SEN Useful Information

As part of Autism West Midland's Level 1 Support, please find below a list of upcoming online and face to face events:

Stay & Play 11th February at 9:00 am - 10:30 am

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/stay-play-2/

Autism West Midlands Working Together With Sandwell Family Hubs 14th February at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/autism-west-midlands-working-together-with-sandwell-family-hubs-3/

Black Country Siblings Workshop 14th February at 1:00 pm - 15th February at 4:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/black-country-siblings-workshop-2/

How autistic people process information Webinar 16th February at 9:30 am - 10:30 am

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/how-autistic-people-process-information-webinar-2/

Black Country Adults Interactive Farm Experience and Butter Making 20th February at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/black-country-adults-interactive-farm-experience-and-butter-making/

Rising to the Challenge – Black Country 20th February at 10:30 am - 26th March at 1:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/rising-to-the-challenge-black-country/

Black Country Stay and Play 25th February at 9:00 am - 11:00 am

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/black-country-stay-and-play/

Sandwell Evening Support Group 11th March at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/sandwell-evening-support-group-3/

Autism and Anxiety: Webinar 12th March at 9:30 am - 10:30 am

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/autism-and-anxiety-webinar/

Black Country Adults Digital Photography Session at Sandwell Valley 12th March at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/black-country-adults-digital-photography-session-at-sandwell-valley/

Spring Wellbeing Walk 4th April at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

https://www.autismwestmidlands.org.uk/events/spring-wellbeing-walk/

Please help the team by carefully following booking instructions listed on each activity. All bookings are to be sent to spdcbooking@sp-dc.org

In the event of SPDC Christmas activities being oversubscribed and you wish to book both activities, please highlight your preferred choice.

Helping Hands

A service for parents / carers of children with a diagnosis or going through the process of getting a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD. 

See the useful information below about this service. 

Albion Foundation Multi-Sport Camps for children aged 8-11, with a disability and does not require 1-1 support.

Dates: Monday 24^th October-Thursday 27^th October

Time: 10:30am-3:00pm each day.

Venue: Portway Lifestyle Centre, Newbury Lane, Oldbury, B69 1HE.

Ages: 8-11 years old.

Cost: £8 per day.

Participants will have to provide their own refreshments on the day.

Booking link: The Albion Foundation - SEN'D Multi Sports Camp

The Thursday will be a Halloween Fancy Dress Day.

It would be great to see as many people dress up as possible, but don’t worry if you don’t want to.

Please note: We are unable to offer 1-1 support on these days.

Bookings MUST be sent to spdcbooking@sp-dc.org to avoid disappointment.

The SHAPE Summer Fest takes place on Saturday 16^th July at Sandwell Valley from 11am – 6pm.

The festival was first held in 2015 and since then has grown to become one of the biggest and only youth festivals in Sandwell. Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include:

• Blind Dave Heeley’s colour run organised by The Albion Foundation
• A football tournament for KS1 age groups organised by The Albion Foundation
• A Careers Expo for 16 -25 year olds organised by Connexions
• Young Traders Markets for 16-30 year olds across the Midlands to showcase their entrepreneurial skills by having a stall at the festival and it will form part of a National Young Traders Market Campaign
• Holiday Activity and Food Programme organised by Play Services who are showcasing what the HAF funding received by the government is and the activities they have to offer
• A story tent including spoken word and poetry organised by Sandwell Cultural Educational Partnership
• Music and entertainment on a live main stage and mini stage including acts from SHAPE’s SHAPE Your Talent competition organised by Youth Services

There is so much more to mention with 10 activity zones on offer but further information can be found on: https://www.justyouth.org.uk/

Support Group for Sandwell Parents and Carers of Autistic Children

4th April at 10.00am - 11.30am

Click on the link for more information: 

Easter Camp Information:

Age: 8+

Dates: Monday 11^th April – Thursday 14^th April & Wednesday 20^th April – Friday 22^nd April.

Time: 10:30am-3:00pm each day.

Venue: Portway Lifestyle Centre, Newbury Lane, Oldbury, B69 1HE.

The Foundation are unable to offer 1:1 support or personal care.

Booking Links:

Week 1: The Albion Foundation - Portway - SEN'D Easter Multi Sports Camp (8-12 years old)

Week 2: The Albion Foundation - Portway - SEN'D Easter Multi Sports Camp (8-12 years old)

All participants must bring suitable clothing and footwear for indoor and outdoor activities along with a packed lunch and plenty to drink for each day.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation (CBF) is working with the Black Country NHS Healthcare Trust on a project called “Getting it Right”. This is a 3 year project (2019-2022) funded by the National Lottery Community fund building on previous CBF work in Cumbria. This project aims to listen to family carers and learn about services you value and those that could be improved across the UK. One of the areas that this project is focusing on is the Black Country. The aim is that by the end of the project there are:  

a.     More families of children with severe learning disabilities whose behaviours challenge feeling empowered and supported to improve the quality of life of their relative and reduce levels of challenging behaviour and  

b.      More people in official and influential positions introducing evidence-based approaches in their areas and knowing where they can find support 

In order to fulfil these project aims, a survey has been created to give families of children and young people with SEND in the Black Country the opportunity to provide information and express their views. 

The survey needs to be completed by 29^th November 2021. It should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete, and all responses will remain confidential.  

By completing the survey, there is also the opportunity to enter our prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher (full details are listed at the end of the survey)! 

Here is the link to the survey if your school would like to be involved: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SNPGCZ3

If you have any questions about the survey or you would prefer to complete the survey via a telephone or video call, please do not hesitate to contact the Challenging Behaviour Foundation by email on imarni.hill@thecbf.org.uk or 01634 838739. 

oN the S.P.O.T!

The newsletter from the:

Children's Community Nurses, Speech, Physio and Occupational Therapies team