Children and Young People Service (ChYPS) Newsletter

Issue No. 3

Spring 2008

DASH Playscheme Information

Easter School Holiday Scheme Information

We have now confirmed the dates for the Easter holidays. The schemes will be inclusive play sessions to be held in the usual premises. The dates which have been confirmed for each scheme are as follows:

Honey Bears/Busy Bugs Play schemes

Inclusive Play Session & Easter Activities, Wednesday 9th April 2008

Drop off children after 10am/Collect at 4pm. To be held at usual settings in Darlington.

Packed Lunch will be required.

The Buzz Play scheme

Inclusive Play Session & Easter Activities, Wednesday 16th April 2008,

Drop off children after 10am/Collect at 4pm, to be held at usual settings in Darlington.

Packed Lunch will be required.

Please complete the paperwork and return as soon as possible as places are limited.

As with all activities places are allocated on a first come, first served basis so please return forms as soon as possible. Once you have returned your form your child is allocated a place. If there is not a place available we will contact you to inform you of this within three days. Please note a confirmation letter will not be sent, but please feel free to call Garry if you are at all unsure.

If you require transport from Newton Aycliffe your child can be picked up at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre Car Park at 9.30am and dropped off at approximately 4pm. Please state this on the reply form. All forms are included with the newsletter.

Parental Contribution - £13.50 per session

Please make cheques payable to DAD and payments can be made in the following ways:

• At the DAD, Shopmobility Office (next door to the Dolphin Centre).

• At Enterprise House, South Entrance, Valley Street North, Darlington, County Durham, DL1 1GY.

Please Note: To ensure your child's place on scheme, please include payment when returning the reply sheet.

Payments can no longer be accepted on the playschemes by members of staff or volunteers. This is to ensure that payments can be recorded and monitored appropriately.

If you have any questions regarding the play scheme then please do not hesitate to contact Garry West on 01325 360524.

County Durham Service Level Contract.

Our contract with County Durham has recently been reviewed and we have now agreed with officers for the level of service we provide for children and young people from County Durham over the next year. As with last year's contract the contract will run in line with the changes that have been made to the DASH holiday provision. i.e. the places purchased will mainly be allocated during the Easter and Summer holiday playschemes.

Bridging Service

The Bridging service continues to provide opportunities for play and leisure of their choice and has so far been very successful in supporting a number of children and young people in Darlington and County Durham.

The bridging service provides support to enable the child or young person to access mainstream services and support is provided in a variety of ways;

• Short term individual one-to-one support to children to enable them overcome personal barriers to play and leisure;

• Support to parents/carers to overcome anxiety and other barriers faced by them to enabling their child to access mainstream play and leisure;

• Support to play and leisure providers to overcome barriers and develop inclusive practice and awareness to supporting disabled children and Young People into their services;

• Provision of training to play and leisure practitioners to raise awareness about inclusion and disability issues and to enable them to work with disabled children and their families more professionally.

• Provision of support, advice and guidance to supporting disabled children in mainstream sessions.

If you would like more information on how the bridging service can support your child into mainstream play and leisure opportunities of their choice, please contact Garry West on 01325 360524.

Volunteers - we need you!

Our playschemes rely heavily on the fantastic support we get from volunteers every year. Do you know someone who is 16 years or over? Can you give DASH a day or more of your school/college/university holiday break? Do you have the enthusiasm, commitment and motivation to support disabled and non-disabled children in an inclusive play environment? If you can then we want to hear from you.

You will need to complete an application form, provide references, undertake a CRB check, and be willing to take part in training. In return you will receive excellent training, the chance to make a difference and the opportunity to meet new friends. If you can spare between 1 or more days over the holiday periods then get in touch. Please contact Donna Gibson, Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01325 489999 or email donna@darlingtondisability.org for an application pack.

Fundraising/Funding

DAD Fundraising Group

D.A.D. has various fundraising opportunities within the organisation. To make sure we make the most out of our fundraising effort we are setting up a fundraising group. Would you like to participate? Do you have any good fundraising ideas? If you would like to get involved please contact Garry on 01325 360524.

Funds-4-Fun - Apply now for Summer 2008!

KidsOut is the national charity providing fun and happiness for disadvantaged children and young people. They believe that fun and happiness is an essential part of childhood.

Last year, they helped 5,700 children and young people through their Funds-4-Fun small grants scheme.

KidsOut is all about 'fun', their grants help with the provision of new toys and specialist play equipment, as well as fun days out, holidays and activities for individuals and families.

To apply for a KidsOut Funds-4-Fun grant, you need to be, or represent, a child that is aged between 0-18 years and is disadvantaged in some way. For example by physical, health, social or learning impairments.

To apply for a KidsOut Funds-4-Fun grant you will need to complete a simple application form. To request a form and discuss your requirements in more detail please ring our confidential helpline on 01525 385232. All calls and applications are treated in the strictest confidence and each application is awarded on its own merit and individual circumstances. The website is www.kidsout.org.uk.

Darlington to Vienna Cycle Ride

David Stead Gallery is looking for sponsorship for a 1,400 mile cycle ride. He is raising awareness of Autism and raising funds for a much needed Sensory Garden and Outdoor play equipment for the Autism Unit at the Education Village. You can sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/davidstead by calling David Stead Gallery on 01765 604461 and keep up to date with his progress at www.viennacycle.blogspot.com

Other news from ChYPS

Direct Payments

The Direct Payment Support Service promotes choice and control by supporting anyone who is eligible, including parents of disabled children, to use a Direct Payment to organise their own package of care. This includes a payroll and recruitment service. For more information contact Simon Legg at DAD on 01325 360524 or simon@darlingtondisability.org

DASH Play Training

Play providers across the town are taking part in ‘Inclusive Play’ and ‘Communication and Behaviour Management’ training being delivered by Darlington Association on Disability. The training has been commissioned and funded by the Early Years & Out of School Department at Darlington Borough Council Children's Services have commissioned the training to ensure that inclusion training is available to all play and leisure providers in the Darlington area. Currently training has already taken place Topoli Joes Leisure, The Zone, Little People Montessori, William House Nursery, Maidendale Community Nursery, Activities for All and further training is planned for Parkside Childcare Centre and Just Learning.

Joan Heasman, Childcare Development Officer said "The Childcare Development team are aiming for all out of school clubs to attend Inclusive Play Training facilitated by Garry West from DAD. We believe a whole team approach will ensure all staff receive the same message and help change attitudes. We are committed to our aim that all out of school clubs (holiday and after school) will provide an inclusive and accessible setting. With our support we want every setting to provide a warm welcome to all families and meet children's individual needs."

Other news and information

Darlington Access for All Awards

Darlington Association on Disability in partnership with Darlington Borough Council celebrated the 5th Annual ‘Darlington Access for All Award’

The awards are presented to the business or organisation that has demonstrated a commitment to ensure that their building or open space is accessible to all and that their organisation's culture embraces accessibility in all of its forms.

Last year the Coleridge Children's Centre won the award in the ‘Small Organisation’ section of the award. DAD were particularly happy with this award being given to the staff at the centre as the ChYPS service has been working closely with the centre to promote inclusive play practice and opportunities to disabled children. The award demonstrates how successful partnership working can be, in providing inclusion play provision whilst ensuring a positive play experience for all children.

Coleridge Centre Summer Play Days

DASH has continued to work in partnership with the Coleridge Children's Centre at Skerne Park. Three play days have been organised since the summer and DASH now has an agreement to provide more play sessions during 2008.

Coleridge Centre Drop In Support Group

This support group takes place at Skerne Park Children's Centre but is for all children with additional needs and their families. It takes place from 3.30 - 4.30pm on the following dates:

Thursday 27th March 2008

Thursday 24th April 2008

Thursday 22nd May 2008

If you require any further information then please contact the Children's Centre on 01325 248020.

Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign

Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) is the campaign to get rights and justice for every disabled child. Disabled children, young people and their families have been left out for too long. EDCM is the campaign to put this right. EDCM want all disabled children and their families to have the right to the services and support they need to live ordinary lives.

EDCM is an inclusive campaign. They support and represent thousands of disabled children, young people and families. Through CDC and SEC, the campaign represents hundreds of organisations, professionals, and disabled people working with and for disabled children, young people and their families.

As yet Darlington Borough Council have yet to sign up to the campaign and your support in making the EDCM campaign a priority in Darlington is essential, if more accessible/inclusive provision for disabled children and young people are to be provided.

To find out more and sign up to the EDCM campaign now at www.edcm.org.uk

CAB Appointments

Shelagh Blanchard, the Citizen's Advice Bureau's Outreach Worker is once again able to offer you advice on benefits, housing, relationships, debt, and any other life problems.

She will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment only. Please call DAD on 489999 and ask for Pauline Gill to book your session.

Harewood House Sensory Room

Harewood House Sensory Room has now been redesigned and refurbished. The room is fitted with state of the art equipment to create an environment for children to learn, enhance and develop a wide variety of skills. The sensory room offers a fun interactive environment promoting both stimulation and relaxation.

First time users will be expected to undertake a basic tutorial into how to use the equipment safely.

The room is now open for bookings from 9am - 5pm (4pm last booking) and can be accessed by parents, carers and professionals. This room can be booked by telephoning (01325) 254582 Monday to Friday 8.30am - 12.30pm.

Dyslexia Action, Train to Gain - Free Help

• Are you employed or volunteering in the Voluntary Sector?

• Do you work in Tees Valley or County Durham?

Do you dread being asked to:

• Complete paperwork, (fill in forms, or write reports or letters)?

• Would you like to work towards a National Qualification (Levels 1 or 2) in literacy or numeracy?

If so Dyslexia action can offer free specialist support.

Speak to DAD's Information Worker, Pauline Gill, on 01325 489999 for more details.

Live Darlington Card

Parents of disabled children are entitled to this new card which offers free entry into Leisure or Arts facilities/venues across the Borough when accompanying the person being cared for, and a 25% discount when a carer is using a facility without the person they are caring for. To apply for a card please contact the Dolphin Centre on 01325 388410.

JJ's Soup Kitchen

John Hutchinson, John Shepherd, Steven Roberts and Louise Hindmarsh are using their catering skills to provide home made soup, home made bread, paninis and other snacks at JJ's Soup Kitchen. It is open every Tuesday from 11am until 2pm at The Clifton Centre, St Columba's Church, Clifton Road, Darlington.

Louise is the bread and Panini maker, Hutch and Shep are soup makers and Steven takes orders and makes teas and coffees in the café. A delivery service is also available. Soup is delivered to offices on a Wednesday morning ready to be heated up at lunch time.

They recently attended a two day workshop with Social Enterprise North East and won £400 for their presentation.