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 13 March.

The guest speaker will be Paul Berts 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).

Come along and find out about the full range of help provided by Cerebra. The talk will also include sleep problems.

If you wish, there will also be the opportunity to speak to Paul individually.

New members are welcome. If you have not attended the group before and would like more information, please contact 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.

Children’s Information Service

To find out what activities are available during the April school holidays contact the Children’s Information Service on 0191 520 5505 or email: cis@sunderland.gov.uk

Services for Disabled Children - Aiming High Short Break Programme meetings

Services for Disabled Children will be holding meetings for parents and carers of disabled children to find out more about the Aiming High Short Break Programme and to find out from parents and carers their immediate priorities and how they want to be involved as the programme develops. The meetings will be held at the following times and are open to all parents.

Making Every Disabled Child Matter & Aiming High Event
Sunderland Civic Centre
Wednesday 26 March, 9.30am – 2.30pm or 4.30pm (option to leave at either time)

This is a joint event for parents and professionals looking at the Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) campaign and the progress of the implementation of the Government’s Aiming High for Disabled Children programme.

In the morning, Steve Broach from the EDCM campaign will focus on the next steps of the campaign. In the afternoon, Christine Lenehan from the Council for Disabled Children will help to work to implement improvements to services for disabled children in the North East. The focus will be on the core aims of Aiming High, including how money will be spent to improve short break care.

This will be a relaxed event. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To secure your place a £5 cheque deposit is required (returned to you at the event).

More information and booking forms ( 227kb) are available to download or from Contact a Family North East on 0191 213 6300. Completed booking forms must be returned by Monday 17 March.

Useful Vision Spring Activities

Useful Vision would like to invite families with visually impaired children to the following events.

Family Day at the Alan Shearer Centre, West Denton, Newcastle, Saturday 29 March
Useful Vision has booked the centre for the day so you can try out the fantastic facilities including different state of the art sensory rooms, ball pool, sensory cave, hydrotherapy pool, sensory cinema, gardens, and internet café. Fun arts and crafts will also be run by the staff all day inside and out in the garden weather permitting. There are two sessions – from 10am to 1pm or from 2pm to 5pm. A buffet will be provided for everyone from 1pm to 2pm.

Swimming Party at Prudhoe Waterworld, Saturday 19 April
Useful Vision has exclusive use of the pool with waves and slide. Buffet provided.

If you would like to register for these trips or would like to hear about future events contact Useful Vision on 01434 682160 or email info@usefulvision.org.uk. To find out more about Useful Vision visit their website at www.usefulvision.org.uk

Young Visually Impaired Persons Reading Group

Sunderland Library Services are developing a reading group ( 22kb) for visually impaired young people aged 8 – 16 and would like to find out the views of young people. If your child is interested in joining a reading group please contact Jolene Dunbar, Access and Inclusion Librarian, on 0191 514 1235 extension 8521 before Friday 9 May.

National Partners in Policymaking Course

Partners in Policymaking is a national leadership and development course ( 110kb) for disabled adults and parents of disabled children. The course is aimed at people who think that life could be better for disabled children and adults and want to improve the way things are now but may not be clear where to start. It will provide information, training and skill building to participants so you may gain the knowledge and confidence you need to campaign, work and advocate for a better future for disabled people. You will have the opportunity to learn from national and international leaders on disability issues and meet with senior managers, change agents and innovators.

The course will be held at Loughbourough University on a Friday and Saturday once a month for eight months, starting September 2008. It is free to participants, with reasonable expenses paid and support provided when needed. To find out more ( 125kb) please contact Lynne Elwell on 07825433517 or Julia Erskine on 0151 287 7977. Application forms ( 216kb) must be returned by 30 May 2008.

Visioning Day for Autism

The North East Autism Consortium was launched in June of last year and set about establishing Autism Service Development Groups (ASDG’s) which are working hard to involve the people who require services, their families and carers fully and meaningfully in the development of the Consortium and its policies, ensuring that their needs are understood by the service providers.

On 14 May South of Tyne ASDG which covers Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside are holding a ‘Visioning Day’. The event will take place at the MPH Centre in Gateshead and will give autistic adults, parents and carers the opportunity to meet with commissioners, providers and other key stakeholders. The aim of the day is to better understand and develop local services and to use the day to help set the plan of work for the South of Tyne ASDG. The event will provide examples of how services can help to improve the lives of people with autism as well as asking what changes if any are needed to help to meet the needs of autistic adults.

To register an interest in attending the ‘Visioning Day’ please contact Carole Rutherford on 0191 549 0898 or email: aim1voice@btinternet.com

Autism Conference in Birmingham

The Autism Awareness Centre Inc. and Autism West Midlands are hosting the 3rd Annual Conference on Autism on 15 and 16 May at the Ramada Hotel and Resort in Birmingham. Registration fees for parents (if booked before 25 April) are £94 for 1 day only and £176.25 for 2 days. For more information or to register contact Autism West Midlands on 0121 450 7576 or email: ianc@autismwestmidlands.org.uk. Visit their websites at www.autismawarenesscentre.org and www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk

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