Happy New Year to all our readers!

This month, we have heard of two new groups to add to the Local Offer. This is great news and we wish them all the best getting started:

Amazing ADHD - A club run by and for children with ADHD. Parents and siblings can join in too. Takes place every other Sunday in Seaford. Contact Suede on 01323 893868 or email suede_stanton@hotmail.com for more information.

Sensory Soft Play - Soft play sessions for 5-10 year olds with SEND, every first Saturday of the month, 10.30am-12pm and every Monday, 3.30-5pm at Ore Community Centre in Hastings. Suggested donation of £3 per child. BOOKING ESSENTIAL - email info@senssoftplay.co.uk or text 07861 646502 to book your place.

If you are running your own group, why not subscribe to our monthly funding news bulletin to find available grants.

The East Sussex Parent and Carers' Council is looking for parents/carers of children with SEND to join its team of volunteer representatives. You'll have the opportunity to sit on strategic SEND decision-making boards and ensure the needs of those you represent are heard.

Come along to their recruitment day on Thursday 24 January 2019, 10am to 2pm at Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club in Eastbourne to find out more about the forum and how you could get involved. Lunch is included!

To register your interest, or if you have any questions, please email membership@eastsussexpacc.org.

CLASS+ (the Communication, Learning and Autism Support Service) host regular drop-in Coffee and Chat sessions for parents and carers of children with autism and/or communication difficulties. Sessions are held in various locations across the county. No need to book - just turn up!

Pop in for a cuppa and a chat with other parents and members of the CLASS+ team. This term, we will spend part of each session exploring the topic of 'Focus' and discussing how too many words can impact on a child with autism.

You'll find a list of all upcoming sessions on the CLASS+ Facebook page, where you can also see lots of helpful information relating to the service. 

If you have difficulties making voice calls, you can now contact the 999 emergency services by SMS text from your mobile phone. Emergency SMS is part of the standard 999 service which has been designed specifically for people with hearing loss or difficulty with speech.

You will only be able to use this service if you have registered with emergencySMS first. Register now: don’t wait for an emergency. Text the word 'register' to 999 and you'll receive an automated message confirming your registration.

Find out more about the service on the Next Generation website.