Easy read information about accessible events and activities in for adults with learning disabilities

Autumn Edition 2017

Registered charity number 1078829 registered in and Wales. A non-profit company limited by guarantee, number 3127540

Contents Page Welcome to Through the Maze 2

Competition win tea and cake for two 3 What’s on 4  12 Inclusion North - Tomorrows Leaders 4

Leeds City Council 5

Connect in the North – We’ve got pride 6 Pyramid of Arts High Rise Groups 7

Pyramid of Arts Weekly Groups 8

Carers Leeds - Learning Disability Team 9

Carers Leeds - Bat and Chat 10

HFT – Keeping in Touch 11 William Merritt – Assistive Technology 12

Nights Out 13 Leep the Bridge 13

Useful information 14  18 Leeds Involving People 14 The Leeds Teaching Hospitals 15 Your Health – Don’t miss out 16 People Matters - Preparing for Work 17 Pass it on People 18 Contact Us 19

1 Welcome to Through the Maze Hello and welcome to the Through the Maze Newsletter. We hope that you enjoy the Autumn Newsletter.

There are lots of events and activities happening in Leeds this autumn.

Have a read through this magazine and make sure to keep checking the Through The Maze website http://through-the-maze.org.uk

The Ask Us – Drop In is still running every Monday.

12:30PM  3:00PM

Bridge House, Balm Road, Leeds, LS10 2TP.

Tuesday Ask Us - Drop In is on the last Tuesday of the month at Leeds Central Library.

26th September 24th October 28th November 11:00AM  1:00PM

There won’t be a December Ask Us - Drop In at Leeds Central Library.

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Would you like to win afternoon tea and cake for you and a friend at SLATE café at Hillside?

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All you have to do is like the Through the Maze Facebook page and in a comment box write what day and time the Through the Maze Ask Us - Drop In runs.

Hint - You might find the answer if you look carefully on our Facebook Page

http://facebook.com/throughthemazeleeds

Full terms and conditions about the competition can be found on our website – http://www.through-the-maze.org.uk/win-tea- cake-two-people-competition-rules/

The competition closes on 01/10/2017 at

11.59PM

Good Luck and thank you to SLATE for donating this prize.

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Inclusion North v Tomorrow’s Leaders is a leadership programme for people with a learning disability.

People can apply to join Tomorrow’s Leaders. This year there are 4 learners from Leeds. Eddie, Nicholas, Jon and Vincent all work at SLATE furniture shop and warehouse.

Ann from SLATE said: “The Tomorrow’s Leaders course has encouraged confidence and shown how involving learning can be”.

"Thank you to Inclusion North for creating

such a brilliant programme”.

Susan Hanley co-delivers Tomorrow’s Leaders. She says: “Being a leader is about being passionate about giving and taking, and working with people with a learning disability so that they have real choices about what they want to do”.

To apply for the next course contact Angela Ellis

 0748 772 9237

[email protected]

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Leeds City Council

Leeds City Council’s We Care Academy will be running a Traineeship into Apprenticeship scheme, starting in September 2017.

The programme supports young people with learning disabilities into work in Adult Social Care. It is aimed at 18 - 24 year olds.

Candidates will complete 2 weeks pre-employment with Leeds City Council. They will have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. The candidate will then do four weeks unpaid work experience from 23/10/17 followed by an interview for a one year apprenticeship place.

Apprentices will be supported to attend college and

complete a full Adult Care Worker Level 2 Diploma.

They are also looking for Employers who can offer a support worker or care assistant vacancy to the programme.

Leeds City Council will support employers throughout the programme. There is no cost to you as an

employer until the apprentice starts work.

Contact Paul for more information or if you can offer an apprenticeship place or places.

 0113 378 5085  0789 127 1093

[email protected]

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Connect in the North

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Pyramid of Arts High Rise Movement group

Movement performance in response to The Tetley’s exhibition ‘50 years of Leeds West

Indian Carnival’

Thursday 19th October 12:00PM 1:00PM and 2:30PM  3:30PM Free

High Rise Music Group

Musical response to The Tetley’s exhibition ‘50 years of Leeds West Indian Carnival’.

Friday 20th October 1:30PM  3:00PM Free

Both of the events will take place at

The Tetley Hunslet Road Leeds

LS10 1JQ

For more information contact Sarah Kennedy

 0113 234 6040

[email protected]

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Pyramid of Arts

Pyramid of Arts runs weekly groups that do visual art, music and movement.

We also support people one-to-one to learn about different art-forms, like photography,

music or woodwork.

We have exhibitions and performances to show our work to the public.

Please contact us if you would like more information or to get involved.

For more information contact

 0113 234 6040

[email protected]

68B Barkston House Croydon Street Leeds LS11 9RT 8

Carers Leeds

My name is Elaine Wilkes and I am the leader of the Learning Disability Carers Team. We provide a service to friends and family who look after someone with a learning disability.

We can,

 offer advice, support and emotional support,  talk with you about planning the future,  help complete benefit forms and identify other organisations that maybe able to help

in your situation.

The Carers Leeds Advice line is available Monday  Friday 9:00AM  4:30PM and can be contacted on 0113 380 4300. They can provide information, advice and support. Specialist support from the Learning Disability Carers Team can also be offered.

Any carer can drop in and see a Carers Worker at Carers Leeds between 9:30AM  3:30PM Monday  Friday. Please have a look at our website http://www.carersleeds.org.uk/

For more information contact

 0113 380 4300  [email protected]

Carers Leeds 6 – 8 The Headrow Leeds LS1 6PT 9

Carers Leeds

Last year, Carers Leeds teamed up with Ping! England to bring table tennis to carers and it has been a great success.

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We’d like to invite more people to join in and have some fun at this weekly event.

Table tennis can be enjoyed by individuals of any age. It is a low impact exercise and good for fitness. Come and have a game and a chat, meet new people for some banter and rallies. No skill or previous experience necessary.

Bat and Chat is open to carers and the person they care for. It takes place between 11:00AM  1:00PM at Carers Leeds office on the Headrow every Friday.

For more information contact

 0113 380 4300  [email protected]

Carers Leeds 6 – 8 The Headrow Leeds LS1 6PT

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HFT – Keeping in Touch

HFT arrange social events around Leeds.

Nights Out - Meet up with groups of friends socially e.g. bowling, walking, cinema, fish and chips, darts and dominoes, sports matches, snooker, nightclubs, pubs, karaoke and more.

Walking Groups – Walking groups available most days, for people with varying abilities.

College Holidays – Daytime support available during college holidays.

Different days and times, including evenings and weekends.

Transport to and from home is included for all

our activities.

Evening events usually last about 4 hours including travel time. Daytime events can be longer.

£5.95 per hour for support and transport. Expenses on the events e.g. food, drinks, tickets are extra. We can help you to organise funding to join Keeping in Touch. Please contact us to

discuss. If you would like more information contact Kate Holdsworth

 0778 526 8053

[email protected]

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William Merritt – Assistive Technology Exhibition

The biggest exhibiion of equipment in for disabled children and adults, parents, carers and professionals.

A number of companies will be showing a wide range of equipment including  Beds.  Seating.  Driving Adaptations.  Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles.  Accessible Gaming.  Walking Aids.

 Bathing.  Tricycles.  Associated Charities.  Plus much more.

Free of charge

Wednesday 11th October 2017

10:00AM  3:00 PM

Centenary Pavilion Leeds United Football Club Elland Road LS11 0ES

For more information contact

 0113 350 8989

[email protected]

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Leep the Bridge Club Night

Thursday 05th October 2017 Thursday 26th October 2017 Thursday 16th November 2017

7:00PM  10:00PM

Monday 11th December 2017

Christmas Ball to take place at the Royal Armouries.

For further details and to buy tickets contact Carol Ann Reed

 0113 276 2720

[email protected]

Tiger Tiger ticket price £7.00, carers are free.

Royal Armouries ticket price £28.00

For more information contact Mandy

 0113 243 9477

[email protected]

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Leeds Involving People

Leeds Involving People is a charity that gives a voice to people from local communities. We help residents to have a say in the way services are run.

Our members have worked with city planners to make sure new developments are accessible. They have also given feedback on public transport.

Jonathan Butler who sits on our Board says: “I like being part of Leeds Involving People. It helps people by sharing information that you might not get in other places. The Coffee Club lets me see my friends.” Next coffee club 16th October 2017 2:00PM  4:00PM The Community Room

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4 Floor John Lewis

Victoria Gate Leeds LS2 7AR

We are looking for new members to share their experiences of using different services. We can provide training as well as pay travel costs.

To become a member, please contact Lucy Smith

 0113 237 4508

[email protected] 14

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust have champions for learning disability, autism and hidden disability on some wards and departments.

Please ask who they are if you are visiting one of the hospitals in Leeds.

Every ward and department has a folder with information to help staff understand if you need any reasonable adjustments.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust has a Learning Disability and Autism Strategy that tells you everything that the hospitals are doing to support people with a learning disability and autism.

For more information contact Sadie Dunne

Lead Nurse Learning Disabilities and Autism

 0113 2069206

 0789 998 8703

[email protected]

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Your health – Don’t miss out

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Mencap and NHS England have a new campaign about the Learning Disability Register, Annual Health Checks, and Summary Care Records.

These help people to get better healthcare, by telling them that doctors and other healthcare workers can give extra support and advice.

Please share this message. Tell your doctor you have a learning disability and they can check if you are on the learning disability register.

If you are not, they can add you.

This means you will be offered extra support to make things easier. You could get an Annual Health Check.

This information can be shared with other doctors and nurses, so they can make things

easier for you too. The campaign is called ‘Don’t miss out’

www.mencap.org.uk/dontmissout

The hashtag is #dontmissout

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People Matters

People Matters have a new Preparing for Work course with places available.

It is on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10:00AM  3:00PM

They will also support you in a volunteer work placement on another day.

It is for anyone 19 or over who is interested in employment, volunteering or paid work.

For more information contact

 0113 234 6896

[email protected]

To see the new full supported learning for adults programme visit https://tinyurl.com/pm-autumn-2017

17 Pass it on People’s visit to TCV Hollybush The Pass it on People went to TCV Hollybush for a taster session.

It was part of a project between Hyde Park Source, TCV Hollybush and Leeds Mind.

We chose to do gardening. We could have taken part in a wildlife walk, made planters or even built a bird box.

We really enjoyed planting herbs and tidying the garden.

A few of us want to sign up for the courses at Hollybush. The session was planned around us and our access needs.

'Outdoors Active and Well' sessions are free for people who are on benefits.

For more information contact

TCV Hollybush Conservation Centre, Broad Lane Kirkstall Leeds LS5 3BP

 0113 226 2623  [email protected]

 www.outdoorsactivewell.org 18

Contact Us

By phone  0113 270 3233

Through the Maze Write to Connect in the North Bridge House Balm Road Leeds LS10 2TP

By email  [email protected]

Facebook www.facebook.com/ throughthemazeleeds

Twitter @ThroughTheMaze

If you want to stop getting this newsletter please let us know by any of the ways above.

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