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Another academic year has started and the heat of the summer has quickly faded away. As I write, I'm sitting with two pairs of socks on and we're still in September but am determined not to turn on the heating until my feet have turned blue. After the uncertainty of COVID, we now have a slightly different situation to deal with - hopefully some of the contents of this bulletin will help to at least warm your mood, and identify some areas of support for those that need it.
It's a bumper edition this time round, so I won't take up any more of your precious time. I will however, once again, appeal to you for any contributions that you would like to make to the bulletin. This is especially true if a young person has done something amazing - big or small - which they would like to tell others about. It could be climbing a mountain; learning to swim; volunteering in the community; winning an award or just telling a great joke.
If you would like to send us a story, just contact us at sendnews@coventry.gov.uk
Chris Firth
SENDIASS
Do you have a child who has been unable to attend school for 30 days or more since September 2021 due to their mental health?
You could earn yourself a £20 amazon voucher by taking part in the online research study.
Contact Elizabeth.Evans@coventry.gov.uk for further information or to find out more.
You can also access the questionnaire via the QR code.
The questionnaire will close by October half term 2022.
As part of a wider programme with ICAN to support early development of children’s early learning, Coventry LA has teamed up with the Easy Peasy app to help families interact with their children.
EasyPeasy is a 20 week digital programme that improves early childhood development through increasing positive parent-child interactions and learning at home. Designed for families with children aged 2-5 years old, EasyPeasy offers parents a bank of games to play with their children. The games contain crucial information on child development and are demonstrated through short videos with real families. Games are designed by experts to promote positive interactions and to support the EYFS Early Learning Goals, with a particular focus on language and communication.
Simply scan the QR code to sign up or access from your preferred app store.
Resting Spaces is a community led initiative, supported by Community Organisers at Connecting for Good. Their mission is to provide enough free, quiet spaces, in and around Coventry City Centre, where people who need a resting space can relax for whatever their reasons. The aim is to provide an adequate soft seating environment, which includes large bean bags, pillows and other items to make it more comfortable for these people to relax. The first resting spot in the city will be at the Voluntary Action Centre and will be available from Friday 14 October from 1pm-3pm on a fortnightly basis. If you would like to join their mission or find out more, please email Sian at Connecting for Good slewis@grapevinecovandwarks.org or visit their Facebook group, Coventry Resting Spaces.
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Coventry City Council are running a free cycle scheme for eligible children and adults at venues across the city, for those of varying ages and abilities.
The training is delivered on behalf of Coventry City Council, who also run Bikeability courses in schools.
Bikes and helmets are available on request for use during the training.
Sessions include:
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Learn to Ride - Little or no experience and would like to learn to ride.
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Cycle Skills - Can ride a bike and would like to develop my skills in a traffic free environment.
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Wheels for All - Develop your cycling confidence on Parkride's accessible bikes and trikes.
Please note: Children must be accompanied by an adult.
To find out more visit the Coventry City Council Cycle Training webpage
*Charges may apply to some sessions, please check before booking
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Child Friendly COV is a new project with the aim of making Coventry the best place it can be for children and young people to grow up and live in. If you have a child, or you are a young person who would like to take part in the survey please click on the link below. It is a very short survey and can be completed with individual children or young people, or with whole classes or groups.
Take part in the 'Child Friendly COV' Survey.
If you would like to find out more about Child Friendly Cov, please email: ChildFriendlyCov@coventry.gov.uk
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Transforming Care (now the Learning Disability and Autism Programme) is a national programme that aims to improve the lives of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities and/or autism (including those with a mental health condition) who display behaviours viewed as challenging.
Transforming Care is not a pathway or a service. It makes
available resources and support if a child or young person:
- has a diagnosis of autism or a learning disability, and
- is in crisis and at risk of being admitted to hospital.
They are eligible for the dynamic support register (see Key Terms), if they or a parent/guardian consents.
A One Minute Guide has been produced with further details, key terms and information on how to access support.
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As part of the Autism Strategy for Coventry and Warwickshire, a booklet has been produced which aims to bring together the different information and advice offered across Coventry and Warwickshire. It has been co-produced by professionals from different organisations, neurodivergent people and their families. It provides useful information about services and support available for those who are diagnosed or who self-identify as neurodivergent - specifically in relation to Autism, ADHD and DCD - and those who care for and support them.
It is intended to be updated at regular intervals, so if you are aware of services or peer support groups which have supported you or your child, and are not included, you can send suggestions to disabilitiescommissioning@warwickshire.gov.uk
For people struggling to afford heating bills, 'Act on Energy' provides free impartial advice to householders and small businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire on energy efficiency and grants and projects available in your area to help keep you warm this winter.
To find out more visit the Act on Energy Website
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P3 are running drop in advice sessions on a fortnightly basis in the family hubs across the city. If you need help with: Housing/tenancy issues, independent living skills, money management/benefit advice, health and well-being or general advice and support, contact P3 on 08081 962660 or visit your local family hub to find out more.
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Coventry Independent Advice Service is a charity offering free advice, information and support to Coventry residents. The service is confidential and their skilled advisers can help you with things like:
- identifying entitlement to benefits and helping you make claims
- helping you to sort out debt or other money problems
- challenging decisions on benefit claims
You can contact them via their advice line on 024 7652 1100.
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Coventry Citizens Advice help people solve their individual problems and build resilience for the future. Last year they supported over 20,000 people online, over the phone and face to face providing free, impartial, independent and confidential advice. Coventry Citizens Advice operate an "Open Door" service in the city Centre.
You can contact them via their Advice Line on 0800 144 88 48.
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Mattel, Inc. has announced the introduction of the first autistic character in the Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go™ series and franchise. Voiced by nine-year-old actor Elliott Garcia from Reading, Berkshire, who is autistic, Bruno the Brake Car made his debut on ‘Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go!’ on Wednesday 21 September.
Read more on the National Autistic Society website
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Retina UK is a charity supporting people affected by inherited sight loss and investing in medical research to help make their challenges a thing of the past.
The charity identifies that different inherited sight loss conditions present noticeable symptoms at different times. Some people are unaware they are affected by an inherited sight loss condition until adulthood, others may be diagnosed as children. Furthermore, that the concerns felt by a child or young person may be different to that of an adult. Depending on when a diagnosis is given, it might affect choices in education and training and early career paths. Retina UK have developed a
Retina UK Helpline and put together some Frequently Asked Questions that may be helpful when planning to discuss a diagnosis with a child or young person.
You can visit the Retina UK Website for more information.
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The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) is the UK’s leading childhood deafness charity. We give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children’s rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.
NDCS have partnered with Cadbury Fingers to encourage more people to get chatting in British Sign Language (BSL). They’re also sharing deaf awareness tips to show how to include every deaf person in the conversation, however they communicate.
As part of the campaign, Cadbury is contributing to the NDCS Family Sign Language courses. These courses teach deaf children and their families how to use BSL at key moments including mealtimes, during storytelling and play.
You can find out more on the NDCS website
You can also find 'lessons of the week' on the Cadbury's Sign With Fingers website.
The NDCS have also produced some awareness tips for how to help a deaf child feel included.
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During Listener Week on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, a mother emailed in looking for help and advice. She said that her 15-year-old daughter was being ostracised and bullied by girls at her school and she didn’t know what to do.
Emma Barnett was joined on the programme by Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of the bullying charity Kidscape, and Dr Jane Gilmour, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. They shared their tips and advice for parents or carers of children who are being bullied.
You can view the article on the BBC Radio 4 webpage
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The 'Together with Autism Conference' is part of the Coventry and Warwickshire 'Autism Strategy' launch.
Unfortunately, the Coventry event had to be postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. However, this is due to be rescheduled for early 2023.
For queries and more information please contact info@actforautism.co.uk
This event is an opportunity for young people (14-25) and their families to find out about opportunities in the local area as they move forward into adulthood. There will be a range of workshops to attend covering aspects of education, health and care transitions – full details of these will be announced shortly.
When: Friday 4 November, 9.30am – 12noon.
Where: Coventry Council House, Earl Street, Coventry, CV1 5RR (we’re also hoping that workshops will also be available online)
You must book in advance – you can do this by contacting SENDIASS on 024 7669 4307 or emailing iass@coventry.gov.uk
Register to join the Carers Trust new Emotional and Resilience workshops running on 29 November and 6 December. These sessions have been hugely beneficial to those carers that have attended previously. Spaces are limited so please book early.
Content for each session includes:
Session One – 29 November 2022
- Exploring emotions
- How to pause and not react
- How to release emotions gently
Session Two – 6 December 2022
- Soothing emotions
- Enhancing feelings of safety and connection with body and mind.
Both sessions will be face to face and held at the Penny Collard Centre, Fleet Street, Coventry, CV1 3AY. from 12.30pm – 2.00pm.
For more information or to book your place email: carergroups@carerstrusthofe.org.uk
A local group of dads have set-up a bimonthly social meet-up for fathers and male care givers of disabled children and young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.
The next meeting is:
Friday 4 November at 7pm-9pm
Venue: 1 Mill Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 1ES
Further information about the group and meet-ups can be found on the Dads and Disability Social Group webpage.
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Do you have a child aged 2-11 and live in Coventry?
Family Learning have a range of Family Learning courses running this Autumn 2022 to support families in Coventry. Courses include:
- A face to face parenting course called Positive Family Foundations (an alternative to Triple P)
- A recorded online parenting course (downloadable version of Positive Family Foundations)
- Two downloadable online courses about helping children with their homework (one on English / one on maths)
- A face to face Stay and Play group called Autumn Fun
Visit the adult education website for more information.
Have you been to one of SENDIASS' coffee mornings?
They're an opportunity to meet up with other parents, have a chat (or just a listen) and support each other. Stay as long (or as little) as you are able - no pressure!
Coffee mornings take place regularly so look out for future dates!
You can find out more information about SENDIASS events via the SENDIASS website
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Below are the upcoming dates for the 'Autism Café'.
Sessions run from 2pm-4.30pm.
- October - no session
- November 18
- -December 17
Venue: St. George's Church, Barker Butts Lane, Coventry, CV6 1EA.
Admission fees apply. For more details please contact Sue: susankivi@yahoo.co.uk
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If you would like to meet other carers in a safe and friendly environment the Carers' Trust has a new monthly carers group.
When: 2nd Tuesday of each month
Where: Herald Lodge Care Home in Canley
Time: 2.30pm to 3.30pm
*next session is on Tuesday 11 October 2022.
You are welcome to attend with those you are caring for and there will be staff from the care home available to help with activities, whilst a coffee shop area is available for carers to chat and have a hot drink and cake. Everyone is welcome to come along!
There is parking onsite, and Herald Lodge is opposite Canley train station.
For more details contact Rebecca Waite via e-mail rebecca.waite@carerstrusthofe.org.uk or telephone: 024 7663 2972.
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Coventry School Nursing are continuing to offer free virtual health information sessions for parents/carers throughout Autumn 2022.
See below to book or scan the QR code.
You can also check out the School Nursing latest newsletter.
Sensory Tots are running weekly stay and play sessions for children with a hearing and/or vision impairment.
When: Tuesdays 10am-11.30am
Venue: St. George's Church Hall, Coundon, CV6 1EA
For more information see poster below or call Lucy on 07944 161138 or Lora on 07944 629463.
Below are the details for the Roots to Branches Autism Support Group 'Family Session'
When: The second Wednesday of every month
Time: 5pm - 7pm
Cost: £2 per child
Book your place.
Below are the details for the Roots to Branches Autism Support Group 'Youth Club'
When: The second and fourth Monday of every month
Time: 5.30pm - 7.30pm
Cost: £2 per child/young person
Book your place.
The Chat Central's October 2022 schedule is now out.
Please call 07541 343 491 for more information.
Everyone and anyone is welcome to join, and tickets are FREE for a series of talks and discussions with an incredible range of experts.
The Coventry Adult Education Service is offering a 3 week Makaton Course at the Coventry Community Resource Centre.
When: Tuesday 4 October to Tuesday 18 October 2022
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
For more information contact Farah Mahmood on 024 7679 1797 or email farah.mahmood@coventry.gov.uk
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The Coventry Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Local Offer brings together information for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families.
The SEND Local Offer will cover services available to the public across education, health and social care:
Education: such as nurseries, playgroups, schools and colleges as well as support services like Educational Psychology and SEN services
Health: children's and adult services including GPs, therapists and hospital services
Social care: such as short break services and children's and adult disability services.
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Do you know about Reachdeck?
Reachdeck enables hundreds of web pages (and downloadable documents held within them) on the Coventry City Council website to be more accessible for all in a range of different ways.
These include; translating into other languages; 'speak' (which enables you to listen to pages/documents in either English or a range of languages) and a range of viewing options.
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Rise is a family of NHS-led services providing emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Rise aims to build resilience and empower children and young people (as well as the adults in their lives) to know where to go for help and advice.
It’s made up of a number of different services, each led by mental health specialists.
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The Dimensions of Health and Wellbeing is a free online tool providing personalised information to support an individual's well-being and mental health. The site consists of three separate Dimensions tool options for you to choose from; adults, children and professionals . The Dimensions report it creates, provides information that is relevant to the ratings made on each of the Dimensions. It can be used to find selfcare, local support groups and telephone help lines, and services offered through various organisations and the NHS.
Visit the Dimensions website and watch this Dimensions Introduction Video to find out more.
For guidance on how to use the Dimensions tool check out the videos below:
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Kooth is an anonymous digital counselling and support service for children and young people aged 11-25 years providing access to emotional wellbeing and early intervention mental health support. For more information visit the Kooth webpage.
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Home is supposed to be one of the safest places for us, but if you are experiencing domestic abuse then home could be frightening. If someone is in immediate danger and their life is threatened, they should dial the police on 999.
Coventry Haven - ensure safety and empowerment for women and children who are subjected to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) in any form. They offer a range of services including a SafeToTalk Helpline 0800 111 4998 or 024 7644 4077
National Domestic Abuse Line (REFUGE) - Refuge supports women, children and men experiencing domestic violence with a range of services including a 24-hour helpline 0808 2000 247.
Young Minds - a national charity which supports children and young people with mental health and well being. They have specific resources for young people around COVID-19, and also offer support to parents.
Childline - Childline is available to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, they have trained counsellors to support you. The helpline is 0800 1111 and is available 24hrs 7 days a week.
Samaritans - Coventry & District Samaritans is an independent charity, run entirely by unpaid volunteers. They provide a free 24-hour helpline for people who are upset, troubled or who are feeling suicidal. Call 116 123 at any time of the day or night or email jo@samaritans.org
In addition to their normal services Samaritans has set up a confidential support line for NHS workers and volunteers in England. This operates from 7am to 11pm every day. NHS staff can, of course, still use the 24 hour helpline if they prefer.
If you would like to view copies of or previous ebulletins you can do so via the SENDIASS website.
If you have any comments or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by contacting us sendnews@coventry.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can keep up to date through SEND IASS's;
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