Family Information and FOPHS News Friday 6th December 2024

Toby Henderson Trust

Here is a selection of interesting information from the Toby Henderson Trust. There is much more. You can also ask to join their mailing list.  Please visit their website to find out what is on offer:

 https://www.ttht.co.uk/

How to make your Christmas Autism Friendly – The Team at the Toby Henderson Trust have both lived experience of raising autistic children and some of us are autistic ourselves. We have put together a guide full of advice and tips on how you can create an autism-friendly Christmas.  To read our Xmas autism friendly guide please click the following:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF0UyOyBD8/ZETVIbSjINeG_ORhnXNGKw/view?utm_content=DAF0UyOyBD8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor

Northumberland PDS Time to Talk – TIME TO TALK is our face-to-face monthly post diagnostic support group at The Toby Henderson Trust in Bedlington.  This group is for Northumberland parents/carers only of children and young people of ALL ages.  The group is free to attend and is for parents & carers who live in Northumberland and their child has a diagnosis of Autism. It is a chance to come along and meet and chat with other families as well as our experienced family support team.  For more info click – Northumberland PDS Time to Talk – The Toby Henderson Trust (ttht.co.uk)

Webinars – We have recently added some new webinar dates to our FREE webinars available to book covering a wide range of topics – Toileting, Food, Managing Meltdowns, Social Stories, Autism and Mental Health, Siblings etc.  Check out our Webinar page Webinars – The Toby Henderson Trust (ttht.co.uk).

Support Groups – We hold regular support groups for grandparents and families of girls with autism Support Groups – The Toby Henderson Trust (ttht.co.uk). These events are free and available to all families.

Borrow Bags and Boxes  –  Our Borrow Bags and Boxes Scheme is proving popular with families.  You can borrow sensory toys and equipment from us for your family, a sort of try before you buy!  Check out our website link for further details –  Borrow Bags & Boxes – The Toby Henderson Trust (ttht.co.uk).

 Santa:

I had this passed on by a parent, thanks Nicola. It is a delightful u-tube video from the North Pole which may add to the enjoyment of the festive period for those interested in Santa’s workshop, elves etc. Here is the link
Bing Videos

 Centre for Life:

Life Centre in a partnership with Newcastle LA will be delivering an inclusive and supportive ice-skating session on Life’s Ice Rink for families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who are living in Newcastle and go to school in Newcastle.

Please see the link below for booking form and more details.

https://forms.office.com/e/Yyas1Zp72Z

Please pass it on to those who might be interested in attending this activity. Please note there is limited number of tickets(100) – they are on the first come first served based.

Here is a link to other events at Centre for Life over the festive period. Many are special ticketed ones, which will incur additional charges. If your young person likes the Centre for Life, consider an annual membership which is a good saving. Members get discounts on some ticketed events, in the café etc.

https://www.life.org.uk/visit/membership/#pricing

Free carer tickets are available too on production of evidence of disability. Here is the information you need:

If you’re a visitor with a disability and you need a carer, you can bring them free of charge when you buy a ticket. Please select a free carer ticket when pre-booking online and bring relevant proof to show our reception team on arrival. Examples of proof could be any of the following:

• A Gateway Card, Max Card, Yellow Card, Access card, Hynt Card or the CEA Card.
• A Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance award letter.
• Personal Independence Payment letter.
• A letter from GP or consultant confirming the need for a carer, personal assistant or essential companion.
• War Disablement Pension or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
• Blue Badge or a photocopy or scan of your Blue Badge.
• Disabled person’s bus pass.

Woodhorn Museum 

Woodhorn, QE Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF

Festive Tales is your chance to meet Father Christmas and tell him what you would like for Christmas this year.

Festive Tales 2024 starts on Saturday 30th November and runs every weekend through December up to Christmas Eve, before Father Christmas has to leave Woodhorn to deliver presents around the world.

Festive Tales is a 30-minute group experience.

Come and enjoy a festive storytime session before having your photograph taken with Father Christmas himself and receive a lovely gift.

You can also have a go at the drop-in, family friendly festive art activities in the Cage Shop.

The ticket price is £9.50 per child.

There is no charge for adults, but all adults must have a valid Annual Pass to attend the event at Woodhorn Museum. You can buy this in advance online or on the gate (but make sure you arrive with plenty of time to do this on the day).

Find out more on this link:

https://museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/whats-on/festive-tales/

Festive Tales Relaxed sessions are smaller group sizes and a more informal and quieter environment for families who would benefit from a more relaxed experience. These sessions are available to book on this link https://museumsnorthumberland.org.uk/…/festive-tales…/

Alan Shearer Centre

Some of the events at the activity centre.

Visit their website for more information and the free registration form for membership.

https://alanshearercentre.org.uk/activity-centre/

https://alanshearercentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/membershipApplicationForm.pdf

We had our meeting yesterday. We discussed our achievements over the last year. We are especially proud of the support we have provided for outdoor learning, funding the electric work on the Outdoor learning Pod.

(Strachan’s Den), the music wall, rubber matting and woodchip to make it accessible to all and in the past, we funded the mud kitchen and benches. There are still some drainage issues, but it was agreed that this work is beyond the remit of FoPHS. We have also committed in the region of £1000 for Christmas related expenditure, gifts, Christmas parties and adding resources for the MOVEing in a winter wonderland.

This is all possible due to the support we get from families. This year my husband and daughter did the GNR for FoPHS and we have been offered a donation of £200 to support the Christmas parties. I want to thank especially Christine Fewster, parent of two of our students for that donation and for everything she does to support FoPHS. She truly is the gift that keeps giving.

AGM: The FoPHS AGM will take place on Tuesday 21^st January from 9.30-11.00. Further details will be shared by letter from Ollie Teasdale, our Chair. You can find information on the school website here:

https://www.percyhedley.org.uk/percy-hedley-school/parent-and-carers/pta/

The final count for the Asda cashpot for schools was £400.79p. As members of Parentkind I have to say that this opportunity alone exceeds what we pay them. A great result and I will keep a close eye on their communications for other fund-raising ideas.