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Real Issues e-newsletter Issue 18 October 2008
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 email 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 SR1 2QF, 10.30am – 12 noon.
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 13 November.
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.
Please note: In order to give parents and carers the chance to go to the Parent Carer Forum on Thursday 9 October (see details below), there will be no group meeting in October. The Carers’ Centre would like to encourage parents to book a place at the forum. As well as finding out about services/new developments and picking up useful information, it is a great opportunity to meet and chat with other parents. Staff from the Carers’ Centre will be there too, so we look forward to seeing you there.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Sunderland Carers’ Centre’s AGM will be held on Thursday 16 October at the Quayside Exchange, High Street East, Sunderland. Lunch is at 12 noon and the meeting and guest speaker starts at 1pm. All carers in Sunderland are invited.
The guest speaker (to be confirmed) will talk about the opportunities for carers as a result of “Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities” – the new national strategy for carers.
As well as hearing an excellent speaker, the AGM is always fun, with a good lunch and a chance to catch up on old friends, make new ones and meet representatives of the many agencies that the Centre works with. To book a place at the AGM please contact the Carers’ Centre on 0191 567 3232.
Information, Activities and Events
Aiming Higher… Parent Carer Forum 2008
 A reminder that the Parent Carer Forum will take place on Thursday 9 October, 9.15am – 2.30pm, at the Marriott Hotel, Seaburn, Sunderland. This event welcomes parents, carers and other family members. There will be presentations on the National Carers Strategy, Parent Participation and Aiming High for Disabled Children as well as discussion workshops for you to influence developments and information stalls on services in Sunderland.
Please register your interest by telephoning 566 2190 or emailing child.disability@sunderland.gov.uk. We can support transport and childcare costs for you to attend. View here for more information ( 111kb).
Self Directed Support – Information Sharing Day for Family Carers
Self Directed Support is the government’s plan for people that use services to control their own money, services and support. Inclusion North are holding a free day of learning and sharing information on Self Directed Support on Thursday 16 October from 10am to 3.30pm at Morpeth Methodist Church, Howard Terrace, Morpeth
NE61 1HU. To book a place or find out more contact Pip on (0113) 2626 409 or email: Pip@inclusionnorth.org
Counting the Costs – Contact a Family Report
Contact a Family has launched a report that shows families with disabled children are struggling financially. Almost 800 parent carers in the UK took part in the survey. The key findings include:
- 1 in 6 disabled children lives in a household struggling to afford food and heating
- Almost half of families have borrowed money from friends and family, with 1 in 5 using the cash to pay their heating bills
- 1 in 14 children with a disability or medical condition is living under threat of losing their home.
Contact a Family is urging the Government to act now to ensure disability benefits meet the true cost of raising a disabled child and ensure families can cope with soaring living costs and don’t face homelessness.
The full report is available on the website at www.cafamily.org.uk.
Families concerned about their finances can contact Contact a Family’s freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 or Sunderland Carers’ Centre on 0191 567 3232.
DNEX 2008 – Independent Living Exhibition
The 2008 Disability North Exhibition is on Wednesday 22 October and Thursday 23rd October, 9.30am – 5.00pm, at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7NA. For more information please contact Disability North on 0191 284 0480.
Sunderland ADHD Support Group
The next meetings of the new ADHD Support Group are on Monday 6th October and Monday 20th October, from 11am until 1pm, at Sunderland Carers’ Centre, 12 Toward Road, Sunderland SR1 2QF. All welcome. On Monday 20th October there will be a presentation by Wearkids on family support services. To find out more about the group contact Linda New, Telephone: 0191 555 0109, Mobile: 0785 700 8451 or Email: lindanew66@yahoo.co.uk.
Activities for Children at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
The following free activities are taking place in October at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, Burdon Road, Sunderland SR1 1PP Tel: 0191 553 2323.
| Krafty Kids |
Saturday 11 October - Museum Street |
1pm – 3pm |
Try your hand at fun craft activities. Drop in. |
| Victorian Circus |
Monday 27 October - 11am – 3.30pm, Museum Learning Rooms |
11am – 1pm |
Learn traditional circus skills in a fun family workshop. Tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. |
| 2pm |
Circus Skills demonstration. Drop in. |
| 2pm – 3.30pm |
Make a circus inspired collage. Drop in. |
| Fair Trade Bazaar |
Wednesday 29 October - Museum Learning Rooms |
11am – 3pm |
Try and buy Fairtrade foods and crafts from local suppliers, and make your own woven creations using recycled materials. Drop in. |
| Nature Explorers: Wild Halloween |
Friday 31 October - meet at museum reception at 1pm |
1pm – 3pm |
Join in a spooky scavenger hunt in Mowbray Park followed by Halloween inspired crafts. Drop in. |
Activities for Children at Monkwearmouth Station Museum
The following free activities are taking place in October at Monkwearmouth Station Museum, North Bridge Street, Sunderland SR5 1AP Tel: 0191 567 7075.
| The Big Draw – A Brush with Art |
Saturday 11 October |
10.30am – 12.30pm |
Work with an artist to create your own artworks. |
| Arty Fun |
Until Sunday 12 October |
Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm, Sun 2pm – 5pm |
Get inspired by art this autumn and use a range of art materials from the art trolley to create your own masterpiece. Self-led activity. |
| Humpty Dumpty |
Tuesday 28 October |
11am – 12pm & 1pm – 3pm |
Make a Humpty Dumpty model. Bring a hard boiled egg |
National Autistic Society (NAS) Help! Programmes and Parent Seminars
 The NAS runs help! programmes and parent seminars throughout the region in response to the needs of parents/carers following the diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder of their child. If you are interested in attending any help! programmes or parent seminars please apply on-line at www.autism.org.uk/help! or phone Jan Fuller on 0191 568 0732. Your details will be added to a database and you will be kept informed of any future events. Registration forms are also available from Sunderland Carers’ Centre.
Please
feel free to distribute to your friends, family and colleagues with
their permission.
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