know you are attending, so we can ensure we have enough refreshments and enough space to accommodate everyone attending. (Booking is essential)

To listen to other episodes, visit our website using the button below.

The Essex Learning Disability Partnership (ELDP) is a partnership between Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) and Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT). The partnership was formed in 2017 and is responsible for all NHS learning disability community and inpatient services across Essex. Importantly, people who use our services and their families and carers were able to contribute to the development of the Partnership at the outset. (Use the button below to find out more)

AUGUST QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Sharing your views helps us to ensure lived experiences and voices influences services for people with a learning disability, autism and their families.

🔦IN THE SPOTLIGHT 🔦

For those of you caring for a family member who has a lot of health needs who perhaps uses a wheelchair and struggles with posture this FREE event is for you.

The Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention Event will be held at the Jobserve Community  Stadium United Way, Colchester.

On  Wednesday 27th September 2023.

Essex Carers Network will be there so make sure you come and say hello at our stand.

To find out more about what's on offer and to book your place, use the button below.

( If you are unable to complete the PDF form, email Jenny.peckham@essex.gov.uk to reserve a place. Deadline is the 7th September.)

Dedicated spaces have been put aside for family carers. Bookings are also open to support providers support workers and PAs. Feel free to share.