Record News

Children and Young People in Tameside

Proud To Be Different

January 2007 - Issue 16 - Next Issue: April

Download a Copy of Issue 16  968.23 KB

Inside This Newsletter

• Can Find It Update
• Can Find It - Explained
• The benefits and uses of Can Find It
• Tameside updates
• RADAR (access to work), Give Me 5 Campaign, Every Disabled Child Matters.
• Websites
• Parenting Classes (a parents feedback), Sleep survey, Sport for disabled children.
• Caring Roles
• OKE Newsletter

Some of the information contained in this newsletter is third party information. T he views and suggestions in this newsletter are those of individual contributors and not necessarily supported by the publishers of this newsletter therefore we cannot accept responsibility for products and services advertised within it and it is up to the individual to use their own judgement.

If you have any comments, queries or responses to this Newsletter please complete the slip and send to :

Jubilee Garden Disabled Children's Centre, Gardenfold Way, Droylsden M43 7XU
or ring Averil on: 0161 371 2060

Feedback Can Find It

Hello again,

Hope you all enjoyed the Christmas holidays and survived without too much stress.

I must first apologise for the delay in sending out the newsletters and for the people who have recently signed up to Can Find It for the delay in contacting them, I will be in touch over the next few days. I have had problems with my pc connection, sorry.

Future issues of the newsletter will be on Tameside's Website and I have wrote information about Can Find It and why I feel it is important for Children/young people with additional needs and/or disabilities to be on it. For the people who read the newsletter on a regular basis, I apologise for repeating any information you will have read before.

I have now finished the new A5 Support pack (many thanks again to the Carers Centre for all the A5 Ringbinders that they gave me) and I will be calling at people's homes over the next few months to deliver it. (Unfortunately it won't fit through the letterbox)

I have also updated the "Information Passport" so it is smaller and I will include a copy in the pack for you.

If you need any further information or advice please do not hesitate to contact me at Jubilee, Averil

What Do You Do With Your Newsletter When You've Finished With It?

Please don't bin it, it's a useful tool in the campaign to increase awareness of services in Tameside, take it to your Doctor's surgery, local dentist, hospital waiting room or even your hairdressers and leave it for others to read. Thanks, Averil

Can Find It - Explained

Can Find It is an Information Database that families with children and young people with additional needs and/or disabilities can join to receive FREE information. The families fill out an Application Form and a Services Form and receive the following in return:

The Information Passport

Details from the Application Form are transferred to the Information Passport and 3 copies are given to the family. (more copies can be requested at any time)

Useful For:

• Sharing information with other people involved in the care of the child, ie GP's, Consultants, Nurses, Teachers/SEN's, Home Help, can be shared at reviews and meetings.
• Saves having to repeat information over and over again
• Saves having to hunt round for important information like Hospital Numbers, NHS No., transport, telephone number, named people etc... Some Parents keep this in their purse so that they always have the names and tel no's. handy.

Support Pack

A5 file with over 100 pages containing information about all services in Tameside, their contact details and addresses as well as useful website address and charity organisations throughout the uk.

Its Mine Book

A book for Parents and children to fill in which tells others all about the child, their likes/dislikes, their routines, their family, their friends etc.

It enables people who are caring for that child to know important information.

There are 2 versions : non medical and medical (contains additional space to list a child's medication, fit procedure, tube feeding routines etc)

TYT Card

An interactive cd rom for older children,

Newsletter - 3 monthly

Keeping parents and children up to date on things in Tameside and nationally.

Leisure Booklet

Details leisure opportunities, telephone addresses and access details, saves having to search for the information.

16+ Info Pack

Given to school leavers to enable them to make choices and know where to get help specific to their needs.

Named Person For Advice

Many families do not have a social worker or other person who they can turn to for advice and information named person can signpost them where to go for help.

What Else Is "Can Find It" Used For?

The information gathered from all the families will be collected together and put into reports to show how many children/young people in Tameside have additional needs/disabilities and what services they need to access both now and in the future.

Currently information is gathered from various sources and is very basic information ie…. " Approx % of children in Tameside have additional needs or a disability". If all the children and young people were on Can Find It then imagine how much more Useful, up-to-date information would be available. Providers would be able to plan their services to meet the needs of the children better - they would know how many children had learning disabilities or physical disabilities, Autism or ADHD, epilepsy or other medical needs. They would know which schools will need SEN support or how many physio's are needed or speech therapists, how many houses will need adaptations, etc.

With many changes happening in Tameside over the next few years it is important that families sign up to the Can Find It service. The more children we have on the Database, the more accurate the reports will be and the more likely that services will meet the needs of the children/young people. For an Application Pack or more information please contact me at Jubilee Gardens - 0161 371 2060

Jubilee Gardens - Inclusion Forest

There is a new display at Jubilee Gardens focussing attention on "Inclusion".

To be fully inclusive, services need to do more than just allow children with additional needs/disabilities to participate in the same activities as children without additional needs/disabilities.

The idea is to get Families, Professionals, Workers and all Service Providers in Tameside to sign up to Inclusion, the purpose of the Display is:

• To raise awareness of what Inclusion means to our children and the services they access
• To look at where services are working towards inclusion and work together to help them become fully inclusive.

The Display is a forest with very few leaves on it at the moment and we are asking the people of Tameside and the workers in Tameside to fill out a leaf with any comment they have about services that are / are not fully inclusive.

• Green leaves are for people who will promise to make sure that the service they provide or the area they work in is fully inclusive and that they will work to resolve any issues.
• Red leaves are for comments about what is not working or failing to be fully inclusive.
• Gold leaves are for services that ARE fully inclusive and are doing a good job - Red leaves will become gold leaves when they achieve full inclusion.

Please call into Jubilee gardens and put a leaf in our forest... Help it to grow and be healthy, to achieve it's full potential and make a positive contribution to Tameside

Tameside 2007 Onwards

There are many new initiatives coming to Tameside over the next few years and some will affect children/young people with additional needs/disabilities. With this in mind I have been asked to provide statistical information about children/young people in Tameside and their needs now and in the future.

Unfortunately it will only be a snapshot due to only 161 families signing up to Can Find It.

If more families signed up to the CFI Database we would be able to show which services are needed now and in the future, so please help by telling other parents about Can Find It.

Here are some key documents which can be found on the internet or viewed at Jubilee Gardens :

www.tameside.gov.uk/cypp/documents.htm

• Tameside's Children and Young People's Plan 2006-07
• Project Plan for Integrating Services for Children and Young People 2005 - 2008
• SureStart Tameside Strategic Plan
• Summary of the Tameside Children and Young
• People Plan

www.tameside.gov.uk/bsf/index.htm

• Building Schools for the Future in Tameside

www.tameside.gov.uk/cypp/jasper.htm

• Information Sharing and Assessment
• Project (JASPER)

www.tameside-strategic-partnership.org.uk/documents/redu_strategy.pdf

Tameside's Children's Rights

If you think a child or young person you work with or look after could benefit from an advocate please contact Tameside Children's Rights Service on 0161 331 9381.

They also have a number of books and resources available for you to view, photocopy or borrow short-term. These resources can be used when working with children with disabilities and can help to find out the wishes and feelings of children and young people, help plan for reviews and help when consulting with children and young people that have

disabilities.

I'll Go First: The planning and Review Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to be used with disabled children in planning and reviews. As well as a set of wipe-clean boards and stickers, the tool kit contains a handbook to guide staff through the process of involving disabled children in care planning.

A Voice of Their Own: A Toolbox of Ideas and Information for Non-Instructed Advocacy

This is particularly useful for anyone advocating for a person with high support needs, by which we mean anyone who does not communicate using words, has significant barriers to communication and/or complex physical, health or emotional needs, and requires lots of extra support as a result.

Talking Mats

Talking mats is a communication tool designed to help people who suffer from communication disabilities or difficulties. Talking Mats can help people arrive at a decision by providing a structure where information is presented in small chunks supported by symbols. It gives people time and space to think about information, work out what it means and say what they feel in a visual way that can be easily recorded.

Listen Up!

Listen Up is a toolkit of multimedia resources to help children and young people with a learning disability complain about the services they use.

Drop Natalie, Tameside's Children's Rights Officer a note at natalie.doran@spurgeonsnorth.co.uk or ring in advance on 0161 331 9381 so she can make sure the books and resources you need are available.

Radar Appeal - We Need To Hear About Your Access To Work Experiences

The Government's Access to Work programme covers the costs of providing reasonable adjustments to disabled people in employment.

RADAR is fully supportive of the scheme as we believe that it helps businesses to employ disabled people, and demonstrates that the costs of workplace adjustments is usually very low. RADAR has, however, been concerned to hear the Government's recent announcement that the programme will no longer be available to Government departments. We have also been mindful that the Access to Work programme is difficult to use, and is not widely known about. It is estimated that only 25% of UK employers are aware that funding is available.

In view of the above, RADAR would like to hear from anyone who has had experience of using the Access to Work programme, and has had difficulties or delays in receiving the funding they are entitled to. These stories will help us to build the case for improvement to the programme, and help us campaign for a review of Access to Work. All stories used in RADAR campaigns and correspondence will have the names deleted to ensure anonymity.

Please send your stories to nb@radar.org.uk. If you do not have access to a PC, we can send your story for you from Jubilee Gardens - ring Averil - 0161 371 2060

The Give Me 5 Campaign

Focus believes that people on sickness benefits should be able to earn more money while working. To help us achieve this, we want to increase the £20 Permitted Earnings disregard by £5.

Permitted earnings is the money people on benefits can earn if they are in receipt of any of the following benefits due to an illness or disability: Incapacity Benefit, Income Support, Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit. Because the government has increased the national minimum wage, people are now being forced to reduce their working hours to stay within this disregard limit.

Please join our campaign to change government legislation and help people on benefits to work more hours for more money.

What are the restrictions of the current legislation?

Individuals can only work a limited number of hours to remain within the threshold - approximately 3.5 hours a week. This severely limits the amount of work each person can do.

The minimum wage - as the minimum wage increases each year,

individuals will have to work for a shorter period to stay within the £20 a week threshold. The £20 a week threshold does not rise each year in line with inflation and other benefits. If the government wants to help people move off benefits and into work, it is vital that the Permitting Earnings Disregard is increased to better reflect the realities of the labour market.

How can we help change the current system?

Join Focus and The Richmond Fellowship Scotland by signing our petition and encouraging others to do the same. For further information Go to the Focus website or contact : The Richmond Fellowship Scotland, 26 Park Circus, Glasgow G3 6AP Tel: 0141 353 4050

Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign

Getting rights and justice for every disabled child

• The government says that Every Child Matters - so why aren't disabled children getting their rights?
• Only 1 in 13 families get support from social services
• Disabled children are 13 times more likely to be excluded from school
• 8 out of 10 families with disabled children say that they are at breaking point

"Services for disabled children and their families are a national scandal" - Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England. Ask your MP to support the disabled children's short breaks Bill!

Brilliant news from EDCM! Steve Broach and Kate Williams write...

We are delighted to announce that the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign has reached its target of 10,000 supporters signed up to get rights and justice for disabled children. We would like to say a big 'Thank you!' to all those that signed up - and those that asked their friends, family and colleagues to sign up too. Having so many supporters behind the campaign adds great weight to our call for government to make every disabled child matter. Now we want to put even more pressure on decision makers, so that 2007 sees some real, positive change for disabled children and their families - and we need your help! Our new target is for 25,000 supporters by July 2007, when the Government will be launching the results of its spending review on services for disabled children. We want to show them how big an issue this is all over the UK. The more supporters we have, the stronger the message from disabled children and their families will be. If you haven't already done so, please ask everyone you know to sign up at http://www.edcm.org.uk If you have a website, you could also add a link to our website from yours, calling for people to sign up. If you would like EDCM leaflets to make available at your school, children's centre, or anywhere else, click on the link on the web page (bottom of the page where you can download them):

www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_1532xi_92602321460187d91i_200612183516f or email us at info@edcm.org.uk with your address and tell us how many you would like, and we will send them to you.

Steve Broach - Campaign Manager/ Kate Williams - Campaign Officer - Every Disabled Child Matters, National Children's Bureau, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE
Direct Line: 020 7843 6448 Fax: 020 7843 6313 Email: info@edcm.org.uk website www.edcm.org.uk

Websites to visit

Service Information Directory Tameside

"Tameside's Service Information Directory is now live www.tameside-sid.org.uk

It is a website for Children and Young People, their families/carers and people who work with them. It holds details of local and national services, together with their contact details and helpline numbers. There is also information on various voluntary organisations such as Brownies, Scouts and Youth Clubs.

Newly designed website connects with UK children's online health needs

The Children First for Health (CFfH) team at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), have unveiled a newly designed interactive educational health and hospital resource for 7 - 11 year olds, after researching children's online health needs.

The website addresses a wide variety of issues from everyday health concerns to chronic illness and hospital life. The revamped 'Kids First for Health' site boasts a new design, content, navigation and look. There are pages of fresh content, colourful illustrations, a sound enhanced dictionary, interactive games and educational health quizzes - all aimed at improving the way health promotion content is communicated to young users. The new Kids website can be visited at: www.childrenfirst.nhs.uk/kids

TACPAC

A fun, multi-sensory activity pack for all children learning to communicate in the early years www.tacpac.co.uk/htm/frameset.htm

Can Find It

Children with Additional Needs Family Information Network Database in Tameside - www.tameside.gov.uk/corpgen2/childdis.htm.

www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/news/

A news website that features up to date press releases about everything and anything to do with Disabilities - www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/news/

Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust

www.tamesideandglossop.nhs.uk/health_services_map.htm - This site lists all the Health Departments in Tameside You can search for GP's, Health Clinics, Dentists, Pharmacies and optician's. All in you area.

Mobility Market

www.mobilitymarket.co.uk/ - Bringing together used mobility product buyers and sellers Do you own a mobility product that you wish to sell? Are you interested in buying a mobility aid? The Mobility Market was created to put potential buyers and sellers of used mobility aids and equipment in touch with each other, for mutual benefit. Second hand disability aids offered for sale are usually well maintained, in good condition and often hardly used. They normally represent exceptional value for money.

Leisure Booklet - Ideas needed

I am currently updating the leisure booklet and would like some ideas/comments off everyone about the layout and size - do people prefer the long booklet format or an A4 or A5 ?

Also if anyone has any venue/activity that they want including in the booklet or they found good value and easily accessible for families of children with additional needs/disabilities, can you please let me have the details.

I am hopeful that the booklet will be ready for distribution in early June so I would need any comments or contributions by mid May.

Thanks again for all your support, Averil

Comments or article for next issue:

If you have any comments to make about this Newsletter or want to include an article in the next issue please drop a note or ring Averil at Jubilee Gardens or send your comments electronically to Averil Bell.

Parenting Classes

Aimed at helping parents of children with disabilities and/or additional needs have been organised and some dates for 2007 are now available.

Please ring Jubilee Gardens to enquire if you are interested in attending a course

A parent's comments about her Positive Parenting course

The Positive Parenting for children with additional needs was very interesting and helpful. Over the 6 weeks we covered many topics regarding parenting. I really enjoyed it, Lynn, who ran the group, gave some good tips and was always very helpful, she was always there to answer any question we had and the people within the group were all really nice.

I learnt so many different idea's about how to deal/cope with children with special needs. It was great because I was there with other parents who were in the same position as me and knew how difficult it could be at times.

Between us we gave each other different ways of how to deal with certain behaviours and situations within the home and outside. The atmosphere was friendly and we shared our experiences and ideas, I came away with new friends and some good advice which will benefit me and my daughter in the future.

Sirinda Glover.

Sport for disabled children

Tameside Sports Development in partnership with Alder Community High and Astley Sports College is now running weekly sports sessions for young people with disabilities. The sessions are aimed at young people aged 11 - 16 years of age and welcome children with any disability. The sessions are fully inclusive and are open to able bodied young people, family and friends. The sessions will provide adapted games, boccia, football, zone hockey, tag rugby, wheelchair basketball, ten pin kurling and lots more fun games and competitions. For more information please contact Shaun Higgins on 0161 609 1277.

Alder Community High School, Gee Cross, Hyde
Friday 5 pm - 6.30 pm £1.00 per session

Astley Sports College, Dukinfield
Monday 5pm - 6.30 pm £1.00 per session

Tameside Titans Ability Counts Football Club Curzon Ashton Football Club, Richmond St, Ashton
11 - 18 years Tuesday 7 - 8 pm £1.00 per session

Astley Sports College, Dukinfield
Movement Skills Sessions (aimed at boys and girls who lack co-ordination)
Monday 4 - 5 pm 8 - 11 years free Qualified staff and all equipment provided.

Handsel Trust

The Handsel Trust promotes effective support in the UK for all children with disabilities and special needs and their families.

How much sleep did you get last night?

Some parents of children who have disabilities and special needs say they have not had a good night's sleep for a week, a month, a year, five years, twenty years…

What does it feel like to look after a child whose needs might be very challenging, to fight at the same time to get effective services, to struggle to keep the family together with as normal a life as possible an, at the same time, to be exhausted and running on empty?

The Handsel Trust are trying to raise awareness of sleep issues for families in England and Wales.

If you are a parent,

• Do you tell your practitioners about your lack of sleep?
• Is it something you have just learned to live with?
• Is anyone able to help you with sleep issues?

If you are a practitioner,

• Do you explore sleep issues in your assessment of need?
• When you discover a family that has a history of disturbed nights, are you able to offer practical help?

If you have something to say about your own family's experiences of sleep or about your service's work with sleep, please get in touch via their website: www.handseltrust.org/index.htm

Alternatively please contact: Tel/Fax: 01497 831550 or Email: enquiries@handseltrust.org

Have you got the qualities to work with a child or young person who has Learning, Physical or Sensory Disability?

Become a personal assistant or carer

For further information regarding Direct Payments please ring Joanne McManus

Family Link Scheme - Carer

Children with disabilities present their families with a mixture of rewards and challenges, Parents have told us of the excessive physical or emotional demands often made on them as they try to offer their child as normal a family life as possible. We believe that by using the scheme many families are helped in their desire to offer ordinary and new experiences to their child.

How does the scheme work?

Link families offer respite in their own homes to children/young people on a regular basis. Each family and child have different needs; some parents welcome a regular weekend stay for their child every 4 weeks. Others need a Monday - Friday stay, others an odd overnight stay. We try to be flexible and to offer the amount of care best suited to any particular child.

The children are involved fully in the life of the caring families whilst they are in their homes. At all times "linked" families remain in touch with each other and in very many cases long-standing friendships have grown up over the years. Some children are totally physically dependent, others are very lively and active. All children are individuals and their individual needs are carefully considered.

How are care families approved?

All prospective applicants to the scheme must have a spare bedroom and are offered a preparation programme, they also undergo the same full, formal approval procedure as foster or adopted parents and their application must be formally approved by the Department.

The Department pays a realistic fee to the care families for the work they do.

How do you find out more?

For an informal chat or more information, please contact: Mike Brown, Children with Disabilities Team, Jubilee Gardens, Gardenfold Way, Droylsden, M43 7XU. Tel : 0161 371 2060

Become a volunteer

Each year, thousands of volunteers support Mencap's work for people with a learning disability and their families and carers. Here are just a few examples of what you can do:

• Get involved with Get Together: help children and young people with a learning disability go to their local out-of-school club.
• Take part in a fundraising event: have fun, meet new people and of course raise funds for Mencap.
• Campaign with people with a learning disability: there are a number of ways to get involved - for example, you may want to help support a particular campaign by telling your MP how you feel.
• Help make Mencap work even more effectively: if you become a Mencap member, you have the opportunity to stand for election and represent others at a local or national level.

How you can benefit?

Becoming a volunteer gives you the chance to enjoy a variety of challenging and rewarding experiences.

The opportunity to encourage or lead others, to gain encouragement or recognition and to learn new skills can make as much difference to your life as you do to the people you support.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Call the Local Group Care Line on 0845 123 3000.

OKE Newsletter

Happy New Year'

OurKidsEyes Jubilee Gardens Resource Centre, Gardenfold Way, Droylsden M43 7XU
Direct Lines 371 2084 and 371 2066 Email ourkidseyes@hotmail.com Registered Charity No. 1108268

'Narnia' Christmas Party

The OKE Christmas Party was given a very realistic Narnia theme by our very creative OKE Mums, Elaine Gaskell and Jan Duggan, who dreamt up and created a wonderful Narnia themed Grotto complete with actors from Mossley Youth Group who played the very convincing roles of Mr Tumnus, the Ice Queen and the children Susan and Edmund

The Christmas Party would not have been as great without the volunteers who spent months planning the party and then 3 days in George Lawton Hall designing and building the Grotto. One volunteer said "it was well worth all the hard work and exhaustion just to see the childrens amazed faces when they entered the Grotto",

The families were totally overwhelmed by the Grotto, from the minute they walked through the wardrobe to begin their journey through 'Narnia', at first they were greeted by Mr Tumnus, then they were met by Susan and Edmund, and then as they walked around the corner they were confronted by the Ice Queen. Eventually all the children reached the safety of Santa's grotto, where each one received a £5 Woolworths voucher and a selection box.

On behalf of all the families we would like to say a "Big Thank You " to the following people who made the Christmas Party and the amazing Grotto so special for all the families

• Elaine Gaskell - Janet Duggan, Lindsey Tweed - John and Sammy
• Dean Gaskell - Debbie Hulmes, Philip and Norma Connell - Kirk Francis, Adam Connell - Ken and Heather Francis, Abbey Francis
• Brian Drew - Colin Ward, Jack Tweed and Emma Cross - Jane Cox
• Chris Pritchard - Derek and Louise Healey, Mossley Youth Group, Daniel Grant at LimeLight David and Jan Miller at DPM Padding
• Andy at Emmaus Mossley, Allied Kitchens - Mossley DIY Shop
• Andy (the Van man), Gary O'Reilly and all the staff at George Lawton Hall.

The Christmas Draw raised an amazing £667

Congratulations to all the winners, especially Martin Healey - 1st prize

Ms Phethean - 2nd prize Mr and Mrs Calvert - 3rd prize

Many Thanks to everyone who sold tickets

Professional Of The Year Award 2006

On 8th December this award was presented to the very deserving Susan Rackstraw from the Portage Team OKE were very pleased to receive 5 nominations this year which included the following people;

• Claudia Cundall - Social Worker with TRASST
• Mike O'Grady - Social Worker with Children with Disabilities Team
• Elaine Hughes - Occupational Therapist
• Mrs Taylor - Teacher at Poplar Street Primary School

The decision to find an overall winner was a very difficult one to make.

All nominees were presented with a certificate and a crystal award in appreciation for the invaluable work they do on a daily basis.

All the nominees are very committed and hardworking individuals who always go that extra mile to make a positive difference to the lives of Tameside families and we believe they very much deserved to have their efforts recognised officially by our charity.

Nominations for the 2007 Award must be sent to OKE by email/letter by12th November.

This award can be won by any professional who has made your life easier by 'going the extra mile' for your family, you can nominate people such as, SENCO's, GP's, teachers, portage workers, health visitors, classroom assistants, pediatricians etc.

OKE Trustees for 2007

OKE's first AGM took place on 20th December at Jubilee Gardens. We are pleased to announce that the following people were elected as OKE trustees for 2007

Sue Schofield - Sue Murphy - Elaine Healey - Maria Matthews - Lynne Ridley - Sirinda Glover

OKE Young People Can you Help?

We are trying to get together a group of young people aged 13-19 to form a group/committee to enable them to apply for funds from the Youth Opportunity Fund, with the intention of creating more clubs and activities especially for the above age group

We have organized a meeting for Thursday 1st February 5-7pm at Jubilee Gardens to discuss what this would involve and to hear ideas about what clubs they would like us to run, and what activities they would like us to help them organize.

This invitation is for all OKE children aged 13-19 including siblings.

It is important that we hear ideas from ALL our young people as this will be the only way we can try and meet the needs of our teenagers now and in the future.

Juice and snacks will be available as well as tea and coffee for parents/carers.

Please phone us on 371 2084 if you are planning to attend.

Valentine Disco

Droylsden Football Club ( Market Street, Droylsden)
Thursday 15th February 7.00pm
DJ - Party Games - Hot Dogs - Hot Pot Raffle - Face Painting Fancy Dress optional
Admission - Adults £1 and Children 50p

Day Trip to Gullivers

At the end of 2006 OKE families enjoyed a fantastic day trip to Gullivers Theme Park. It was a very sunny and fun packed day from start to finish! We had plenty of time to enjoy the rides and then we were all entertained by a Christmas themed show. At lunchtime we all had a lovely three course Christmas Dinner together in a private dining room. Then we were all off to the wonderful Grotto to see Father Christmas. When the children left the grotto, they were all very excited to be able to choose a toy from Father Christmas' amazing Toy Shop.

Greenacre Farm Trip

OKE's annual trip to Greenacre Farm will be on Friday 6th April

The children always have a wonderful time at Greenacres. Not only do they have the opportunity to hold baby chicks, puppies, rabbits, gerbils and other animals, but they can also bottle feed the lambs and goats too.

There are lots of other animals to see, ranging from traditional farm animals such as pigs, cows and chickens to wallabies, pot bellied pigs, ostriches, llamas and lots more. Pony rides are available (at a small charge) and the farm has a park, which has swings, slides, and climbing frames etc. The trip also includes a tractor trailer ride around the farm to see the larger animals grazing in the fields. Usually, the Farmer encourages the pigs to chase the tractor through the fields which the children always find absolutely hilarious!

There's a picnic area with tables and benches for families who want to bring their own lunch, or families can purchase their lunch in the restaurant.

To help with costs, we will be asking families to make a small contribution of £5 per adult and £2.50 per child. Booking forms and payment must be returned to OKE by the closing date of Friday 15th February

Do you know about...?

Tameside Action for Social Communication and Autism Support Group (TASCA) it is a parent run support group for parents of children with social communication difficulties or autism, they are a friendly group of parents who meet on a monthly basis at the Child Development Unit at Rowan House in Hyde.

The group was set up in 2001 to give parents the opportunity to meet and share their experiences with other families in a similar situation, they also organise leisure activities and trips. We can guarantee a friendly face to meet you there, as the Chair of TASCA is Elaine Gaskell, who is an OKE parent and a very valued OKE volunteer.

If you would like more information about TASCA, or the dates and times of when they meet then please don't hesitate to call them on 366 5705

We Need You !

Do you have any ideas for trips this year?

Have you been anywhere that's within a 60-90 minute journey from Tameside that's accessible and interesting for ALL our OKE children If you do, then please phone us on 371 2084 and tell us about it. Thankyou

Did Santa bring you a new mobile phone at Christmas?

If he did then Please can we have your old one to recycle into £'s for OKE.

For every mobile and printer cartridge we send off to be recycled we receive £££££'s

Thank you.

OKE Sports Club

Sports Club is held every Monday 5.30pm-6.30pm at Oxford Park Sports Centre, Stockport Road, A-U-L (opposite the Oxford Pub, just past Guide Bridge)

We have two sports/play instructors that will encourage and help children to join in games or find them some equipment or an activity that they can do by themselves.

Parents can go in the Sports Hall and stay with their child/children, or they can sit outside the hall in the seating area along with other parents.

All children receive a drink and the club costs £1 per child.

Please Note - This club is for children of all abilities and their siblings.

February's Holiday Club

Is to be held at KK5, Wharf Street, Dukinfield 9am-12noon

If your family would like to come along then please make sure you book by phoning us on 371 2084 All children will receive a lunch box

Free Tea and Coffee will be available for parents (Minimum contribution £1 per child)

Well Done and Congratulations To...

Sirinda Glover
Who gave up lots of her weekends to do a swimming instructors course so she can help teach OKE children to swim at the Saturday Swimming Club

To everyone who donated their Tesco vouchers to OKE
We received just over 1700 vouchers which has enabled us to buy much needed sports equipment for our Sports Club

Andrew Massey
for gaining his yellow belt in Karate

Kade Housley
50 metres swimming

Josh Massey
For gaining his Yellow Belt in Karate

Polite Reminder

All children must be accompanied by an adult to all OKE clubs, activities and discos. Parents, siblings and Grandparents are always made very welcome.

We look forward to meeting you and your families and if you need any more info then please contact OKE on 371 2084

Diary Dates

Sports Club Every Monday 5.30-6.30pm
Oxford Park Sports Centre, A-U-L

Swimming Club Every Saturday 4.30pm-6pm
Medlock Sports Centre, Droylsden

January

9th - Bowling Club 4.45-6.15pm
17th - KK5 5-7pm
25th - Thursday Club 5-7pm

February

6th - Bowling Club 4.45pm-6.15pm
13th - Holiday Club at KK5 9am-12.00pm
15th - Valentines Disco Droylsden FC 7pm
21st - KK5 5pm-7pm
22nd - Thursday club

March

6th - Bowling Club 4.45-6.15pm
15th - Thursday Club 5-7pm
21st - KK5 5-7pm

April

6th - Greenacres Trip
10th - Bowling Club 4.45-6.15pm
11th - Holiday Club 10-2pm at Jubilee
12th - Holiday Club 10-2pm at Jubilee
12th - Easter Disco at Droylsden FC 7pm
26th - Thursday Club 5pm-7pm

If you require further information on any of the activities/events above please phone us on 371 2084