Welcome to the e-bulletin of Real Issues brought to you by Sunderland Carers’ Centre and Children’s Services.

Each month we will bring you the latest news and information about support groups and activities that you might be interested in.

If you no longer wish to receive an e-mail alert about Real Issues, please contact Services for Disabled Children on 0191 566 2190.

Sunderland Carers' Centre Activities and Events

Parent Carers' Group

The Parent Carers’ Group is for parents and carers of disabled children (aged 18 or under). It usually meets on the second Thursday of each month at Sunderland Carers’ Centre, 12 Toward Road, Sunderland, 10.30am – 12 noon.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 12 June. A trip has been organised to the Laing Art Gallery, New Bridge Street, Newcastle NE1 8AG to see the ‘Love’ Exhibition. Samantha Belcher, from Tyne and Wear Museums, will also join us to find out how the premises could be more accessible to disabled children and their families.

The minibus will leave the Carers’ Centre at 10.30am and return at approximately 2pm. Places on the minibus are limited so please book in advance on 0191 567 3232.

If you wish, and are able to, you could make you own way there and meet us at 11.30am at the Gallery (next to Haymarket Metro Station).

If you choose not to go on the trip, or are unable to, the meeting at the Carers’ Centre will take place as normal.

Any parents wishing to attend this group are most welcome (including guardians, adoptive parents and grandparents looking after disabled children). If you have not attended the group before and would like more information, please contact Sunderland Carers’ Centre on 0191 567 3232.

News from the last meeting

At the last meeting of the Parent Carers’ Group a photographer came along and showed the group some portraits of disabled children. If you are interested in finding out more about this, please contact Gillian Gardner at Sunderland Carers’ Centre on 0191 567 3232.

Information, Activities and Events

For more details on any of the information, activities or events mentioned below please contact the organisation directly or Sunderland Carers' Centre on 0191 567 3232.

Carers’ Fun and Pamper Day, Wednesday 11 June, 10am – 3pm,
Sunderland Aquatic Centre (next to the Stadium of Light)

Carers are invited to come along to this fantastic new venue and celebrate Carers Week. In Studio 1 a range of therapies will be on offer – massage, reflexology and reiki to name a few. In Studio 2 a lively mix of music, dance and craft exercises will keep carers entertained. Light refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided. The event is free and there is no need to book.

Transition from paediatric to adult health services

City Hospitals Sunderland – The Royal Hospital – would like to develop and improve its services, particularly the transition from paediatric to adult health services for children with learning disabilities. If you would like to be part of a group of 6 – 10 carers helping the hospital with this please contact Ailsa at Sunderland Carers’ Centre. Telephone 0191 567 3232 or email: ailsa@sunderlandcarers.co.uk.

Columbia Grange Coffee Morning

Columbia Grange Family and Friends are holding a Coffee Morning on Friday 20 June, at Columbia Grange School, 10am – 12 noon. The guest speaker will be Paul Birks, from Cerebra. Cerebra provide information, advice, support and financial assistance to parents and carers looking after a child with a brain related condition (brain injuries, neurological disorders, mental disabilities, development problems). All parent carers welcome.

National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) Family Weekend

The National Deaf Children’s Society Family Weekend is taking place at the Holiday Inn, Newcastle on 4 – 6 July. The weekend is free for families with deaf children who have additional disabilities and is designed to give an opportunity for families to spend a relaxing and informative few days in the company of other families. The weekend is lead by experienced NDCS staff and guest speakers will join for specialist sessions. All accommodation and meals are included. For more details contact the Events Organiser on 0121 234 9820, email: events@ndcs.org.uk or visit www.ndcs.org.uk.

Family, Adult & Community Learning – Free Courses

Family, Adult and Community Learning are organising free courses at the Bunny Hill Customer Service Centre as well as various outreach venues throughout the city. Courses include Basic ICT, Forensic Art and Flower Arranging for Beginners. We also offer 1:1 Basic Skills support for anyone wanting to improve their literacy and numeracy. Enrolments are ongoing so if you would like further information please contact Pauline Forster or Balbinder Kaur on 0191 561 8161 or 561 8133.

Contact a Family Survey – Counting the Costs

Finances can be a major concern for families with disabled children. It costs almost £7,000 a year more to raise a disabled child due to direct costs such as special aids and adaptations, transport, heating and childcare. With rising living costs affecting all families, Contact a Family wants to find out the effects on families caring for children with disabilities, serious health conditions or rare conditions living in the UK. This research will be used in future campaigning work. To take part in the online survey, go to www.cafamily.org.uk/quiz.html.

End Child Poverty

The Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) Campaign is urging all its supporters to show their support for End Child Poverty’s Keep the Promise Campaign which wants the government to end child poverty by 2020 and halve it by 2010. EDCM knows that many families with disabled children live in poverty and poverty wastes the talents and denies the aspirations of far too many disabled children and their families. You can sign up by visiting www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/promise.

Photosymbols – Models wanted

Photosymbols are pictures used by people with learning disabilities. They help make written information easier to understand. Photosymbols are working with the Council for Disabled Children to get pictures of children, young people and families. They are looking for parents and children who would like to be models. If you are interested and would like to know more contact Photosymbols on 0117 959 4424 or
07976 740977, email: pete@photosymbols.com or visit www.photosymbols.com.

New Mencap Website

Mencap has launched a website for children and young people developed and designed by young service users. A group of 14 to 19 year olds with learning disabilities helped put together the interactive site, where young people can share comments, pictures and videos. Visit www.mencap.org.uk/youngmencap.

The Alan Shearer Centre

As part of Carers Week 2008 The Alan Shearer Centre is holding a coffee morning for carers on Tuesday 10 June from 10.30am until 12 noon at The Alan Shearer Centre, West Denton Hall, West Denton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE15 7LT. All carers are welcome to attend and the idea behind the event is to give people the chance to meet other carers and share information and experiences.

The Centre also has a range of activities planned for June, including a Family Fun Day on Saturday 21 June, with special offers and use of the hydrotherapy pool, ball pool and blue sensory room at a reduced rate. All activities must be pre-booked. For more information contact the Centre on 0191 267 8118 or email: AlanShearerCentre@stcuthbertscare.org.uk.

Sunderland Royal Hospital Park and Ride

Do you have trouble parking at the Royal Hospital? City Hospitals Sunderland is piloting a free Park and Ride Service from Sainsbury’s at Silksworth to the Hospital’s Chester Wing. For more information contact the Hospital on 0191 5656256 ext 41113.

Autism Education Trust (AET)

The AET aims to increase knowledge and improve practice so that all children with autism wherever they live have an effective and happy educational experience. It hopes to play a key role in encouraging children and young people with autism, their families, carers, professionals, local authority personnel, the voluntary and independent sectors and schools to work together. If you are interested in becoming involved with the work of the AET contact 07795 667749 or email: info@autismeducationtrust.org.uk.

Bede’s Way Annual Walk, Saturday 28 June, 9.30am – 5pm

Enjoy this 12-mile walk that links the twin Saxon monasteries of St Peter’s in Wearmouth and St Paul’s in Jarrow. For more details please contact 0191 553 2000.

A special invitation from Beamish

If you are receiving benefits then you and your family can enjoy a free day out at Beamish from Monday 2 June to Sunday 15 June 2008 inclusive for one visit only. More information and terms and conditions here ( 48kb).

Text AskACE to 68808 for advice on special educational needs!

AskACE, the free, independent text advice service available from The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) now provides advice to parents on special educational needs (SEN) issues. This is in addition to the advice it already provides on school admissions and appeals.

To access the free, independent AskACE service text ‘AskACE’ to 68808 or for further information on The Advisory Centre for Education please visit www.ace-ed.org.uk.

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