Hackney Ark Resource Centre Weekly e-Newsletter

Welcome to the Hackney Ark “Resource Centre” weekly newsletter! We are here to keep you informed!

04th November 2014

 

 

Resource Centre news

The Resource Centre at Hackney Ark has two public pc’s that parents/carers and young people are able to use.

There is no need to book just turn up, availability is on a first come first serve basis.

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Hackney Learning Trust Proposed Transport Policy Consultation Meeting

The Hackney Learning Trust would like to hear your views about the proposed new transport policy. As well as asking you to email us with any comments, concerns, we would also like to hear your views in a face to face meeting.

The first of two consultation meetings will be taking place on Monday 10^th November between 11.30am – 1.00pm in meeting room 1 at the Hackney Learning Trust.

If you would like any further information please call or email Aneurin Wood on 020 8820 7404/ Aneurin.Wood@learningtrust.co.uk

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Teen troubles

The next Teen troubles group starting on Tuesday November 11^th 2014. This will run for 5 consecutive weeks from 10.00-12.00.

A 5-week parents’ group for parents and carers of teenagers with a learning disabilities AND/OR Autism. 

Who is it for?

 

• Young people referred must      have a moderate to severe learning disability, with or without autism, and      be aged 11-19 years
• Two participants per family      can attend (2 parents, or 1 parent and supportive friend or carer).      Maximum one language interpreter per session
• Parents must be able to      commit to attending the whole programme (5 sessions).

 

Who are we?

 

• Teen Troubles is run by      Clinical Psychologists from the CAMHS Disability team.

 

What do we offer?

 

• Teen Troubles is a group      programme with a focus on:
  • Thinking about adolescence       and disability
  • Puberty
  • Developing independence
  • Modesty, privacy and       sexuality
  • Behaviour
  • The teen and the family

 

• We offer effective,      evaluated strategies to address common parenting concerns
• We provide resources to help      you develop your teen’s understanding of the changes of adolescence
• Parents have the opportunity      to share their experiences and learn alongside each other
• We explore with parents      their feelings and thoughts at this important time in their family’s life.

 

When and where do we meet?

 

• Sessions take place weekly      at the Hackney Ark and last two hours
• A review session is held 3-4      months after the end of the group programme.

 

Previously we only accepted referrals for children with ASD but now we are opening the group to parents of teenagers who DO NOT have a diagnosis of ASD but do have learning difficulties.

We are still seeking referrals for this group from professionals or self-referrals from parents. Please find referral form attached.

Please do not hesitate to Carolyn Gracey or Bethan Manford on 020 7014 7071 if you require more information or would like to discuss a referral.

The next programme is starting on Tuesday 11^th November 2014, from 10.00 to 12.00.  

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 Hackney Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Forum for Parents & Carers

The Hackney SEND Forum for Parents & Carers meets on a two monthly basis to discuss the most important SEND issues.

The next meeting is taking place on Thursday 13^th November between 9.45am – 11.45am at the Tomlinson Centre, Queensbridge Road, London E8 3ND.

The Forum will include discussion on subjects such as:

• Accountability Framework
• How to ask your questions (as a parent)
• Holding schools to account
• Introducing personalisation
• How to ensure you child is at the center of the plan

Please call Jenny at HPPS on 020 7014 7123 to let us know you are coming, especially if you need an interpreter or have any special needs yourself.

Sorry, but we are not able to provide a crèche for this meeting.

If you can’t come to this meeting, but would like your views to be considered, please contact HIP (Hackney Independent Forum for Parents/Carers of Children with Disabilities) on 07985 739851 info@hiphackney.org.uk or Hackney Parent Partnership Service on 020 7014 7123, Parent.Partnership@homerton.nhs.uk

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Hackney Learning Trust consultation on a new SEND transport policy

Between Friday 24^th October and Friday 5^th December 2014, The Hackney Learning Trust are holding a consultation period on a proposed new SEND transport policy.

Hackney Learning Trust will be organising at least two face to face consultation events which we will provide you with the details of once the arrangements have been made.

The aim of the policy is to ensure that eligible children and young people with SEND or medical needs are receiving the most appropriate form of transport, and to also encourage children, and in particular young people, to be as independent as possible for their specific personal circumstances.

I would therefore be grateful if you would please read the proposed policy using the attached website address: https://www.learningtrust.co.uk/schools/Pages/Consultations.aspx and send and objections or comments to me either by letter: Aneurin Wood, Head of Policy & Programmes (Equalities & SEND), Hackney Learning Trust, 1 Reading Lane, London E8 1GQ or alternative by email: Aneurin.Wood@learningtrust.co.uk Learning Trust website and in particular the attached link:

I thank you in advance for your anticipated help with developing this policy.

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KEEN London- Free activity sessions with one to one support

KEEN London, run activity sessions for disabled children at the weekends during term time and pride themselves on being the only charity in London that can offer (at least) one to one support for all of our children.  We’d love for more families to find out about the work we’re doing and attend our sessions and would be very grateful if you were able to help us in any way.

We run sessions from The Petchey Academy in Hackney every Saturday during term time from 1pm – 2.30pm and they are provided at no cost to the family or caregiver.
We started this location in November 2013 and are now looking to sign up more children to attend. (We have been operating in Tufnell Park for over 10 years)
The children do not need to have a statement or proof of disability, and they do not have to be Hackney residents, we are offering our service simply to those who are in need of some respite.

Our age range is currently 4-16, and we also have a teen keen group who meet on a Wednesday evening to go bowling.
The athletes currently involved with KEEN London have a wide range of disabilities and we have a bank of experienced coaches who are able to meet their varying needs.  We invite siblings along to sessions and they are also supported by a one to one coach.  The parents/caregivers do not need to stay at the sessions so the time is full respite.

Our sessions consist of a lot of sports, playground games, arts and crafts and music and we also occasionally take trips to go swimming, ice skating, climbing and boating.  We try to encourage everyone to socialise and build their confidence, the children are our ‘athletes’ and the volunteers, ‘coaches’.

We also go on two residential trips a year, to the Isle of Wight and West Sussex, which is a fantastic opportunity for the athletes to develop their confidence and their parents to receive a good amount of respite. All trips are also free of charge.

Our website is www.keenlondon.org.  Please do not hesitate to contact Nicole Curtin for any further details.

Nicole Curtin
East London KEEN Co-ordinator
07720677157

www.keenlondon.org
KEEN London is a registered charity, number 1124915.
It is also a limited company registered in England (number 6579658).
Its registered office is Unit 2E Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London, N1 3QP

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Pedal Power – Special people on the move!

 All Ability Cycling Club 2014

Finsbury Park, Hornsey Gate, Endymion Road 2NQ

 

• Specialised bikes for a range of disabilities
• Off road location in a beautiful park
• Qualified cycle trainers
• Cycling for complete beginners
• Games to improve cycling skills

Saturdays – every fortnight (free)

Basketball Courts, 12noon – 4pm

February 22	March 8, 22
April 5, 19	May 3, 17, 31
June 14, 28	July 12, 26
August 9, 23	September 6, 20
October 4, 18	November 1, 15, 29

 

Sundays – every fortnight (£3)

Basketball Courts, 11AM -1pm

May 18	June 1, 15 (Cycling Festival), 27
July 13, 27

 

 

Tuesdays – weekly (free)

Athletics Track or Basketball Courts, 11am -2pm

March 4 until September

 

For more information, please contact Jo Roach on: 0208 809 7118 / info@pedalpowercc.org

www.pedalpowercc.org

Find out about inclusive cycling across London at www.cyclingforall.org

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Supporting you to have the same opportunities as your friends

Are you a Young Adult Carer, between the age of 18-25, and living in Hackney?

Our Young Adult Carers support group aims to provide guidance and support in key areas such as advice, housing, employment, advocacy, education,

finances and much more.

Who is a Carer?

A carer is anyone who is unpaid and provides physical, practical and/or

emotional support, to a friend or family member who has an illness,

disability, a mental health condition or a drug or alcohol dependency.

Through recent studies it is estimated that there are around 375,000 young carers in the UK today. Caring affect carers in various aspects of their lives, this could be social life, education, physical or mental well-being.

We run monthly meetings where Yung Adult  Carers get the chance to speak, share their views, and meet others in similar situations.

Each meeting will have a “hot topic of the month” and guest speakers will cover key issues around Welfare Benefits, Employment, Housing, Education and many more.

To find out how to get involved please contact Gurmeet Kaur

on 0208 533 0951 or email

gurmeet@hackneycarers.or.uk

Carers Support Services

As well as the Young Adult Carers Support group, at City & Hackney

Carers Centre we are proud to promote the various other services we run to support our carers, such as:

¨ Statutory Carers’ Needs Assessments,

¨ Advice & Information,

¨ Listening Ear and Counselling,

¨ Advocacy

We also run other various support groups:

¨ LGBT Carers

¨ Male Carers,

¨ Mental Health,

¨ Learning Disabilities,

¨ Hackney Families Together (HFT).  This service aims to support

Parent Carers.

¨ Turkish/Kurdish Carers

¨ Somali Carers

¨ Substance Misuse.

In addition we also offer volunteering opportunities and a befriending

Service.

For further information about our services please contact City & Hackney Carers Centre on: 0208 533 0951       

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Kind Regards

Dawn Markham

Advice & Information Officer

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hackney Ark, Resource Centre

Downs Park Road

London E8 2HY

 Tel.:  020 7014 7006

Fax.: 020 7014 7232