Issue 29 March 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 Parents Poem page 5 Easter Holiday Provision page 8 & 9 Spring fun has began Welcome back readers to our 29th of The Index about her little boy when they edition of The Index newsletter. were going through diagnosis. The clocks have Happy Reading! sprung forward, the evenings are Julia Sky getting lighter and Regional Index Officer, the flowers are in (Cardiff and Vale) bloom! So, what’s been happening since the last edition? As always, we would love to hear from We continue to run our Information you if you are a family or professionals with Sessions in Children’s Centre’s across a story to share with us, or an event you Cardiff and the Vale each month. We have would like us to come along to! All you been involved in the promotion of the need to do is contact your local Family Childcare Offer for Wales which is now Information Service. live for eligible 3 and 4 year olds across all areas of Cardiff and the Vale (see page 4 Your Local Family for details). We visited Buds and Blooms, Information Service the lovely intergenerational playgroup held is a one-stop shop in residential homes in Penarth (see page for families who 6). We’ve met with colleagues in Cardiff need information on childcare, activities to discuss Inclusive Youth Provision and for children and young people and family been along to the ALN Consultation in the support services. You can contact us Western Vale. We’ve celebrated World directly, visit our website where you can Autism Awareness Day (2 April) at Cardiff search our online directory, or visit our University, and attended Transition Event’s social media pages: held by Ysgol Y Deri and Beechwood College. Vale Family Information Service We are looking forward to attending some of 01446 704704 the eggcellent events running across Easter [email protected] and beyond (see page 3). www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/fis We hope that the sessions and training @ValeFIS that we continue to attend help us to better Cardiff Family Information Service inform families about the services and support available. 029 2035 1700 [email protected] As always, this newsletter is packed full of information on services, support and events! www.cardiff-fis.info @CardiffFIS Also, don’t miss the beautiful poem on page 5, written by one of our very one readers The Index is funded by Welsh Government’s Families First Grant 2 the index / y mynegai - issue 29 What’s On: Mondays Fridays Cardiff Early Years Inclusion, Cardiff Early Come and Play Session (see page 6) Years Inclusion, Come and Play Session Mondays, 1.15pm – 2.30pm (see page 6) Fridays, 9.30am – 11am KeyCreate Inclusive After School Club Rainbow Stars Trampolining (see page 10) (see page 7) Mondays, 3.30pm – 5.30pm Fridays, 9.15am – 10.15am Yoga for Kids (see page 11) New Valeways Walk (see page 10) Mondays, 5.00pm – 6.00pm Friday 5 April, 3 May, 7 June, 5 July at 10am Tuesdays Cardiff Inclusive Youth Provision (see page 9) Cardiff Early Years Inclusion, Every Friday in term time, 6.30pm – 8.30pm Come and Play Session (see page 6) Tuesdays, 9.30am – 10.30am Saturdays KeyCreate Inclusive Stay and Play Group Oshi's World - Let's Play Sessions (see page 7) Tuesdays, 10am - 12pm Saturdays, 10am - 1pm Byrd Crescent Community Centre, Penarth Wednesdays [email protected] KeyCreate Inclusive Stay and Play Group Holiday Schemes: (see page 7) Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm Vale Families First Buds and Blooms Intergenerational Holiday Club Playgroup (see page 6) (see page 8) Wednesdays, 10.15am – 11.15am Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17 Cardiff Early Years Inclusion, Come and & Thursday 18, Tuesday 23, Play Session (see page 6) Wednesday 24 & Thursday Wednesdays, 1.15pm – 2.30pm 25 April 2019, 10am – 3pm Vale Inclusive Youth Thursdays Provision – Teenscheme (see page 8) Cardiff Early Years Inclusion, Come and Thursday 18, Thursday 25 & Friday 26 April Play Session (see page 6) 2019 Thursdays, 1.20pm – 2.30pm Creative Choices School Holiday Project Buds and Blooms Intergenerational (see page 9) Monday 15 – Thursday 18 & Playgroup (see page 6) Tuesday 23 – Friday 26 April, 9.30am – 3pm Thursdays, 1.45pm – 2.45pm Cardiff Inclusive Youth Provision - Rubicon Dance at Ty Gwyn (see page 11) Teenscheme (see page 9) Monday 15 - Thursdays, 10.00am – 11.00am Thursday 18 & Tuesday 23 - Friday 26 April Local Motion Dance (see page 11) Events Thursdays, 4.15pm – 6.30pm Little Meerkat’s Big Panic (see page 14) Junior Para Cycling (see page 10) Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 April Thursdays, 4.30pm – 5.30pm Dal Dy Dir Open Day (see page 16) Vale Youth Speak Up (see page 8) Thursday 18 April, 10.00am – 4.00pm Thursdays, 5.30pm – 7.30pm Flyerz Hockey (see page 10) Thursdays, 5.00pm – 6.00pm the index / y mynegai - issue 29 3 The Childcare Offer for Wales is now live in all areas of Cardiff and the Vale! The Childcare Offer for Wales provides will make sure that 30 hours a week of government-funded an assessment can early education and childcare for eligible be carried out, and, working parents of 3 to 4 year olds, for up if required, additional to 48 weeks of the year. support, specialised The additional funding made available to equipment or training support children with additional needs to for childcare staff can be access the Childcare Offer is making a real provided, allowing the difference for families. In Cardiff the first child family to access their to be supported had previously received Childcare Offer place. additional staffing support through Flying Start. For childcare not When she moved on to attend wrap-around provided through the childcare, funded through the Childcare Offer, Offer, additional support the funding was available to provide on-going may also be accessed staffing support. This essential provision has through Cardiff’s First allowed her to access the childcare, and has Opportunities or the been invaluable for her Mum to be able to Assisted Places scheme keep working. The fact that her Mum actually in Cardiff and the Vale. works in the childcare setting that her daughter For more information please contact your attends was an even bigger bonus! local Family Information Service: It’s very important for parents to highlight in Cardiff 029 2035 1700 their Childcare Offer application if they think that their child has additional support needs. This Vale of Glamorgan 01446 704704 The Index After School Session in the Vale We ran a survey amongst families on The The Pedal Index in the Vale to find out when would be Emporium, Vale the best time to run an after school session Youth Speak for families to find out about services and Up, Inspired support whilst their child/ren can engage in Learners, Well-being activities. South Wales, KeyCreate, Vale Parenting Service, Our Our free after school session took place in Carers Support Officer, Barry on 20 PaCE, Communities for March. Look Work and all of the families out for our who attended. Index eNews with lots of ideas and suggestions Do you live in Cardiff? from families! We will be sending out a survey soon to mirror A HUGE this session in Cardiff! thank you to Vale Play Please send any Development suggestions to Team, [email protected] 4 the index / y mynegai - issue 29 Charlie On a cold Tuesday morning Your laugh is infectious We finally met, And your cwtches are the best, One look at you To have you in our lives And my heart was set We really are blessed Absolutely perfect In your own little world From your head to your toes, What I would give to join you, Your big chubby cheeks To see things through your eyes And cute button nose Just to give me a clue The following months Your unique ways Went by in a daze, Bring us so much joy, The best advice I was given We will face this journey together “It’s only a phase” Our gorgeous little boy At 15 months Love Mam x Still no words, No waving goodbye Or pointing at the birds Autism they think Or a speech and language disorder, I haven’t the strength to tell them yet How you like things in order The future is suddenly All up in the air, The thought of you struggling Makes my heart almost tear Whatever they decide About the way that you are, You will always be our little star Charlie with his mum, Sarah who wrote this poem whilst Charlie was going through diagnosis The Carer’s Project Breathe is offering several therapies and If you need someone to care for your loved one, treatments to support carers. we can also supply respite care by a member of the Gofal team - whilst you are taking part in Breathe is a counselling and wellbeing space The Carer’s Project. in Cardiff set up by Gofal, the charity thinking differently about mental health. 029 2044 0191 We have received a grant from the Welsh [email protected] Assembly to offer therapies free to adults who www.breathespaces.com have caring responsibilities. 1 Pen y Lan Road, Roath, Our therapies include counselling, group Cardiff, CF24 3PG support, mindfulness, reflexology and shiatsu. the index / y mynegai - issue 29 5 Buds and Blooms Buds and Blooms are Every Thursday, 1.45 pm – structured intergenerational 2.45 pm groups for pre-school Morel Court Care home, children to attend with their Raisdale Road, Penarth parents/carers in local care Sessions cost £3.50 and must homes.