The Index Newsletter Issue 30 E Online
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Issue 30 July 2019 The newsletter for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan What’s on? Page 3 NEW Navigate Service Page 4 & 5 Summer Fun Pages 6 - 12 School’s out for Summer Hello and welcome to the 30th edition Contact your local team if you have a story of The Index newsletter. We now have to share, or an event you would like us to a whopping 1388 families subscribed come along to! to The Index, so for many of you, this will be your first time reading The Index Cardiff Family Advice and Support newsletter. 03000 133 133 A warm welcome to all of our readers, new [email protected] and old. www.cardiff-fis.info After producing 15 newsletters, welcoming @CardiffFIS 1064 new families and spending three Vale Family Information Service and a half years as Regional Index Officer, I am sad to say that this will be my last 0800 587 10 14 newsletter! [email protected] I have loved working as Regional Index www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/fis Officer, and it has honestly been such a @ValeFIS pleasure to meet so many amazing families and professionals working to improve services and support for children with Local Updates additional needs, thank you! Cardiff Family Advice and Support brings I am very sad to be leaving, but also very together a range of new and existing excited to start my new role delivering and information, advice and assistance services developing play opportunities across the for children, young people and their families Vale (see page 9 for details of summer in Cardiff. The work of Cardiff Family provision). Information Service and The Index, now sit within the new service! This fun-filled summer edition has lots of information on what is happening over the The new telephone number for summer and beyond! The Index in Cardiff is 03000 133 133 Happy reading and thank you again for your Vale Family Information Service have support over the years! produced a programme of everything going on in the Vale and beyond for children, Julia Sky young people and families during the Regional Index Officer, summer holidays. You can view the Holiday (Cardiff and Vale) Activity Programme online www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/fis The Index in the Vale now has a NEW Freephone number Call 0800 587 10 14 to discuss support for your child’s needs The Index is funded by Welsh Government’s Families First Grant 2 the index / y mynegai - issue 30 What’s On: Mondays Vale Inclusive Cardiff Children’s Play Services Youth Provision Teenscheme (see page 11) Playschemes (see page 8) Every Thursday and Friday in August Monday – Friday Vale Youth Speak Up (see page 11) Early Years VI Group (see page 12) Every Thursday Monday 22 July & 5 August The Deaf Cool Club (see page 10) KeyCreate After School Club Every Thursday (term time) Mondays, 3.30pm – 5.30pm Trelai Inclusive Club (see page 10) Glyndwr Community Centre, Glyndwr Every Thursday (term time) Avenue, Penarth, CF64 3ND Fridays [email protected] Cardiff Children’s Play Services Tuesdays Playschemes (see page 8) Cardiff Children’s Play Services Monday – Friday Playschemes (see page 8) Vale Inclusive Youth Provision Monday – Friday Teenscheme (see page 11) LGBTQ Club (see page 10) Every Thursday and Friday in August Every Tuesday (term time) Young Care Leavers Club (see page 10) KeyCreate Stay and Play Group Every Friday (term time) Tuesdays, 10am – 12pm Saturdays Glyndwr Community Centre, Glyndwr NAS Coffee Mornings (see page 7) Avenue, Penarth, CF64 3ND Saturdays, 10.30am – 12.00pm [email protected] Cwtch Together (see page 12) Funshine Playscheme Saturdays, 10am – 4pm (see page 8) Tuesday – Thursday Oshi’s World – Let’s Play Sessions Vale Families First Holiday Club Saturdays, 10am – 1pm (see page 9) Tuesday - Thursday Byrd Crescent Community Centre, Penarth Wednesdays [email protected] Cardiff Children’s Play Services Young Care Leavers Club (see page 10) Playschemes (see page 8) Every Saturday (term time) Monday - Friday Sundays Funshine Playscheme Sunday Club (see page 10) (see page 8) Tuesday – Thursday Every Sunday (term time) Vale Families First Holiday Club Events (see page 9) Tuesday - Thursday Insport Series (see page 6) Bluebirds Ability Holiday Camp Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September, (see page 6) Wednesdays in August 10am – 4pm Thursdays The Autism Directory LIVE (see page 6) Cardiff Children’s Play Services Friday 27 September 2019, 10am – 4pm Noah’s Ark Family Fun Walk Playschemes (see page 8) (see page 6) Monday - Friday Sunday 15 September 2019 Funshine Playscheme (see page 8) Tuesday – Thursday Vale Families First Holiday Club (see page 9) Tuesday – Thursday the index / y mynegai - issue 30 3 NEW Navigate Service Launches Navigate provides a free six week “In February this year, I programme of online and telephone got an email from The support to parents in Wales and England Index which mentioned who have a child aged 0-18 being assessed Navigate, a 6 week for a potential diagnosis of disability or support programme for who has recently been diagnosed with a parents with a child on the disability (within 12 months). diagnostic pathway, or newly diagnosed. At this point, I had The aim is to provide parents of a child with a been accustomed to trying disability with emotional and practical support absolutely anything that came and help them navigate these early stages. It my way but I was thrilled to hear that there was also gives parents a chance to talk through an opportunity for parents in my exact situation things in a safe space. and felt hopeful. This free service includes: I immediately sent a request through and had • emotional and practical support over a six my first appointment 5 days later!! This felt like week period a Godsend. My advisor was Emma and we started by discussing different aspects of my • one-to-one sessions tailored to your life including: emotional wellbeing, looking after individual needs my child, managing practicalities, money, my • a bespoke structured programme to help child's education and being a family. I ranked meet any challenges ahead. each of these, regarding how I was coping with each area, from 1 to 5. This was a very helpful We were lucky enough to be invited along to tool in determining which areas were the most the launch event of the Navigate service in their important and selecting a couple to focus on for Cardiff offices, where we met the advisors and the 6 weeks. heard from Melanie, a parent who has used the programme. My focus was on my child's education, looking after my child and my emotional wellbeing. My “Hi, my name is Melanie and my 7 year old confidence and success regarding getting help daughter is currently on the Autism pathway for my child in school had the lowest score. with the Neurodevelopment Team in St David's. She was born 2 months early. Her differences Emma was so easy to talk to. Her eloquence started to become apparent when she was reassured me throughout the program. She 3 and built up through the years. By the time was gentle and knowledgeable while holding she was 5, she was presenting as a consistent me accountable for the agreed focus and action behaviour challenge. plan. There was always space for me to discuss absolutely anything that was on my mind, which She went through Foundation Phase in allowed us to quickly form a bond. school often being disciplined. She was also having sensory problems and problems with distraction, concentration, organisation, socialising, meltdowns and more. She has been in school and in the community with the same children for nearly 5 years and does not have a single friend. My daughter has been misunderstood most of her life. It has been a slow, confusing and emotional process to get her the help she needs and we are not there yet. Melanie and Emma at Navigate Launch 4 the index / y mynegai - issue 30 Navigate is very I am grateful true to its name: for the it pointed me in Navigate the right direction. programme It helped me and would get through recommend some of the it to anyone terminology and in the same steps towards my situation. goals, along with Thanks for emotional support everything!” throughout. For more After each call, information Emma sent an and to email summarising join this Melanie Being Totally Awesome the conversation service call and the agreed actions. We both had us on the homework which led to building my confidence free phone and keeping me involved. Because my goals number or were broken down into small steps, and I knew complete Melanie and Daughter Morgan my time with Navigate was limited, I found them the online much easier to achieve. application form. A member of the team will be in touch within two working days. Just knowing I would have someone to speak to once a week took a lot of pressure off and 0808 801 0510 kept me focused. www.scope.org.uk/navigate Inspired Learners Open Day Inspired Learners opened its doors to Attachment in order to professionals and parents on Thursday 16 strengthen our offering May 2019 to showcase the upgraded and and provide the right expanded Centre on Holton Road, Barry. kind of well-being support. The Open Day marked a celebration of two years of success and hard work. The Centre The Open Day also gave us the opportunity originally opened its doors in March 2017 with to be proudly presented with a Working an enthusiasm and motivation to support ALN Partnership Certificate from the Family and as a result, we now cover the Vale, Cardiff Information Service for and Rhondda Cynon Taff.