Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 3rd May 2024

Parents and carers of children with SEND

Join us on Wednesday 8 May for our FREE webinar, ‘The SEND journey and your rights as a parent/carer’. We’ll be explaining what support children and young people with SEND are legally entitled to, what you can do if the law is not followed, and where to find further help and guidance.

If you can’t attend on the day, you can also request a copy of the webinar recording via the link above.

Our next free webinar for parents and carers is all about Autism and Transitions in Education settings and will be taking place via Zoom on Friday 12th May at 12.30pm-2pm.

Your child might be preparing to move class, school or they might be transitioning to College or University which might be a massive change for you all. We want to help make this change as smooth as possible for you and your child so we’ll be sharing tips and resources that might help with starting this new chapter.

REE mini train rides at Exhibition Park Newcastle (just turn up)

2024 dates:

Sun 19 May

Sun 2 June

Sun 7 July

Sun 4 Aug

Sun 1 Sept

Sun 6 Oct

Sun 3 Nov

Sun 1 Dec

Donations welcome. Check their website (linked in blog below) before heading out.

Drop in between 11am-3pm. No need to book. Find them next to Wylam Brewery.

Find out more and read our guide to visiting here: https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/…/a-family-day-out…

Other things to do in the area:

*Visit the playgrounds, sports courts and skate park

*Walk around the boating lake

*Book Sunday Lunch at Wylam Brewery

*Pop into Urban Green Cafe for a drink or bite to eat

*Cross over the road and visit Great North Museum

East to access by public transport (a 10–15-minute easy walk from Haymarket) and parking nearby (Claremont Road NE2 4AN)

Swim North East

Our 1-1 sessions are filling fast, but we do still have a handful of – rare – spaces available at PaddlePod (Killingworth) and Sport Central (Newcastle)

Interested in joining us? Contact hello@swimne.co.uk or call 0191 281 7678 (option 1) for latest availability and to book.

Membership, at £20 per family is required to access the centre.

See what I’ve seen in the following sections below:

“We have a very unique opportunity for our over 18 members.

Working alongside Miller and Carter, we have a brand-new enterprise.

-Our young adults will gain level 1 food and hygiene certificate with the opportunity of increasing that to a level 2 during the next 12 months.

-learning new skills

-They will be creating grazing boxes and afternoon tea to sell in the centre.

-Experience in the kitchen and serving customers.

-Guidance from Experienced Miller and Carter staff.

This is free of charge, our pilot 6-week term starts Wednesday 5th June 11-2pm

For more information, please email Joanna@pathways4all.co.uk”

Now that the weather is warmer and nights lighter, our shout out and sibling groups had lots of fun playing games in the garden this evening!

Spaces available in some of our youth groups.

contact danielle@pathways4all.co.uk for more information.

This summers themed activities will be Travel with Tim Lamb.

To kick off our summer we are having an Ibiza style foam party.

Here are a few pages I see suggestions for days out. As the summer approaches (we hope) getting out and about is great. These links are not disability/different ability groups, but if you visit websites of those which interest you, you will find a link to accessibility. It is fantastic to see new “changing place” locations popping up. Here’s a link to the Changing Places UK app to find the nearest one. The most recent one locally I heard of is in Whitley Bay!

There’s still spaces available to run for #TeamPercyHedley at this year’s Mini and Junior GNR, find out how to get a space below.

Get ready to experience the ultimate thrill at this year’s Color Obstacle Rush in Newcastle on Saturday 8th June 2024 in aid of the Percy Hedley Foundation! Dive into excitement with the obstacle lineup featuring a whopping 30 of the latest inflatable creations designed for sliding, bouncing, tumbling, and delightful tangles. Immerse yourself in foam galore and uncover brand-new surprises that await at every turn!

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event – sign up now for just £20 to run for The Percy Hedley Foundation and join the fun! With a minimum fundraising target of only £120, you will recieve a Color Obstacle Rush T-Shirt, Powder Paint pack on the day and your very own Percy Hedley Sunglasses!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday 11th July 2024
• Location: Durham Airfield
• Fundraising Target: £395
• Sign-Up Fee: £70
• Maximum Weight: 14st for females, 15st7 for males

What to Expect: Experience the thrill of a lifetime as you freefall from either 10,000 or 15,000 feet above the ground, all while knowing that your bravery is directly contributing to the support of Percy Hedley’s vital initiatives.

Fundraising Target: Participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £395 to support Percy Hedley’s mission of empowering individuals with disabilities to live life to the fullest. Don’t worry – our team will be there every step of the way to support you in reaching your fundraising goal. The minimum fundraising target must be met in order for your challenge to go ahead.

Our inaugural event will take place on Thursday 16th May, from 9:00 – 11:00, at the picturesque Choaphraya in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Against the backdrop of the city’s stunning views, you’ll have the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, entrepreneurs, and advocates while delving into insightful discussions on disability and neurodiversity.

We believe in the power of collaboration and learning. Our first event will feature an insight into what offer at the Percy Hedley Foundation – delivered by some of our amazing staff and students – shedding light on the importance of inclusivity in business and society. We will also be welcoming PHF Northern Counties School Signing Choir at the event to showcase their BSL talents and also teach some basic BSL to our attendees too!

Discover new perspectives, exchange ideas, and forge valuable connections that transcend boundaries. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, a budding entrepreneur, or simply passionate about making a difference, we welcome you to be part of our vibrant community. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and grow with us.

Mark your calendars for Thursday 16th May and join us at Choaphraya in Newcastle for a morning of inspiration, networking, and empowerment. Together, let’s build a future where every connection counts and every individual thrives. See you there!

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 16^th May 9.30-11.00. This can be hybrid if people wish to join online. I will send a link next week.

We had some corporate volunteers in this week and, using the woodchip and rubber matting purchased by FoPHS parts of the pathway are more accessible. It is looking better already.

This has been shared on the foundation’s social media, so if you have friends, family or anyone who would like to enter, please share with them. If you are on social media, please share; everything raised will support the development of the Outdoor Learning Area.

There are still plenty of numbers left for the number generator raffle for a short stay at Cresswell Towers Caravan Park. This is open to anyone. It is a 3 bed 9 1 double, 2 twin room) respite caravan which has level access via decking. Please see the poster below. Each number costs £3; you can pay by cash, cheque (payable to Percy Hedley Foundation) or QR code. If you use the latter which is easy, remember to reset the “tip” to zero at the checkout. If you already have a justgiving account (either because you’ve donated before or done a fundraiser using this platform), your details will have been saved which makes it even easier. We hope to draw this on either 16^th May or 20^th June at a FoPHS meeting. This will depend on numbers being sold but will be drawn by 20^th June. You will be able to book dates within school holidays. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take your 4-legged friends with you. You will find more photos on the link below, scroll to the end.

Entertainment passes can be purchased separately, and no deposit will be required to book your stay at the caravan. All you will need to take with you is towels as the beds are made up.

This is a closed group for family and friends of Percy Hedley School, where you can share news and updates about school life. It is not for external professionals who may be working with families. To join, you need to answer the question stating your link with school.

Please note: this group is for sharing news and updates about school life and is not intended to discuss any issues around individual students, and as such all comments are moderated. If you have a particular issue or concern, please contact school directly on 0191 216 1811.