27390 Norwood EE

CHILDREN & FAMILIES FIRST Annual Review 2008 Annual review 2007-2008 Hello from the bosses Welcome to Norwood’s annual review. This book will tell you how we have done from April 2007 to March 2008. It will also tell you how much money we got and how much we spent. What important things happened this year? ■ Our main supporter of children is Cherie Blair. She opened the new Wellbeing at Bearsted Centre in Hackney. ■ The Hope Charity became a part of Norwood. ■ We treat everyone who wants to work for us fairly. ■ We became a member of the Fundraising Standards Board. This means that we keep to strict rules to treat people fairly who give us money. ■ The new Norwood Nursery opened in Hendon. What important things will happen next year? ■ We will open 2 new homes at Ravenswood where 32 people with disabilities will live. ■ We will try to help more adults with learning disabilities to get jobs if they want to work. ■ Her Majesty The Queen will visit Ravenswood. Ivan Lewis MP visited Norwood when he was the government Minister for Care Services. He said: “Norwood has excellent services, so adults with learning disabilities can lead full and independent lives. Norwood should be proud because it has brilliant services for children and adults with learning disabilities.” We want to say thank you to: ■ the people who help us ■ the people who give us money ■ the people who work for us. 2 Richard Desmond Michael Teacher Norma Brier About Norwood Norwood is a charity that helps children and adults with learning disabilities or family problems. Our services are mainly for Jewish people but other people can use them too. We believe that everyone is different and we should all choose how we want to live and what we want to do. Last year we did a review and found good examples of people at Norwood who control their own lives. We want to support people so they live the way they really want. We will give them lots of choices, listen carefully to what they say and help them get what they want. About this book We have made this book easy to understand but it has some hard words. This is what they mean: Befriender – a volunteer who makes friends with people who use Norwood’s services Learning disability – a disability that you have for your whole life. It makes it hard for a person to learn, understand and communicate Ofsted – an office of the government that checks standards in schools and children’s homes Orthodox – people who strictly follow Jewish laws Physical disability – a disability in the body Service user – a person who uses Norwood’s services If you are not sure what something means in this book you can ask: ■ friends or family ■ a member of staff ■ a supporter, or ■ your nearest People First or Speaking Up group. 3 Annual review 2007-2008 Children and young people Norwood supports babies, children and other young people with learning and physical disabilities and other problems. Binoh Some children find it hard to do well at school. Teachers at Binoh give children extra help so they can stay at school and be happy. What did we do last year? ■ We helped children at 20 schools. We had never helped children at schools in Redbridge before, but this year we helped children at 3 schools there. ■ We had more than 200 phone calls from parents asking us for help. ■ We started a new art class for children. In the class they can use art to show how they feel. ■ We got a new teacher to make sure the work that children do at Binoh helps with the work they do at school. What will we do next year? ■ We will help children in the new Norwood nursery. ■ We will start a new scheme for children age 15. We will help them to: ■ learn, and ■ get ready to do training, and ■ choose what job they want to do when they start work. ■ We will start another new art class because so many children enjoy art. What did children say about Binoh? “Binoh makes me feel more confident.” Alan “My speech is getting better and I know where to put my tongue when I speak.” Stephanie 4 At Binoh, children like Channi are helped to do their best. Talia learns and has fun at Hope. The Hope Centre Hope teaches in a special way using the ideas of Professor Reuven Feuerstein from Israel. It helps children who find learning hard, to do their very best. What did we do last year? ■ Hope had a party because it has been in the UK for 10 years. ■ 3 Hope workers went on a 2-week course about new ways to teach children. What will we do next year? ■ We will train parents and teachers how to help children who use The Hope Centre, when they are at home or at school. ■ Most children come to The Hope Centre for a few hours each week. We will ask them to come for longer so that they can learn more. What did children say about Hope? “I think Hope is brilliant – they help me in every way. They have helped me through the hard years I have been there and I would like to say thank you to everyone.” Rebecca “I like The Hope Centre because I learn. I like reading, going on the computer and cooking. In the summer camp I like to feed the animals. I had my birthday party at Hope and my friends from school came. I love everybody at The Hope Centre.” Talia What did parents say about Hope? “The Hope Centre is a really important part of our lives and we feel very lucky to be part of this wonderful place.” Ros 6 Buckets and Spades At Buckets and Spades Lodge, children with disabilities can stay for a few days to give them and their parents a rest. What did we do last year? ■ We were busier than ever before. 73 children stayed for a total of 1739 nights. ■ We were given a new minibus. This will let more children go on fun outings. ■ We had a traditional Jewish Sabbath weekend. ■ We sent parents a letter asking them what they thought about Buckets and Spades and how to make it better. ■ We got a good report from Ofsted inspectors. They said: “This is a good service. Buckets and Spades is a well run home. Children are happy, they join in activities and eat healthy food. They also get on well with workers. Workers and parents are happy.” What will we do next year? ■ Have another traditional Jewish Sabbath weekend and celebrate the Jewish festivals. ■ We will welcome new children and families. Schools What’s next? JCOSS SCHOOL ■ The Annie Lawson School at Ravenswood will close in 2008. ■ We are working to open a new high school called JCoSS in East Barnet. It will open in 2010. There will be a special Norwood centre at the school for 50 children with autism. Binoh helps Amber with her schoolwork 7 Children have fun at Norwood’s summer scheme in Hackney. Unity Unity runs after-school clubs and school-holiday schemes for children with disabilities. What did we do last year? ■ 90 children did lots of activities after school and went on outings in the holidays. ■ 11 children went on holiday together and did lots of activities outside. ■ 12 children won Jack Petchey Awards for behaving well, being a good friend and being on the Young People’s Focus Group. The winners gave their prize money to Norwood. What’s next? ■ Children and young people with disabilities will put on a show with music, singing, dancing and drama. ■ There will be a new social club for 16-25 year olds where they can meet, do activities and have fun. What did parents say about Unity? “Unity was the only Jewish thing in my child’s life outside of home and it helped her to feel more Jewish. This meant a lot to us. I still remember our delight when she joined in singing Passover songs that she had learnt at Unity. What you do is very important.” Joanna Young People’s Focus Group The Young People’s Focus Group (YPFG) allows young people with disabilities to tell us what they think about Norwood. We listen to what they say. Every year, the YPFG plan a Fun Day and a party where they choose what they want to do with their friends. What will the YPFG do next year? ■ They will decide what activities they want to do. ■ The group will plan another Fun Day. There will be a balloon magician, a tea-cup fairground ride, a bouncy castle, football and a visit from the firefighters. ■ The group will go on an outing to an adventure park. 9 Annual review 2007-2008 Families Children and Family Centres Norwood has 3 Children and Family Centres in Hendon, Hackney and Redbridge. What did we do last year at The Somers Centre in Hackney? ■ Our main supporter of Children is Cherie Blair, the wife of Tony Blair. He used to be the Prime Minister. She opened the new Wellbeing at Bearsted health centre for orthodox Jewish mothers and babies. ■ The summer scheme was very busy. 85 children went there every day. ■ We opened on Sundays to let the Step by Step charity run a group for children aged 3-13 with special needs. The children liked it. What will we do next year? ■ There will be a new after-school Stay and Play club for mothers and their children aged 0-8 years old.

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