quarterly news

Issue 29
T:
F:
E:
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Unit 6, Phoenix House,
Hastingwood Road,
Hastingwood, Harlow,
Essex, CM17 9JT
January 2015
01279 433667 or 01279 433117
01279 433667
enquiries@accuro.org.uk
www.accuro.org.uk
QUARTERLY NEWS
ACCURO BEAMS
NEW WEBSITE
New Performing Arts Project
Worth the wait…
Accuro is excited to announce the
introduction of a new performing arts
group for children and young people
aged 13 to 19 with a disability. This
project, to be known as ACCURO
BEAMS, will be a joint project with
Razed Roof; an established, inclusive
performing arts group that has been
operating from Harlow Playhouse for
several years. Its introduction has
been made possible by a generous
grant from Games Aid for which
Accuro is really grateful.
Full story on page 2
After many months of planning, we are delighted to
announce the launch of our newly designed website.
The site can be accessed at the usual website address:
www.accuro.org.uk
Our goal with
this new website
is to provide
visitors with an
easy and
motivating way
to learn about
Accuro (Care
Services); who
we are and the
services we
provide, why we
do what we do,
and how to get
involved.
The website will be updated on a regular basis, with
news of events, fundraisers, parenting meetings and
details of project activities.
OPT-IN or OPT-OUT?
We aim to send future newsletters by
email. If you’d still prefer a hard-copy,
please call us on 01279 433117 to
register your interest.
Further details on Page 4
We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge
thank you to Matt Davis and Dan Davis from The Bright
Click for their continued patience and support during
this period.
We hope you find the new website has a fresh look, is
easy to use and is informative. Please send us your
feedback: enquiries@accuro.org.uk
Dianne Carter
www.accuro.org.uk
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ACCURO BEAMS - New Performing Arts Project
continued from page 1
In a statement reflecting
on this exciting new
development Accuro’s
CEO, Arthur Steward,
wrote: “These are very
challenging times for
Accuro with our Sitting
Service having closed in
November and our
Shared Care service due
to close early in February. It is therefore to the credit of the
Accuro staff team and their remarkable resilience that
despite current challenges we are on the verge of
introducing an exciting new project with enormous potential
for future development. From a personal perspective I
particularly welcome the introduction of a performing arts
project as I have long held great faith and belief in the ability
of using the performing arts to encourage and enable
children and young people to develop in such areas as selfconfidence and self-esteem. This is certainly borne out by
the remarkable achievements our partners, Razed Roof,
have repeatedly accomplished with adults with a disability.”
A Healthy &
Happy New Year
The youth groups have all got off
to a great start to 2015 with this
term’s focus being on health and
wellbeing.
Cool Connections (formerly
known as the ASD Youth Group)
kicked off with a Fruit Tasting
Session on the first Monday back.
Initially the ACCURO
BEAMS project will cater
for a maximum of 12
children and young
people, although over
time, and subject to the
availability of resources,
we hope to expand on
this.
The project will be based at the Harlow Playhouse and is
due to commence operating in mid January. As well as
offering a weekly group session the project will provide
opportunities for its members to attend a variety of theatre
and other performances and to begin giving performances of
their own. The latter, we intend, will eventually include giving
performances in local schools which, amongst other goals,
will have the potential for providing positive role models for
other children with a disability.
Please look out for future information about the progress of
this project on our (new) website and in subsequent editions
of this newsletter.
Thanks to Lauren Enderson,
from Cool Connections, for this
fab poster promoting our
health drive this term
Accuro Cool Connections
The Accuro ASD Youth Group, based in Harlow, has recently been rebranded as
Cool Connections to better reflect the fun and lively nature of it’s members and activities.
www.accuro.org.uk
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Focus on
THE COMMUNITY GARDENING PROJECT
2014 was a very busy and productive year with lot of ups and downs. The team worked hard in
the gardens, taking on new clients whilst bringing some of our older relationships to a close.
The members have gained practical knowledge and plenty of experience in gardening. They find
the project hard work but fun which is very encouraging. Many tell us they feel healthier and
more active since joining the group. The members like helping the community and feel valued.
We said goodbye to some of our members and staff who have moved on and welcomed new
team members and support workers too. Whilst we lost our original base in Little Walden we have
since found a fabulous new one.
We finally moved in to our new base in Wimbish in October
where we had a new poly tunnel installed that looks great. We
are very grateful and appreciate all the help we received from
the people who were involved with it’s installation. Many, many
thanks especially to Peter, Keith and “Wimbish”.
This new location will enable us to grow plants for the market
and for the cooking activities, carry on with our woodwork and
most importantly allow the members to grow vegetables and
fruits in their very popular tyre garden.
The markets that we hold 4-5 times a year, in Saffron
Walden, have proven to be a great success too. The
best stall we run is, of course, the Christmas late night
shopping one that we have done 3 times already. This
year we managed to raise more than £600 over
December which is remarkable considering the limited
resources we had available. We could not have wished
for a better way to finish last year.
And as for this year, we would like to carry on with the
gardens in the community and do other gardening
related projects. We are hoping to install our automatic
irrigation system and erect our sectional building for lunch and indoor activities and most
importantly grow/make/create as many products as possible.
We wish a very happy new year to everyone and thank you to all who had supported us last year.
Zsuzsa Serer, CGP Deputy Co-ordinator
Will you abseil and raise money for Accuro?
For the eighteenth consecutive year the Harlow Tye Rotary Club members are running
their "Abseil for Charity" from the Affinity Water Tower, Church Langley, Harlow.
The 2015 event will take place on:
Saturday 2nd May afternoon up to 17:30 and
Sunday 3rd May between 09:30 and 12:30; 13:30 and 16:00
Final operating times to be confirmed later.
Minimum Age to participate : 16 years (on the day you take part)
There is a registration fee of £30 and places are allocated on
a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Gemma Rich, at our last
If you are interested or would like more information please contact Katie Harrison
charity abseil, which
at the office by Monday the 19th of January so all forms can be completed
raised over £1500
by the registration opening date and sponsorship forms can be sent out.
www.accuro.org.uk
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Change someone’s life.....teach them to communicate
Inclusive Communication Essex – 2015 Sharing Day
The 9th annual Inclusive Communication Essex Sharing
Day is an opportunity to discover different ways to
communicate and learn how to support someone with a
communication difficulty.
“ I very much enjoyed the whole
day. I liked that it was interactive
and we were asked to participate.”
The Sharing Day offers you targeted workshops where you can
increase your understanding as well as table-top tasters where you
can have a go yourself.
What makes the Sharing Day great is the sharing...families and
professionals sharing their experiences and ideas with like-minded
people.
Whether you are a parent, a carer, a professional or if you have
communication needs the Sharing Day is for you. This year it will
be held on:
Tuesday 24th February at Hylands House, Chelmsford CM2 8WQ
Workshops will include:
 Social Stories  Makaton  Enabling with apps  Eye Gaze
 Intensive Interaction - for staff and those with communication difficulties!
 An Introduction to inclusive communication - ICE Certified!
...... and much, much more
For the first time ever, appointments with a Speech and Language Therapist or a Behaviour
Advisor are being provided.
You do not have to attend all day - we are open from 8.00am until 6.30pm - come for the morning,
come for the afternoon, go and come back again, whatever works for you!
You can find more information about the Sharing Day and the workshops by going to
www.essexice.co.uk or you can telephone us on 01376 519625 Ext: 240
OPT-IN or OPT-OUT?
As you know, we are always aiming to be environmentally friendly
and keep costs down whilst still providing the best possible service
for our community. In the past, most people received a hard-copy
newsletter, but times have changed and many people now turn to
websites, social media and email to keep abreast of all the latest
news. Accuro are also moving with the times, and will be using
all of these resources to keep in contact with you in the future.
If we have your email address, we will now send all future
newsletters by this method; of course, you will have the
opportunity to opt-out at any time. Likewise, if you would still
prefer to receive your newsletter as a hard-copy, then please
contact us to opt-in and we will ensure one is posted to you
whenever issued.
To produce, print and post a hard-copy newsletter costs around
£2 a copy. Therefore, every hard-copy we save allows this money
to be redirected back into our projects.
Thank you sincerely for your support.
www.accuro.org.uk
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Focus on
PARENTING SUPPORT PROJECT
It has been a busy term for the Parenting Project with
two ‘Time out from ASD’ parenting programmes and
10 workshops being held.
Following on from the success of the Communication
for Today event in Harlow, last April, I worked with
ICE (Inclusive Communication Essex) and
CommunicationforAll to hold another day in
December, in Stansted, where parents were given the
opportunity to make communication keys rings, sing
& sign and gain their confidence in using iPads.
Feedback on all workshops was that they were judged
to be Good or Excellent in every case. ICE are
holding a countywide Sharing Day on 24th
February and Accuro will be a part of this event.
This will be for parents, carers and professionals.
Further details can be found on pg 4 of this newsletter.
Time Out from ASD - Harlow
Our workshops were held in Epping Forest and Uttlesford
last term and so it is the turn of Harlow to have 3
workshops during March on Behavioural, Emotional and
Sensory Issues (as per our flyer shown right).
Home visits are an integral part of the Parenting Project
enabling me to signpost families to Accuro services as
well as other agencies. I can also support parents with
strategies and resources and link them to local support
groups. Over the past year 166 home visits were made
across West Essex and the important factor is that the
referrals for these visits were not just from professionals
but also parents that directly contacted the project for
support.
Next term looks as if it will be just as busy and I look
forward to meeting many of you again at the workshops,
parenting programmes and support groups (see pg 4).
Please check our website for forthcoming events.
Caroline Pringle, Parenting Support Co-ordinator
ARE YOU/DO YOU KNOW AN 18-25 YEAR OLD WHO IS
LOOKING AFTER SOMEONE AT HOME IN UTTLESFORD?
If you look after a family member who is ill or disabled, has a mental health
problem or suffers from alcohol/drug misuse, then we can help.
WE CAN HELP WITH EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH OTHER PEOPLE OF THE SIMILAR AGE IN THE SAME SITUATION
GIVE YOU SUPPORT AND ADVICE ON EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT CONCERNS
Contact Julia Gray on 01799 513496
julia.gray@crossroadseastanglia.org.uk
1 Bakehouse Court, High Street, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1LD
Charity Registration Number 1103959. Crossroads Care East Anglia Ltd is a company limited by guarantee registered in England number 4653325.
Registered Office. Disability Resource Centre, 4 Bunting Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7BX. Crossroads Care is a collective trademark.
www.accuro.org.uk
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Focus on
THE ADULT FRIENDSHIP SCHEME
Visiting Van Hages
During late November and December the
adults have been visiting Van Hages in Ware,
for a spot of shopping and lunch. The
spectacular displays were eye catching and
allowed everyone to capture their enthusiasm
for this festive time.
First we had our lunch. We were spoilt for
choice from filling warm lunches and delicious
cakes! It was a lovely opportunity for everyone
to socialise and catch up. We shared
Christmas stories, ideas and plans for
Christmastime. Next we went to the Pets
Corner. The adults were amazed by the
varieties of animals that roam around, ranging
from farm animals, birds and meerkats. You
can feed them, get up close and stroke them.
Finally, we had a look around the store. The
decorations and displays were beautiful. The
adults enjoyed looking at these and buying a
variety of things such as decorations, calendars
and gifts for loved ones.
Vicki Ingram,
AFS Community Support Worker
Claire told us “Van Hages is spectacular
at Christmas; I’ve really had a lovely
afternoon. I’d like to do this again”
2015 AFS
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Uttlesford
Cinema 17th Jan
Valentines Disco 17th Feb
Social Evening 10th March
Foreign Meals 17th March and 24th March
Small Group Activities - Dates TBC
Harlow
Shopping and Lunch 16th Jan
Van Hages 23rd Jan
Top Golf - Lads v Ladies 28th Jan
Pub Meal 30th Jan
DVD and Takeaway Evenings 12th Feb,
12th Mar and 16th Apr
Ten Pin Bowling 4th Feb, 18th Feb, 4th Mar
and 18th Mar
Social Evenings 25th Feb and 25th Mar
www.accuro.org.uk
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Focus on
THE ADULT FRIENDSHIP SCHEME
Christmas Party
On Tuesday 9th December the Adult Friendship Scheme
held their Christmas party at Widdington Village Hall.
Over 80 members from both the Harlow and Uttlesford
groups, plus staff and volunteers arrived and were
greeted with drinks, before being served their Christmas
meal; either traditional or a vegetarian option.
The meal was followed by a raffle of many donated
prizes which raised in excess of £100 for Accuro funds.
The disco soon commenced which had everyone up,
dancing and having a great time. The evening came to
an end far too soon.
‘Going Underground’
Early one Sunday morning Chris, Jason, Bobby and Trevor made their way to Baker Street
underground station to meet our contact from London Underground to begin our journey
travelling in the drivers cab of an underground train.
Our designated Metropolitan Line train arrived at 10-28; train number 434 driven by a
charismatic and knowledgeable driver called Joe. We all squeezed into the cab and off we went,
headed for Uxbridge which took us past Wembley stadium.
Travelling through the tunnels we were able to see what looked like a maze of tracks that would
take the trains on different lines all over London. Joe also pointed out a number of old, small
platforms from years gone by that are no longer capable of taking a modern tube train.
We all had a great time and such a unique experience something that the members would like to
do again in the future.
Trevor Shaw, Deputy AFS Co-ordinator
Chris said: “I totally
enjoyed myself
travelling in the cab
and had a good
laugh with the
driver. I did an
announcement
saying that this is
the Metropolitan line
calling at all
stations to
Uxbridge”
www.accuro.org.uk
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Focus on
THE SATURDAY PLAY CLUB
Reflections on 2014
2014 was another wonderful year for Saturday Play Club. With 18 children and young people
accessing the service, supported by a team of highly qualified and dedicated permanent and bank
staff, and an ever increasing number of volunteers. The ethos of the club lies in our determination
to continually provide an outstanding and individualised service.
The children and young people attending the club are increasingly encouraged to make choices
about the activities and outings they would like to be involved in. Legoland, Stansted Airport, St
Paul’s Cathedral, London Aquarium, Saffron Walden Football Club and Pizza Making at ASK were
among the favourite trips requested in 2014.
In November, Saturday Play Club was
thrilled to learn that it had been awarded
£3,000 from the Lloyds Bank Community
Fund. This money will be used to improve
the communication systems in place at
Saturday Play Club thereby enabling every
child and young person’s potential to
communicate effectively while they are at
the Club, to be realised.
A fantastic year of fundraising and generous
donations resulted in the incredible sum of
£21,320.56 being raised. Heartfelt thanks to
everyone who donated financially and to
those who gave so generously of their time.
Very special thanks must again go to The
Stephen Perse Foundation and Dame
Bradbury’s School for providing the
wonderful venue at which Saturday Play
Club takes place and for their continued
support.
Willow Head, Nathan Hoyle and Hamoude Fawaz
(football enthusiasts) meet Malcolm Nash, Craig Calver
and Matt Snelling of Saffron Walden Town FC.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year
The Saturday Play Club Team
Dianne's 'Giving It Up' for Accuro's Saturday Play Club
I have decided to 'give up' chocolate for the month of January, to raise
awareness of the fantastic charity I work for. For those of you who know me,
you know this will be a challenge for me! (To put it mildly!) I will be donating the
amount I would have spent.
Will you join me and give up something for a month and donate what you would
have spent on that product or will you kindly support me and donate? Thank you
very much for your support :)
Dianne Carter, Saturday Play Club Deputy Coordinator
You can support Dianne by making a donation at: https://www.justgiving.com/DIANNE-CARTER1
REMEMBER YOU CAN DONATE ALL YOUR UNWANTED CHOCOLATE, BOTTLES AND XMAS GIFTS FOR
USE AS FUNDRAISING RAFFLE PRIZES - PLEASE DELIVER TO ACCURO HEAD OFFICE OR CLUBS
www.accuro.org.uk
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