Issue 84 December 2014/January 2015 Welcome to the December/January issue of Surrey News • Indoor Climbing in Walton - page 3 If you are about to embark on doing some (or even all) of your • Dads’ group (after) Christmas shopping online, please consider joining Christmas get- easyfundraising.org and raising money for the Branch – together – page 3 without it costing you a penny! Just sign up at the web site, • A round-up of relaxed http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/nassurrey, then, panto performances – whenever you buy anything online such as Christmas presents, groceries, clothes, books, train tickets, hotel rooms, page 3 etc from companies like Amazon, John Lewis, eBay – and • Meeting Report – thousands more – you will raise a free donation for NAS Michael Barton “And Surrey Branch. Just remember to go to easyfundraising.org now for something first every time before you start your shopping. completely different..” - page 5 If real shopping is more your thing, please can you spare an hour or two to help at our collections at Squires Garden NAS Surrey Branch talks Centre in Cobham, every weekend between now and – page 4 Christmas. We still need extra volunteers in addition to the • Guildford Thurs 22nd kind folk who have already offered to help. January – Surrey Parent Partnership Don’t forget there is a guide to a stress-free Christmas on the NAS web site http://bit.ly/120dIsi . If you have some tips that (NB NEW VENUE) you have found have made Christmas better for anyone on th the spectrum in your family, please do share them on our • Redhill 12 February online forum. – Mark Brown on supporting teens with Wishing you a Happy Christmas and peaceful New Year. ASDs and teenage siblings Emma Emma Whitfield • News and information Branch Officer (volunteer) for adults with ASDs – NAS Surrey Branch pages 6 & 7 Tel: 07423 435 413 Email: [email protected] Web site:www.mugsy.org Twitter: @NASSurreyBranch Donations: www.justgiving.com/nassurreybranch 1 NAS Surrey Branch Contacts Other Useful Contacts Unless stated, organisations not endorsed by the Branch officer: NAS Surrey Branch or the NAS Emma Whitfield 07423 435413 NAS web site: www.autism.org.uk. For [email protected] personalised information go to www.autism.org.uk/signpost.aspx Treasurer: NAS Helpline: Tel: 0808 800 4104 (10am – Haywood Drake 01483 457646 4pm), or email [email protected] [email protected] (replies within14 working days) NAS national membership: 020 7903 3563. Information officer/web site: Email [email protected] John Muggleton 01483 872683 [email protected] Education Support NAS Education Rights: 0808 800 4102 Branch Membership: Surrey Parent Partnership: 01737 737300 Nancy Rowell 01252 514708 http://www.surreyparentpartnership.org.uk/ [email protected] SOS!SEN charity to support statementing, tel: 020 8538 3731, Web: www.sossen.org.uk Events: Sarah Mead 01483 454245 Family Support & Representation NAS Family Support worker - for families [email protected] with at least one child in mainstream education Emma Searle 07816 127630. [email protected], tel: 07436 261163. [email protected] NAS Parent-to-Parent line 0808 800 4106 Portage – support for children with additional Deputy Branch Officer / Adults: needs under 3.5 years 0300 200 1004 Sara Truman 01483 822630 Family Voice Surrey [email protected] www.familyvoicesurrey.org Branch libraries: Activities for children and young people West: Haywood Drake 01483 457646 NAS Resource Centre, Godalming Tel: [email protected] 01483 521743 East: Jenny Lawson 01342 314801 [email protected] [email protected] interAKtive, Epsom-based charity for children with ASDs and other communication difficulties North Surrey 07876 762178, www.interaktive.org.uk Eileen Bruce 01932 225379 SID (Social Information on Disability) [email protected] useful information site www.asksid.org.uk/fab Local parent support / classes South East Surrey: Redhill CAMHS group for parents of children Helen Trenaman 01737 360069 with ASDs, tel: 01737-287002 [email protected] Early Bird (under 5) / Early Bird plus (5- 8yrs) developed by NAS, delivered by trained Parents of Girls' Group staff from Surrey CC. Tel: 0300 200 1004 Rachel Pearson 01483 727378 [email protected] Adult Services Surrey Adult social svcs: 0300 200 1005 Fathers' Group: NAS Surrey Service Tel: 01483 861600, Martin Trenaman 01737 360069 email: [email protected] [email protected] Employment Support Employability for people with learning Parents of Adults’ Group disabilities/ASDs tel: 01483-519690, email: Hilary Dyce 01276 66032 [email protected] [email protected] Benefits advice Fundraising Carers Support http://www.carers.org/carers- Sarah Mason 07973 379131 services/find-your-local-service [email protected] NAS Tips page – via autism.org.uk Cerebra DLA guide: 0800 328 1159 2 About the NAS Surrey Branch Indoor rock climbing The Surrey Branch of the NAS is a We are once again running two indoor volunteer-run parent-to-parent support group climbing sessions for children and young for families in Surrey affected by Autism people with ASDs and their siblings aged 6 Spectrum Disorders. It’s FREE to join - 16 at High Sports climbing, Xcel (although a small donation is appreciated) Leisure Centre in Walton-on- and we have around 1,400 members. Thames. The one-hour sessions are at The branch holds regular meetings to which 2pm and 3pm on Sunday 22nd February. non-members are also welcome. It also Each session caters for up to 10 organises social events, local coffee youngsters, who will learn how to put on a mornings and special interest groups, and climbing harness safely and be introduced represents parents in meetings with health, to the basics of rock-climbing. Siblings are education and social services. We host an also very welcome. active Yahoo! online forum, and produce this newsletter every two months. Places are available for a suggested To join, email [email protected] for a donation of £7.50 per child (subsidized membership form or go to rate). BOOKING ESSSENTIAL - please www.mugsy.org/membership. complete the enclosed application form. For more details contact Emma Whitfield. If you are a member of the NAS at national [email protected] tel: 07423 435 413. level, you can nominate us as your branch by emailing [email protected], which Dads’ Group means we receive a percentage of your The NAS Surrey Branch Dads’ Group annual subscription. “Christmas meal” will be taking place on Friday 16 January 2016. The group We’re part of The National Autistic provides an opportunity for fathers of Society, a national charity founded by children and adults with ASDs to get parents in 1962 which runs a wide range of together socially a few times a year, usually services such as schools, clubs and adult in each other’s homes on a Friday evening. centres. It has over 20,000 members, 100 It is a chance to find out from each other branches and works in partnership with more what works and what doesn’t, to share than 50 local autism societies. The NAS contacts, and to support one another. It is exists to champion the rights and interests of also an enjoyable evening out with good food, and the odd drink with others in a all people with autistic spectrum disorders similar situation. To join the group, contact and to ensure that they and their families Martin Trenaman on 01737 360069 or receive quality services appropriate to their email [email protected] needs. Relaxed Pantos National Autistic Society, There is a good choice of autism-friendly 393 City Rd, London EC1V 1NG ‘relaxed’ plays in Surrey this Christmas: www.autism.org.uk. The National 12th Dec - Snow White and the Autistic Society is a registered Seven Dwarfs at Yvonne Arnaud, charity, number 269425. Company Guildford. Tel: 01483 44 00 00 limited by guarantee number http://www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/ 1205298. th 13 Dec – Peter Pan at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. The views expressed in Surrey News are not http://www.polkatheatre.com. necessarily those of the National Autistic 18th Dec – Aladdin at the Secombe Society, and reference to specific services or Theatre in Sutton. Tel: 20 8770 6990 approaches to autism does not imply www.suttontheatres.co.uk endorsement. All material is copyright 3 rd January 2015 Snow White and Surrey NAS and cannot be reproduced the Seven Dwarfs in Old Woking. Tel: without permission. 07711 322 512 http://www.pepperjellyproductions.co.uk/ 3 Forthcoming Talks & meetings Our meetings start with coffee at siblings who are having to contend with 7.45pm and the talks begin at their own issues of fitting in whilst 8.00pm, lasting around one and ‘coping’ with the extra struggle of a a half hours including Q&As. sibling with autism. As such, there is a There is no charge to attend, but need for both sets of teenagers to have we welcome a small donation - their own individual support in looking meetings are open to non- at this situation. Mark Brown will use members. Please contact Emma his extensive experience of working Whitfield if you are planning to with families that include a teen on the come along to give us an idea of spectrum to help start that journey for numbers [email protected]. the teenagers and their families Thurs 22nd January GUILDFORD ******************* **NB CHANGE OF VENUE** Thank Yous The Guildford Institute , Ward Street, We have once again been lucky Guildford GU1 4LH enough to receive some very kind http://tinyurl.com/ln55yvg donations recently. Our thanks go to: Trish Francis and Helen Fox from Mr & Mrs Eldridge for a donation of Surrey Parent Partnership will explain £499.91 raised from a family birthday.