Meet Darcie Kitchener from IMAGO
What is Imago?
Imago is an organisation that runs several projects helping people in Kent, from young carers to children and adults with mental health problems and more.
What does Darcie do?
“As a social prescriber for children and young people, what I do specifically is support young people facing all sorts of issues - from mental health to social isolation, housing and benefits problems and so on - to get support they need from other agencies and organisations. I link people up with the resources in Medway and refer them on to different services that I think would be useful. As a children and young people’s social prescriber, I work with any person under the age of 25 in Medway South. Previous young people have been connected with services such as Early Help, NELFT, Medway Community Healthcare, Medway Youth Services and more.”
How can I get involved?
If you think you would benefit from social prescribing, you can either speak to the receptionist or doctor at your GP surgery, or you can self-refer on the Imago website.
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 Sleep resources by and for autistic young people
Earlier this year, NELFT worked closely with a talented group of autistic young people and researchers at University College London, to create a leaflet and animation about what helps autistic teenagers to get a good night’s sleep. Most sleep advice is for the general population, so it is helpful to share information which specifically focuses on autistic young people. This project is particularly special because it is brought to life by a song and music video created by some members of the group.
The co-produced animation about what helps autistic young people to get a good night’s sleep can be viewed below.
"Wednesday Squad is a club for young people aged 16-25 who have additional needs. It runs every Wednesday at Parkwood Youth Centre from 6:30 to 8:30pm. It provides the young people who attend a valuable opportunity to develop some social skills, make friends and learn some life skills along the way. We regularly have visitors who can assist the young people in looking for outside opportunities including further training and employment. The group are very accepting of each other and their varied needs.
We have recently had a trip to SOAR trampoline park which the young people thoroughly enjoyed."
For further information, please call Angela Cox on 07956656815.
Rachel and Luke playing table football at Wednesday Squad
Medway Pride is on Saturday, 20 August 2022 12pm – 8pm at Rochester Castle. The event is free and open to everyone and will celebrate the diversity and individuality of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, and non-binary (LGBT+) community.
Rochester Castle Gardens will be open from 10:30am
Pride Parade Rochester High Street 10:45am
Rochester Castle Stage 12:00pm
To find out more about the event including who is performing visit the Medway Pride website Medway Pride.
Here in the 0-25 Integrated Disabilities Service, we are looking forward to the event and we are proud to support Medway’s SEND and LGBT+ Community all year round.
If you or someone you know need a safe space to be you or would like to share experiences with others like you, there are a number of organisations that can help.
The Be You Project
The Project run weekly, virtual and face to face meetups for anyone age thirteen to twenty-five who think they may be LGBT+. They also provide advice and support for LGBT+ young people. You can find out more via their website The Be You Project in Medway or by emailing beyou@porchlight.org.uk .
Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre
The South East Gender Initiative (SEGI) project, Medway Gender & Sexual Diversity Centre (MGSDC) provides a place where LGBT+ people and their families and friends can meet in a safe environment. The service is based in Chatham and can offer advice support, education and training for individuals and their friends and families.
SEGI / MGSDC also offer support to other organisations, public bodies, and private companies to enable them to understand the needs of the LGBT+ community in Medway, Kent and the South East of England.
To find out more you can go to their webpage Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre or email info@mgsd-centre.org .
METRO Stand Out
Metro Stand Out is a group for LGBT+ people aged between 16 and 25 in Medway. Metro offers a meet-up in Rochester for young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, queer, and questioning. There are also events to attend throughout the year including Pride in London, UK Black Pride, and a party at Christmas. All groups are free, confidential, and open all. To find out more email youth@metrocharity.org.uk, call 020 8305 5004, or visit their website Metro Charity .
Medway Parent and Carers Forum launch their Young People's Facebook Page
On Friday, 1 July we launched our young people’s page which is managed by young people, and monitored by a responsible adult as well as the Forum.
Hannah is trained in safeguarding and has been in regular contact with young people in her role outside of the Forum. We want this page to be a safe environment where young people can talk to others about their concerns or ask questions about an educational or health setting, about how to cope with exam pressures or even health queries with the aim to eventually asking speakers to come and talk to those young people to gather direct feedback or meeting others for food to talk about experiences. The logo for the group and the advert were designed by our young people."
We have new dates for a series of fully funded Positive Behaviour Support Awareness+ training courses running until next year. These courses are available for those who provide direct support to children and young people (aged 0-25) with or without additional needs displaying behaviours that challenge in Kent or Medway. See flyer for more details or to book a course email mcsc@medway.gov.uk.
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