Kendal Family Drop-In Centre Newsletter

March 2015
Contents:
1. Autism awareness week 27th March to 2nd April 2015
2. Single parents information and mailing list.
3. Ulverston drop in re autism support. 25th March 2015.
4. Ulverston What Now? course.
5. The Easter Play scheme information and some extra 2015 dates!
6. Sparkles sessions dates for this term
7. Sing and sign for pre-school children
8. Developing Workshops: Sensory.
9. Signalong sign supported speech. Phase 2 course April to July 2015.
10. SCOPE parents information day - Wednesday 25th March
11. The health of parents who support a child or adult who has a learning
disability 15 minutes On line survey; can you help?
12. Im one campaign Autism - adult services
13. Shane Binns.
14. Celebrating 30 years at the Kendal family Drop In Centre.
15. Booking contact details: E mail address, Facebook and Website.
1) Autism awareness week 2015.
This year Autism awareness week is from 27th March to 2nd April with the eighth
annual world autism awareness day on Wednesday 1st April 2015. Join in to light it
up blue. Do I feel a Onesie Wednesday coming on
2) Single parents and mailing list
I am currently trying to update my mailing list for any single parent family, if you
would like to receive information or would no longer like to receive single parent
information please can you get in touch. This would be a different mailing list
with information from One space and Gingerbread/SPAN.
3) Autism support in Ulverston
Shirley will be in Ulverston Children's centre on Lund Terrace on Wednesday the 25th
March 2015 from 12.30pm to 2.15pm re behaviour. The first session went well so if
anyone else wants to join us please get in touch before hand. If you are not able to

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March 2015
make this day/time it would be useful to know what time/day would be more
convenient so that I could re schedule the next session so you are able to come along.
4) What Now? in Ulverston: Thursday evenings
Shirley and Nicola will be starting a new What Now? course for Families with a
child diagnosed with autism. The course starts with an introduction evening on
Thursday 23rd April at the Childrens Centre, Lund Terrace in Ulverston, followed by
eight sessions. Booking is essential. This course is free for parents (not for siblings
under the age of 16 years). If you have a child with a diagnosis and are interested in
the course please get in touch. If you are not able to make this course but are
interested in a future course please let me know.
5) Play scheme 2015 dates.
The play scheme in general: Come along as a family and join in the fully inclusive
activities for children aged between bump to 19 years. We have a number of daily
activities on the premises including art workshops, games including pool, table
football, glide hockey; Construction including Lego (castle, hobbit lego city etc) and
duplo kits (cargo train etc), bubbles, facepainting, ribbons and music, ball pool, soft
play, adventure play ground, with the outside MUGA to kick a ball around etc. All
sessions are subsidised by Cumbria county Council through Barnardos; a donation of
3 per family will help us to maintain the play scheme and cover the hidden costs of
insurance etc. Sandgate School is a fantastic safe and secure venue for the sessions. It
is useful to know what your children like to do prior to their visit so we can adapt the
activities to help them to settle in and ensure we bring the materials to the school
venue. Bring a packed lunch and stay all day or just pop in for an hour or two!
Monday 30th March 2015.
Activities include hydrotherapy swim, drama and games with Simon and Natalie from
the Knotted Project, Tracey will be providing eight 30 minute sessions of treatments,
easy cooking projects with chocolate and a couple of clay art activities. Quiet corner
for Lego enthusiasts- let me know which set you prefer? Kyle will be running some
active sporty sessions.
Tuesday 31st March 2015
Tracey will be providing eight 30 minute sessions of treatments, sing and sign session
at 11am and the painting arts and craft session for the clay creations. Additional birdy
arty theme. Quiet corner for Lego enthusiasts-let me know which set you prefer? Kyle
will be running some active sporty sessions.
Thursday 2nd April,

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March 2015
Keltie Jane will be providing dance and some, perhaps hair and nail tips and
makeovers. Annie will be running the art and craft session. Quiet corner for Lego
enthusiasts- let me know which set you prefer? Kyle will be running some active
sporty sessions.
Wednesday 8th April 2015.
Today is a day trip to Walby park farm near Carlisle. Pack a picnic lunch and come
and join us for the day at Walby park farm a firm favourite for all ages.
Thursday 9th April 2015.
Tracey will be providing eight 30 minute sessions of treatments. Joan from Barnardos
will be in the kitchen making spicy plum flapjack (thank you Elaine for the idea and
taster) and gingerbread in a cup in the afternoon. Arts and crafts include blossom
prints with easy options and some more challenging. Kyle will be running some active
sporty sessions.
Spring bank: 26th and 28th May Sandgate days, 27th May day trip
Summer holidays: 20th, 21st July Sandgate days (22nd and 23rd July day trip) 27th, 28th
July Sandgate days (29th and 30th July Beamish day trip), 3rd, 4thSandgate days.
5th 6th 7th August. Youth hostel trip to Whitby for three days.
10thAugust is a Sandgate day.
11th 12th and 13th August: Yes we are off to York youth Hostel again for three days.
Two nights so we can explore the walks, railway museum and castles. The youth
hostel is well positioned and worth a second look. The ticket for Castle museum once
purchased is valid for 12 months, so gives us plenty of time to soak in all the
information.
6) Sparkles sessions. (An activity for families with a child under five years who has
an additional need)
A practical interactive session with information and support available for families
with pre-school children with additional needs
You are welcome to come and enjoy the lovely sensory equipment with fibre optic,
touch screen and bubble tube - great for parents as well as children. Scrunch the
emergency blanket, shake/lye on it, hide in it or crawl inside it! Explore the pockets of
seasonal themed and craft activities; learn a couple of signs to funky songs.

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March 2015
Come and enjoy the sensory equipment, craft activities, sing and sign session and
refreshments at Kendal Family Drop-In Centre, Stricklandgate House, 92
Stricklandgate, Kendal LA9 4PU on the 1st and the 4th Wednesday of the month from
9.30am to 11.30am
This terms dates are:
25th March Going to school Signalong.
1st April (no session Easter Holidays)
22nd April: The very hungry caterpillar.
7) Sing and Sign in the Kendal Family Drop In centre
We run regular weekly sing and sign sessions at 11am on Tuesday and Friday
mornings during the school term. Be careful we are at Sandgate during the school
holidays not at the Kendal Family Drop In Centre
8) Developing children: Workshops:
Please can I stress the workshops have been designed to support families on the
pathways for a possible diagnosis of autism however you dont need a diagnosis of
autism to attend these workshops. The workshops information may also be relevant to
children without a diagnosis of autism.
Provisional forthcoming workshops:
Thank you to Jo and Julia for the workshops on Icons and apps visual supports in
Sedbergh and Marion for the social skills workshop in Barrow. If anyone who could
not attend the workshops would like some information about the content please dont
hesitate to ask Shirley.
..

Sensory workshop: Thursday 26th March 2015 10am to 2pm (Childrens Centre venue
in Ulverston, Lund Terrace) Places are limited so please book with Shirley.
07795346632.
Aims:

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March 2015

To explore the interaction between sences, attention and perception.

To understand how some of the sensory, attention and perceptual experiences
of children with autism are different from those of neuron-typical people.

To consider ways of supporting children with sensory perceptual differences.

9) Signalong sign supported speech training in 2015. Phase 1 and Phase 2.

The Phase 1 Signalong training workshop has started.
The Phase 2 Signalong course may start on Wednesday 22nd April from 6pm to 9pm in
Kendal if there are enough people interested. Please let me know as soon as possible it
if you are interested in attending so I can get the paperwork to you outlining the dates
and times etc. Phase 2 is a great introduction to many signs relating to the
environment, story time and more question signs eg Who? How?
There will at some time be a Phase 3 and Phase 4 so if you are interested in either of
these it would be useful to know also.
10) SCOPE parents information day- wed 25th March
SCOPE are hoping to run a parents free information day on Wednesday 25th March in
Leeming House Hotel, Watermillock, Penrith CA11 0JJ. It is to include speakers &
workshops including information re Care Act & Childrens Act. They would also like
to know what other topics people would like covered & if people would be interested
in coming.
If you are interested in this perhaps you could let me know about the topics you would
like but we might alos be able to arrange car shares for the event.
Thank you., Jackie Bateman, CP Cumbria Support Worker (South Lakes), 07715 079
436
11) The health of parents who support a child or adult who has a learning
disability 15 minutes On line survey; can you help?
"The health of parents who support a child or adult who has a learning disability
- Can you help?
I am the parent carer of a child who has both learning & physical disabilities and I am
in my third year of undertaking a PhD at London South Bank University which is
exploring the health of parents who support a child or adult with a learning
disability.

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March 2015
Parents of children who have a learning disability are known to spend the longest time
as carers and we are known as 'perpetual parents'. However most research reports on
the health of 'all carers' and our health is compared to that of shorter term carers for
example those caring for someone who has dementia or receiving palliative care.
Therefore my research will add to the body of knowledge which explores our specific
health and needs as parent carers as we need to stay in good health in order to care for
our children over their lifespan.
I need a minimum of 200 parents countrywide to participate to make the findings
valid and to get them published. The survey is completely anonymous and should
take no longer than 15 minutes to complete and includes questions about you and the
child/adult you support, questions relating to your general health, your experiences of
being a parent carer and whether you feel this has had an effect on your health and
wellbeing. At the end the survey you can see how some of your answers compare to
other parents who have participated.
For more information or to take part please click the link below (you can exit at any
time):
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Parent_carers_health_survey
Thank you very much for your time.
Regards
Carole Beighton

12) Im One campaign

Lucy Simpson is trying to organize a day with an MP so this is an opportunity to meet
with prospective MPs and tells them how it is to live with an autism syndrome
condition. We are looking to invite parents with young people from the age of 14
years up and young adults so that adults with autism can tell their story. Some people
will be able to turn up on the day (no date yet) and others will/may contribute with a
written story, identifying both good and the not so good. These will be used to collate
into the most important questions for discussion and be presented to the respective
candidates as personal stories (so no names required unless you want to).
13) Sad news.
I am sorry to pass on the sad news that Shane Binns who worked for a number of
years at Barnardos and supported many families has passed away on the 28th February.
I am sure his support, knowledge and understanding will be missed by many families.
14) Celebrating 30 years at the Kendal family Drop In Centre

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March 2015
In September 2015 the Kendal Family Drop In Centre will have been open for 30
years. On Saturday 26th September from 11am to 1pm we will be at Sandgate school
and hope you will join us to celebrate. If you have any ideas as to what we could do
during this session I am open to hear them. A Jacob join has been suggested,
bringing a plate of food to share. Helpers on the day would be greatly appreciated.
15) Contact details:
For more information or to make a booking for any activities run by the Kendal
family Drop In Centre above please contact:
E mail: shirley-gilpin@sky.com or Telephone number: 07795346632
Website: http://kendalfamilycentre.weebly.com.
The newsletter is here to pass information re local services and activities. We are
unable to recommend activities but would welcome hearing from you of any
activities you have enjoyed. My sincere apologies if the information has changed
during compiling and sending out this newsletter. We strive to make sure the
information is correct but sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances we get
caught out.
Please dont hesitate to let me know should you wish to book a place on the
Kendal Family Drop In Centres activities or if you wish to be removed from our
mailing list.
Warm wishes Shirley