Post on 15-Aug-2020
1
ISSUE 5
March 2020
Hello to another issue of the news letter; we were saying in the office how quickly a month
comes round! The nights are becoming lighter and there is a feeling of Spring being just
around the corner.
We have a busy few months ahead; as you may or may not know Autism Awareness Week
is from Monday 30th March—Sunday 5th April and we are all busy preparing for a lot of
events that week. If you would like to know more about this or Silly Sock Day please get in
touch.
Hello from the Team.
Community Events / Fundraising:
Our Flexible Support Worker Lori and her husband Paul Rumens are organising a dinner with Stuart Pearce to
fundraise for Autism East Midlands and their local football club. This will take place on Thursday 7th May 2020,
at The Park Inn, Northampton, at 7pm.
If you are interested in purchasing tickets, a table, or finding out more please contact paulrumens59@gmail.com
2
BBO Project
We currently have 17 BBO participants spread all across the
county, and are doing a wide range of things with and for
them such as;
wellbeing chats and organising counselling for those who
are quite a way from being ready for
employment
creating CVs, working on interview techniques and
assisting with applying for jobs for those who are ready to
work
Funding training for those that lack the necessary skills,
confidence or qualifications to work in their desired field
Securing voluntary positions for those that wish to have a
bit more experience of a working environment before
applying for paid employment
This month we have;
Arranged a Maths Foundation course for a participant in
Desborough.
He is working towards having a part time job, but feels that he
lacks in confidence around maths and English. The first stage of
our work with him is to increase his confidence with Maths, so he’s
been enrolled on an online Maths course as he can complete it
at his own pace rather than having to attend an adult education
facility.
When he has settled into doing his Maths, then we hope to enrol him on an English course too.
One of the more unusual things we have organised is 6 half days
of fishing tuition with a coach who is experienced with SEND. The
initial 6 half days are finished now, and we have also paid for the
next block of 6.
This participant from Irthlingborough really struggles with social
interactions and managing his anger and expectations of
others. The fishing is a non-confrontational environment where
he can be encouraged to have conversations and develop his
patience and social skills.
This second block of fishing tuition is being done in tandem with
counselling to deal with his deeper issues, and then we hope to
move onto some training around using buses once he is calmer
and more tolerant and has developed coping strategies.
3
Children and Young People’s Service
Tuesday Evening Youth Club was all about pancakes and positive
things about themselves.
The group went to the shops to buy the ingredients needed to
create some fantastic pancakes and then back to AHoF to make
and eat them!
The young people were also asked to write something positive
about themselves or someone else in the group; they all decided to
write about others in the group, some of the words described were:
Smiley, Happy, Kind.
We had our first Youth Club at Towcester during
February and it was a very busy day. By the end of
the session everyone who had attended said they
enjoyed themselves and really liked the venue.
There were some unsure thoughts about the venue
at the start and some of that is because it’s a new
place to get to know and familiarise themselves
with, but after a while they soon settled.
We had 5 families visit during the day and they all
really liked the venue too.
There was lots of toys, games out and pancakes to
be made that looked very good! A group went on a
walk round Towcester and found the park which is
always an enjoyable activity for some.
4
Children and Young People’s Service
During February Half Term, we ran 3 Holiday Clubs at Nether Heyford
and The Elgar Centre.
There was some fantastic imaginary play going on, with everyone
coming together to play a game. This resulted in a den being made
which everyone really enjoyed that day, and friendships were made
during the week.
Each day there was a food activity,
fruit and cream and toast. The young
people were a part of the whole
activity, from planning what was
needed . This included a tally of what
toppings were most popular for toast,
to buying then making and preparing
the food. And of course eating it,
which was the best part!
There was a chance for the young people to
use their creative skills with some lovely
writing, and drawing being made. We looked
at a few of our favourite things:
People: Family and staff at Holiday Club
Places: Park, Home, Holidays
Things to do: Swimming, Reading, Chilling
5
Children and Young People’s Service
During February Half Term we took a group of children and young
people to West Lodge Farm - the children had great fun despite the
weather!
They cuddled some rabbits, Guinea pigs and chicks, and helped feed
the baby lambs and played in the park. We had planned to groom the
horses and watch the pig races, but the heavens opened, and we were
forced to play in the indoor play area. We did venture outside for the
last half hour to see the pigs, go on the barrel ride and have one last
play in the outdoor play area.
6
Family Hubs
The hubs that are run from our Northamptonshire branch are;
Northampton—Kingsthorpe Baptist Church (next to Waitrose). This runs on the first Monday of the month,
from 4-7pm.
Loughborough—Gorse Covert Community Centre. This runs on the second Tuesday of the month, from 4-
7pm
Leicester—Thorpe Astley Community Centre on the third Saturday of the month, from 10am-1pm
These are free to attend, and are drop-ins so you can come along at any point during the session and stay
for as long as you like. If anyone needs any pictures of venues or toys to reassure their children, please just
ask!
As well as the usual toys and games at the hubs in February, there
were a variety of activities for the children such as;
Pancake day crafts –pancake themed colouring and origami. They
could design a pancake with food stickers and there were also
pancake word-searches and a crossword, and a pancake maze.
The children could also decorate their own pancake with a
selection of fruits, cream and Nutella for snack time.
It’s the aim of the hubs to be friendly, relaxed, fun events for the
whole family to access. There’s an opportunity to pick up
information about other SEN/ASD friendly services in the local
area, or have a chat with a staff member if information,
advice or guidance is needed.
The next hubs running are;
Leicester (Thorpe Astley Community Centre, LE3 3RU)
– March 21st and April 18th
Northampton (Kingsthorpe Baptist Church, NN2 6QF)
– April 6th and May 11th
(Please note that the May Northampton date has been
changed from the first Monday of the month because of the
bank holiday)
Loughborough (Gorse Covert Community Centre, LE11 4RZ)
– April 14th and May 12th
7
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE OFFICE
www.autismeastmidlands.org.uk
35 Burlington House, 369 Wellingborough Road,
Northampton, NN1 4EU
Telephone: 01604 239404
Email: Northampton@autismeastmidlands.org.uk
Autism East Midlands is a registered charity, number 517954 and a
company limited by guarantee.
Registered in England number 2053860. Registered Office: Unit 31 Crags
Industrial Estate, Morven Street, Creswell. Worksop. S80 4AJ
Our Vision
“A world which recognises, understands and values
people with autism, and where they, and their
families, receive the services and support they need
throughout their lives”
Our Mission
To advocate, provide and develop high-quality
services, information and support, in partnership with
others, for all those whose lives are affected by autism.
To recognise and respond to the needs of the
individual, enabling people with autism to live their
lives with dignity, choice and independence.
EVENTS
DATES FOR THE DIARY:
Family Support Hubs—Leicester March 21st, Northampton April 6th, Loughborough April 14th
Youth Clubs March / April:
Saturday 14th—Towcester (fully booked)
Saturday 28th—Raunds (spaces)
Sunday 29th—Nether Heyford (limited spaces left)
Saturday 4th April—Thorpe Park (fully booked)
Holiday Club—Easter Holidays (limited spaces left)
Extra Youth Club 4pm—6pm in collaboration with Weston Favell Library during Autism Awareness
Week—date to be confirmed.
MEET THE TEAM:
Autism Awareness Week Events:
Barclaycard Autism Awareness Day—27th March
Nursing in Practice Conference— 2nd April
Silly Sock Day—3rd April
Heather
Mathers
Children’s
flexible
support
worker
Charlie
Goodwin
Children’s
flexible
support
worker
Sue
Galloway
Senior
Support
Worker