I am a 15 year old boy that suffers from Cerebral Palsy. I wondered if you could put this link on your website to show young people that if they have a disability they can do anything if you put your mind to it.
I thought that you might be interested in seeing this microlight flight controlled completely by 15 year old Harrison Nall-Smith winner of the 2007/8 Manuela Breen Scholarship.
In 2008 I found out about the Manuela Breen microlight Scholarship for people that like to fly microlights. I found out in Febuery 2009 that I won it. So I went out to Portugal and flew with my instructer Gerry Breen.
I produced, edited and downloaded the film onto Youtube on my own initiative. (Harrison Nall-Smith)
Bringing you the latest news and information about support groups and activities you might be interested in. More information here
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Aiming High for Disabled Children
Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) is a Government programme that will transform services for disabled children and their families and give them the support that they need to live ordinary family lives. The AHDC programme will give disabled children and their families more of a say about how services are developed and more choice and control over what services they will use to meet their needs. As a Pathfinder Authority, Sunderland City Council will receive substantial new funding over the next three years and is expected to lead the way in developing the services and ways of working that families want and that work best.
On 1 November, the last member of the Aiming High team came into post. The team now consists of Karen Parry (Programme Manager), Lesley Baxter (Information Officer), Jayne Aitken (Information Analyst) and Donna Knowles (Business Support Assistant). We are all based at Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton-le-Spring and can be contacted on (0191) 566 2190.
Next week we will begin the process of recruiting a Children’s Participation Officer. Their role will be to involve disabled children and young people in the Aiming High programme in Sunderland, to ensure that they have the chance to influence the way the programme is run and the types of services that are developed. The person we appoint will need to be skilled in communicating with disabled children and young people to make sure that even those with a severe learning disability or complex communication difficulties can get involved in a way that suits them.
On 1st December we will hold an information event for local and national service providers. At this event we will talk about the Aiming High for Disabled Children programme, discuss the numbers of disabled children in Sunderland and their needs, and share information about the way in which Sunderland Council develops new services. We will discuss our vision for transforming short break services for disabled children, and explain how service providers can apply to provide short break services in Sunderland in the next 2 years.
More information about Sunderland’s Aiming High programme can be found on-line at www.sncwd.org.uk or you can contact the team by phone on (0191) 566 2190. Alternatively you can e-mail us at karen.parry@sunderland.gov.uk or Lesley.baxter@sunderland.gov.uk
YouthInc3
Recently over 110 young people, aged between 13 and 20 years of age, packed into the Stadium of Light to discuss and debate their views about their city. This event, the third of its kind, is designed to give young people a say in the city’s services and aims to make Sunderland a better place to live.
Young people were involved in organising the event, with Sunderland Youth Parliament working alongside Sunderland Youth Development Group and Sunderland Voluntary Sector Youth Forum to stage the conference. Supported by Sunderland City Council, Connexions, Digital Challenge, The Empowering Young People’s Pilot, and Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, young people from every area of the city took part in idea-generating workshops.
Whizz-Kidz provides customised mobility equipment which is not available on the NHS along with training and advice, giving children independence to live a life of freedom at home, school and at play.
The main objective for the mobility centre is to provide a one stop shop for all information and advice regarding children’s mobility needs e.g. assessments and funding advice. We also provide information and product days where children and professionals are invited to try out equipment.
The mobility centre team is made up of Louise Forrest (Regional Development Officer), Julia Cunningham (Senior Mobility Therapist) and Jenny Crosby (Centre Administrator).
For more information contact:
Children’s Mobility Centre,
Disability North,
Castles Farm Road,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE3 1PH
Tel: 0191 2136770
Guidance, produced by the SEN Regional Partnership in Yorkshire & Humberside in conjunction with Barnardo’s
Involving children and young people; a participation pack ( 495kb) was developed in 2006 by the Yorkshire and Humberside SEN Regional Partnership to support the involvement of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in reviews and meetings. The pack includes six guiding principles for professionals, with a version of these written as promises to children and young people. There is a guidance section for professionals on implementing the principles, with links to practice in region which supports the principles.
Are you interested in fostering, adopting or offering short break care for Sunderland children?
If you have ever considered fostering, adopting or offering short break care for Sunderland children, read on. The types of care which you may be able to get involved with are
Adoption - where a child becomes a permanent and full member of your family.
Permanent fostering - for children who need regular face-to-face contact with their parents but do not live with them. These placements continue until young people are adults.
Foster care workers scheme - these are the placements for young people whose behaviour challenges us. This is a fee paid scheme.
Temporary fostering - a scheme where children live with you temporarily while the problems which lead to them being separated from their family are overcome so they can return home, or move to a more permanent home.
Short breaks - this scheme offers families with children (especially those who are disabled) regular planned breaks. This is often one weekend per fortnight or month with additional stays with you during school holiday periods.
Anyone interested in receiving more information
can call (0191) 5205555 or our 24 hour answering service (0191)
3823020 or email: fostering@ssd.sunderland.gov.uk
Youth Matters
paper launched by Government
The government has launched
a strategy for consultation called Youth Matters, which looks at
meeting the needs of young people. The main issues it addresses
are engaging young people in positive activities, getting young
people involved in volunteering and projects in their community,
providing them with good information and guidance, and providing
better support for those who have got problems or who have got into
trouble.
The Council for Disabled
Children have prepared a summary with details of what the strategy
says about disabled young people, which can be downloaded here ( 32kb)
People's Pedal Power is a
new initiative in Sunderland to encourage disabled people and children to start
cycling. The project has adapted tricycles suitable for people
with all disabilities and is based at Hetton Lyons
Country Park.
Does your disabled child
enjoy going to the cinema? This enjoyable outing could
now cost you less with The Cinema Exhibitors' Association
Card. This is a card which confirms that the holder
(your child) is entitled to one free ticket for the person accompanying
them to the cinema. To apply for the card, your child would
need to be in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) or attendance
allowance and/or be registered blind. The card is valid for 3 years.
'Getting a Life'
newsletter launched The Council for Disabled
Children has launched a newsletter for professionals working with
disabled young people who are approaching the transition to adulthood.
The newsletter is called Getting a Life, and will be issued quarterly. The
first issue looks at the implications of the National Service Framework
(NSF), and reviews the work of the Transition Information
Network.
To be added to the mailing
list contact Lucia Winters at lwinters@ncb.org.uk
On 1 November, the last member of the Aiming High team came into post. The team now consists of Karen Parry (Programme Manager), Lesley Baxter (Information Officer), Jayne Aitken (Information Analyst) and Donna Knowles (Business Support Assistant). We are all based at Gilpin House, Blind Lane, Houghton-le-Spring and can be contacted on (0191) 566 2190.
YouthInc3 
‘Making it Happen’ – integrated working in practice. A 2008 guide. 
Involving children and young people
495kb) was developed in 2006 by the Yorkshire and Humberside SEN Regional Partnership to support the involvement of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in reviews and meetings. The pack includes six guiding principles for professionals, with a version of these written as promises to children and young people. There is a guidance section for professionals on implementing the principles, with links to practice in region which supports the principles.