W W W . S E N S E . O R G . U K
Spring Edition, Issue 5, 2013
Hello Siblings! Contents
Welcome to the spring edition of Sibs Some very exciting news! Pg 2-3 Matters. Easter thing to make and do Pg 4-5 Sadly the cold weather is still with us but hopefully everyone managed to have a bit Book Corner and Film review Pg 6-7 of fun in the January Snow! Good news story Pg 8-9
We would love to hear your stories and What’s been going on at Sense Pg 10 see your photos of the winter weather, so send them in! Get involved! Pg 11-12
In this edition of Sibs Matters we take a look at some riveting reads and fantastic films.
As always we will keep you up to date with everything happening at Sense over the next few weeks, read on to find out about some exciting new changes!
Happy reading,
Anya and Alexa
1 Some exciting new changes at Sense and Sibs Matters!
At the beginning of April this year there will be some very exciting new changes to the way Sense is organised. Sense is about to launch a new strategy, which outlines news and ambitious goals. All this means there will be some slight changes to the Young Sense network and Sibs Matters.
Both the network and the newsletter will now be looked after by Josie Bell, who works in the Engagement team for Sense. Josie is really experience working with families of deafblind people and she is really excited to start working with you!
Josie started working for Sense 20 years ago, so she has lots of experience working for the charity and with lots of different people, including an adult Siblings Group. This year Josie will be working alongside the Holidays team to deliver your fantastic weekend away which you can read more about later on in the newsletter!
The changes mean that Anya and Alexa will no longer run the network or write Sibs Matters, but they will still be around, working on national events like Members Day and the Sense Awards. You will also still see the Holidays team, who will help to deliver your weekends away and make them super fun!
If you have any questions about the changes or if you would like to get in touch with Josie to say hello, all of our contact details are on the back page of Sibs Matters.
2 What Sense is up to in 2013!
The new 2013 strategy is a set of goals that Sense wants to achieve in the next few years. It’s very ambitious and will mean lots of hard work and determination form everyone involved with Sense.
There are some very exciting pieces of work that will be taking place. Because of the new strategy there will be more of a focus on volunteering, trying to get more people involved in volunteering across all of Sense, this includes siblings like you!
Sense will be focusing on extending support to children and families of deafblind people as well as increasing support to older deafblind people.
There will also be a focus on national events and making the events we do better, bigger and available to more people. This is what Anya and Alexa will move to focus on so it is very likely that you will see us again soon!
Sense will also be looking at initiatives in arts, culture and healthy living! So as you can see there is a lot to do but Sense is definitely up for the challenge.
If you have any questions about the new strategy or the network please contact Josie Bell or the holiday’s team, using the contacts at the end of Sibs Mattrs.
Decorative Eggs
3 These beautifully decorated eggs can be hidden by the Easter bunny, used as decoration or given as presents.
To make these very pretty Easter eggs you will need – Some large eggs, a bowl A butter knife (and some one to help you, if you need them) Some coloured paints, left over house paint works really well! Some pretty ribbons or pipe cleaners Some colourful card or paper to make the flowers for the centre of your eggs Glue and paintbrushes
For the first step in making your decorative eggs, you may need an adult or an older brother or sister to help you, first you need to – Over a bowl, using your butter knife, make a small hole in the top and the bottom of the eggs Blow through the hole in the top of the egg, to make the egg run out of the hole in the bottom of the egg...watch out as this bit can be messy! Wash and dry your egg, so it is ready to be decorated. Give your egg a coat of paint and add in some stripes, spots or flower prints, be as creative as you like! Once the eggs have dried (you can rest them in an old egg carton while you wait) cut your ribbon or pipe cleaner to the right length. Wrap it around the middle of the egg and secure with glue at either ends. Make sure you don’t push too hard or your egg will crack! Cut out your flower shapes and add onto the egg to cover the join in the ribbon. Once the eggs are all dry get ready to display them for everyone to see!
Easter bunny storage jars
4 To make your Easter bunny storage jars you will need – An old water bottle, the bigger the better as then there is more room for eggs! Some card and coloured pens Some cupcake cases in bright colours Some googly eyes and a permanent marker
To start making your Easter bunny jars you will need to – Wash your water bottle and make sure its is all dry Cut out two ‘m’ shapes that will make the paws of your jar, stick them either side of your bottle Holding the bottle carefully stick on your googly eyes about a third of the way down the bottle With the permanent marker draw a nose, some whiskers and the bunny’s smile (you can have someone with a steady hand help with this if you like!) Cut out and colour in two long bunny ears, attach to the bottom of your cupcake case. Turning your cupcake case upside down place it over the top of your bottle so it looks likes a hat for the bunny. All that is left to do is to fill you Easter bunny jar with Easter eggs and decorating with any extras, like a bow and a ‘hands off’ sign that you want! What’s been going on at Sense?
5 The Summer Holiday Programme
Sense Holidays are for deafblind people of all ages, children, adults and older people. The Holidays and Events team at sense have been working hard this year, going through all of the holiday maker applications and allocating places.
The summer holidays will run from the 19th of July 2013 to the 24th August 2013. And as always they look set to be lots and lots of fun!
The Siblings Weekend event!
The sibling’s weekend event is scheduled to take place in June 2013. After lots of Siblings took part in our survey we have come up with some brilliant ideas to suit everyone, all based on what you told us you liked!
The event is currently being planned but rest assured it will be a fantastic mix of high adrenaline sports and games, relaxing time to spend with friends and if we are really lucky a bit of sunshine too!
We will send out lots more information about the event very soon, with details such as where the event will be held, the date and what kind of activities you can look forward to so keep your eyes on the post over the next few weeks!
If you have any questions about the weekend please do get in touch.
Book Corner
One for the older audience... The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
6 You may have seen the movie, so why not give the original book a read and see if you can spot the difference! Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year- old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
A classic for all ages... Matilda, by Roald Dahl At 24 years old Matilda is still a much loved children’s book, which has recently been adapted for a musical version. If you are 8 or 18 you can not deny the fantastic writing and imagination of the author Roald Dahl. A classic that everyone who has ever felt a little bit small or insignificant should definitely read! Matilda Wormwood's father is a mean crooked crook. And her mother's just plain stupid. They think Matilda is a nuisance who should watch more TV and read fewer books! But her lovely teacher Miss Honey thinks Matilda is a genius. Matilda has a few extraordinary tricks up her sleeve, so her horrible parents and even more horrible headmistress had better watch out.
Film Review
Brave, cert PG
7 Voted in the top 50 films of 2012 Brave is set in Scotland in a rugged and mythical time. Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land: surly Lord Macintosh, massive Lord MacGuffin and cantankerous Lord Dingwall. Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric Witch for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to harness all of her skills and resources - including her clever and mischievous triplet brothers - to undo a beastly curse before it's too late, discovering the meaning of true bravery.
The Dark Knight Rises, cert 12A Voted in the top 10 films of 2012 this is a must see, but make sure you check the age restrictions first! Despite his tarnished reputation after the events of The Dark Knight, in which he took the rap for Dent's crimes, Batman feels compelled to intervene to assist the city and its police force which is struggling to cope with Bane's plans to destroy the city. Bane, a brutally ruthless terrorist leader, executes a sinister plan to tear apart Gotham and Batman's legacy piece by piece. Physically and spiritually pushed to the edge, Bruce Wayne must rediscover himself to 'Rise' and save his city.
Avengers Assemble, cert 12A Voted number 6 in the top 50 films of 2012, this is an action packed film worth having a look at. Don’t forget to check the age restrictions! Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.
Every now and again we all feel like we could just do with hearing some good news, to remind us all about the
8 brilliant things that happen every day all around the world. Our Good News section is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and remind you despite what the BBC tells us it’s not all doom and gloom!
A Dogs Best Friend
Milo is a guide dog with a difference. Instead of guiding his owner or a visually impaired person, Milo guides his best buddy, a blind black Labrador called Eddie. after playing Milo and Eddie have together in the grown up together woods! and are more like brothers than friends, they always got on well and used to play together when they were younger. Now that Eddie has lost his
Milo and Eddie spend all of their time together and even sleep in the same basket. sight Milo will guide him and find him if Eddie wears a bell on he is lost, especially his collar so his
9 family and Milo can trained to help easily find him if he Eddie, it was wanders off, and if something he the family needs to developed on his call Eddie they will own after his best send Milo to find buddy started to him. Milo was never loose his sight.
The Honesty Shop
London’s unique Honesty Shop bus conversion is bringing out the best in people and raising money for charity
The Honesty Shop is a retail experience with a difference. Located in a 50-year-old double- decker bus in St Katharine Docks next to the Tower of London, it’s a shop with no staff and where payments are made in honesty envelopes placed into a custom- made letterbox.
A refreshing alternative to strip-lit stores and garish offer stickers, the Honesty Shop sells a range of British- made souvenirs, knitted clothing, toys, gardening tools and kitchenware. The items are all priced; the idea is that customers are game enough to add the correct money to an honesty envelope and post it into the letterbox without being asked. ‘Bus conductor’ Barnaby who manages the stock, sits upstairs to keep an eye on the proceedings just in case, and looks after the shop’s social media campaigns.
10 The shop is born of an idea that started three years ago in Gimmelwald, Switzerland, by hotel owner David Waterhouse. An empty shop in his Swiss village caught his eye, but he couldn’t afford to pay someone to run it. “I started thinking of the unattended displays of vegetables, eggs and preserves you sometimes find near farm gateways with just a box for the money,” he explains. And so the first village honesty shop was born and quickly became a popular tourist attraction.
This article has been taken from http://positivenews.org.uk/ Have a look for some more good news stories from around the UK! The Challenge Network
The Chanllenge network is a national network for young people aged 16-17, which takes place in the summer and autumn.
The programmes gives young people a chance to gain important and transerable life skills, that are highly valued by employers and university. Young people will develop their leadership, teamwork and communication skills whilst having the chance to meet new people and make new firends.
11 The young people will undertake four
challenges throughout their time in the network. The personal challenge where young people will develop their Confidence, self awareness and team working skills. There will be a chance to take on activities such as climbing, canoeing and hiking.
The next stage is the Team Challenge, young people will live with their team in university syle accommodation, whilst working with industry professionals gaining experinces of media, enterpirse, photography and much more. At the end of this there is a chance for young people to showcase what they have made to family and frineds.
Next network memebrs will face the real challenge! Using skills and confidences that they have recently developed the young people will make a real change and contribution in their local area. Some projects will have the chance of winning £100 worth of funding for their project.
The final challenge is to challenge society. Once the young people have completed the programme they have the chance to graduate in a formal ceremony. They will recive a
12 National Citizen Services certificate and become part of the Challenge Society graduate scheme.
The challenge network is open to everyone, regardless of ability and background.
The cost of all of these great challenges and socila opportunities is only £50, it costs the Chanllenge network lots more to put on all of the activities but the project is part funded by the government as the activites they do help to promote better communities and a stronger sense of citizenship amoungst young people.
The Challenge network is a great way to gain real life experience in project management and team work, as well as gaining experiences meeting new people and living away from home!
The places do tend to get snapped up quickly so if you are interseted get in touch by contacting Contact@ the-challenge.org or calling 03301110101 or 0207 921 4404. To find out more information and how to get an online discount visit www.the-challenge.org.uk or vist their facebook page facebook.com/thechallengenetwork.
13 What or who makes us who we are? Sibs Matters gets scientific!
There has been lots of scientific research done into what makes people the way they are. Scientists have looked at our parents, our genes and our friendships but research has recently shown that what shapes us most are our brothers and sisters!
From a very early age our siblings are many different things to us, they are our collaborators, co-conspirators and role models. Siblings are the people that are with us for the whole journey. Previously scientists have overlooked the influences siblings have on one another, but there has now been a wealth of new studies into the dynamics between siblings.
It’s thought many of the skills we learn with our siblings as children are skills we will still use as adults. Learning to share toys, time and attention are all skills that we will put into practice later on. Some of the conflicts we have with our siblings can actually help us in later life work out how to deal with other conflicts, although it has been noted that siblings usually deal with conflict in their own way!
14 Siblings have such a special bond as they spend so much time together, research has shown that by the time a sibling reaches age 11 they spend almost 33% of their time with their siblings. If you think how much time you are asleep and at school, it works out to be a big proportion of your day. Even older siblings can still spend up to 10 hours a week with their brothers and sister.
University professors have identified the difference in roles between parents and siblings; they liken it to that of doctors and nurses. Doctors,like your parents, are there when you need them and play a big, important role in life, siblings are like nurses, and they are there all the time...even if you don’t want them to be!
Getting along with a brother or sister can be really hard and frustrating at times, especially when your brother or sister has a disability. But research has shown that having a sibling can improve our social skills, communication skills, the way we deal with conflicts and even how we will interact with our friends when we are older.
Being a sibling is a really special thing and something that will always have an impact on your life no matter how old you get and that’s not something we need science to tell us! Sibs Matters: Get Involved!
Tell us a story, write a quiz, send in a poem or picture, tell us what you’ve been up to, send in a book or film review, tell us about anything you have been up to that you would like to see in the newsletter send to Josie Bell [email protected] 0121 4156 744
15 Or write to us at... Josie Bell, Sense, 9a Birkdale Avenue, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6UB
What is the Siblings Network?
The siblings Network is a national network for individuals aged 5 to 18 who have a deafblind brother of sister.
Members of the network get the chance to meet up, make new friends, share experiences and have loads of fun at the annual sibling’s weekend, as well as copies of Sibs Matters, the network newsletter, three times a year.
We know that having a deafblind brother of sister has a big impact on the lives of siblings. It’s a unique relationship that can be rich and rewarding, but there can also be issues and difficulties.
The siblings network is here to help Siblings of deafblind individuals connect and support each other, but most importantly to have fun!
16