D.A.S.H.

What is D.A.S.H.?

The "Darlington After School and Holiday" project organises play schemes during Summer, October, Christmas, February and Easter holidays for disabled and non-disabled children.

Activities include inclusive indoor and outdoor play sessions, workshops, trips to the seaside, soft play, swimming and bowling.

Each of our four play schemes is led by an experienced co-ordinator, and they are then supported by a fully trained team of play leaders, play workers and volunteers. The children are divided into small groups and each group is led by a qualified and experienced play leader.

We aim to have enough volunteers for one to one support for the children. All volunteers are offered training and support.

D.A.S.H. aims to:

Promote a fun,stimulating and safe environment for disabled children to play and socialise.

Provide a range of exciting play and leisure opportunities.

Encourage children to be as independent as possible through providing the appropriate level of support.

Provide parents/carers with an opportunity to take time off from caring for themselves.

Provide a "children first" service.

D.A.S.H. is working towards disabled children accessing mainstream inclusion activities. We currently are accessing mainstream inclusive sessions at the Dolphin Centre, Arts Centre and Civic Theatre.

More Detailed Information on D.A.S.H.

In order to provide more detailed information on the D.A.S.H. Project, a D.A.S.H. Information page has been created on-line. This page is also available in PDF format by clicking this link: D.A.S.H. Information (PDF) and there is also a Word version by clicking this link: D.A.S.H. Information (Word)

Aiming High for Disabled Children

DAD's Annual Members Meeting was held on Thursday 20th November 2008. The theme of the event was Disabled Children and Young People. We were delighted to be host to our keynote speaker Mrs. Alison John - Inclusive Play Consultant, who gave a presentation on Aiming High for Disabled Children. The Keynote Speech included references to Aiming High for Disabled children, Every Disabled Child Matters and ‘The Core Offer.’ The information identifies the key points of the presentation.

The Value of Inclusive Play

• By playing, children learn and develop as individuals, and as members of the community

• Through play, children explore social, material and imaginary worlds and their relationships with them

Every Disabled Child Matters wants…

• Families with Disabled Children to have ordinary lives

• Disabled Children to matter as much as all other children

• Disabled Children and their families to be fully included in society

• All Disabled Children and their families to get the right services and support no matter where they live

• Poverty amongst Disabled Children and their families to be cut by 50% by 2010 and eliminated by 2020

• An education system that meets the needs of each child and enables them to reach their full potential

• Disabled Children and their families to shape the way that services are planned, commissioned and delivered

Aiming High for Disabled Children areas of priority

• Access and empowerment for Disabled Children and their families;

• Responsive services and timely support;

• Improving service quality and capacity.

What is the “Core Offer”?

The “Core Offer” sets out how Disabled Children and their families will be informed and involved as their needs are assessed and the necessary services are delivered.

Empowering Disabled Children, Young People and their Families.

The “Core Offer” sets out standards on information, transparency, participation, assessment and feedback, to make it clear what services Disabled Children, young people and their families can expect. Through providing greater transparency, it will be easier to benchmark provision across the country;

The Core Offer covers:

• Information and Transparency

“The information provided to you should be tailored to the individual needs of children and their parents and be readily accessible in a range of formats.”

• Assessment

“Disabled Children and young people receive child-centred multi-agency Co-ordinated services from the point of referral through identification and assessment to delivery”

• Participation and Feedback

“Disabled Children and young people and their families are routinely involved and supported in making informed decisions about their treatment, care and support, and in shaping services.”

The Core Offer provide clarity on what entitlements and services Disabled Children, Young People and their Families can expect in every area.

We would like to thank Alison John for her support with the key note speech and for her facilitation of the ChYPS Evaluation during the afternoon. A great day was had by all, and many positive comments were made about the inspirational presentation.

ChYPS Newsletter

Issue 4 of the newsletters from Children and Young People Service (ChYPS) is now on-line and is also added to our Newsletters section.

D.A.S.H. News Update

Darlington Association on Disability is delighted to report that it has been awarded £140,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to provide better access to mainstream play and leisure facilities for disabled children and young people. The funding follows a successful 15 month pilot funded by Barnardos Better Play. The new service will include training and support for other providers to encourage a better understanding of the needs of disabled young people. Staff will also work with individual young people to support them to access mainstream activities. More information about the difference this will make to D.A.D.'s work will follow shortly.

Jacki Hiles, Deputy Manager, Darlington Association on Disability.

Inclusion Partnership Work with other Play schemes and Children's Clubs

Where it is practical we encourage disabled children to attend mainstream play schemes. If you run a club for children and you are interested in encouraging disabled children to attend, please contact Lauren Robinson on 01325 489999, or e-mail lauren@darlingtondisability.org.

Can You Help?

We are constantly looking for and applying for funding to enable us to continue providing a high quality play provision in Darlington. Sadly we do not always raise enough to provide play schemes other than the summer scheme, we try where possible to provide as many days as possible during the year, but this again is not always possible.

How can you support D.A.S.H.?

At D.A.S.H. we have a small group of volunteers who support us to raise money in a variety of ways from writing funding applications to organising sponsored fundraisers and social events.

Could you organise a sponsored event or activity?

Does your employer have a community charity of the year?

Does your bank/building society offer a scheme that "Match funds" and money raised for local charities?

Would you or anyone you know like to make a regular monthly donation of £2, £5 or £10 by Direct Debit?

Do you have any further fundraising ideas you would like to undertake?

If you can help D.A.S.H. to raise funds for future schemes, your support would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Lauren Robinson, telephone 01325 489999 or email lauren@darlingtondisability.org.