Check out our website: http://www.spurgeonsyc.org
IN THIS ISSUE:
Spurgeons Young Carers
Newsletter Spring 2015
1. News from Spurgeons
2. News from the Childrens Society
3. New developments and events
4. Young carers groups
5. Young carers Oxfordshire forum
6. Services and Activities
Spurgeons Young Carers
Newsletter Spring 2015
Young carers express
themselves through
A group of young carers from Oxford have taken part in a graffiti workshop to help express their arty sides. The group,
which receives support from children’s charity Spurgeons in the region, took part in the workshop with The National
Association of Decorative & Fine Arts at the East Oxford Early Intervention Hub.
With spray cans at the ready, the seven young carers aged 11-15 created pieces of art around their name and interests.
They sprayed these onto individual boards so that they could take them home. Then, as a group, the young carers decided
use one large canvas to graffiti the Spurgeons young carers service logo and another depicting their aspirations, hobbies,
interests and lives as young carers.
Sarah Mills, children’s services lead for Oxford Spurgeons young carers, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the
young carers to take some time out from their caring role and express their feelings through art. It was great to see them
working together as a team and really enjoying themselves.”
The two boards will be displayed at the East Oxford Early Intervention Hub.
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CARERS W EEK: 8 th -14 th JUNE 2015
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NEWS …. NEWS …. NEWS …. NEWS …. NEWS …. NEWS
There are two organisations that are working on implementing the changes in the law:
for young carers:
Health
Developm ents to support
young carers through
health services
Law
Children and Families Act Consultation
– Keep up to date
The NHS England’s Commitment to Carers was
published in May 2014 and includes commitments
to support young carers. The NHS Five Year
Forward View also includes commitments to
supporting carers.
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) includes young
carers in a new ‘Commissioning for carers’ guide.
Information about all the above can be found at
http://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/commcarers/
From April 2015 the £3.8 billion Better Care Fund,
a pooled health and social care fund is to be
introduced by the Government. There will be a
duty on the NHS to cooperate and integrate with
the local authority. The Royal College of GP’s, NHS
England, Department of Health and other health
organisations such as the Royal College of Nursing
and Queens Nursing Institute are continuing to
develop practice
to support young carers and their
families. As information becomes available
it will be published on
http://youngcarersinschools.wordpress.com/
The children's society do a lot of work at a
national level to improve support for young
carers. They have contributed to the
government's Children and Families Act
Consultation, as part of the National Young
Carers coalition. THis was a focused five
week consultation to take young carer views
on the changes in the law.
The changes improve how young carers and
their families are identified and supported
and extends the right to an assessment of
their support needs to tall young carers
under the age of 18, regardless of who they
care for, what type of care they provide or
how often they provide it. The changes also
introduce
a
requiremtn
to
make
an
assessment on the appearance of need. We
will be keeping you updated on our
wordpress site with any news and updates
http://www.makingastepchange.wordpress.co
m/
The consultation information can be found
here:
–
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultation
s/young-carers-draft-regulations
Autism Family Support
EasterActivies
Don’t delay …. Get booking today!
Please check out our website for more details
www.childrenintouch.org
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CARERS W EEK: 8 th -14 th JUNE 2015
Check out our website: http://www.spurgeonsyc.org
As from April 2015
Spurgeons Young Carers in
Oxfordshire will have their own
Facebook page
You can find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/
Oxfordshire-YoungCarers/911689598871644
Babble has been created by Carers Trust as an
online space where those aged under 18 who
are caring for a family member or friend can
chat, share their experiences and access
information and advice.
The site aims to bring together young carers from
across the UK in an online space which is safe,
fun and supportive.
The online team are on hand to answer any
questions you might have, and to offer support
and advice via e-mail or one-to-one webchats.
https://babble.carers.org
We are working with Banbury Rotary club and Oxford University VacProj to
offer more fun opportunities to you.
Henry Box
School
. . . NEWSFLASH
. . .
From April 2015, there will be changes to the Children
and Families Act 2014. This is the act under which the
young carer's service works to support you.
This is what the changes mean for you: Young carers are
children or young people who care for another person.
This may be someone in their family who needs looking
after because they have a disability or an illness. It
could be a brother or sister or a parent or grandparent.
Young carers should not have to do so much caring that it
makes them upset, unwell or miss school.
The Young Carer Team was delighted
to have met with the Charmaine
Ashwin and Rod Attewell from Witney
Lions Club this term. The Witney Lions
have generously donated £500 to the
Young Carer budget which will be used
to take the younger carers to see the
pantomime at the Oxford Playhouse
and provide older students with cinema
tickets. Club President Rod said “We
think these children do a wonderful
job in both acting as a carer for a
family
member,
whilst
also
attending school fulltime. They
deserve a break and this money will
enable this to happen.” The Young
Carer Team couldn’t agree more and
are thrilled that the Witney Lions have
chosen Henry Box to donate to.
The Act gives young carers more rights to ask for help.
It says that councils must check what help any young
carer needs as soon as they know they might need help, or
if the young carer asks them to. The check is called a
‘Young Carer’s Needs Assessment’. In the past, young
carers always had to ask first if they wanted their
council to check what help they needed. The council has
to do this check whoever the young carer is caring for
and whatever sort of care they are giving. As well as the
care the young carer is giving to someone else, they must
look at what the young carer needs for their own
education or work, health, hobbies or activities. The
council must ask the young carer and their parent for
their views when they work out what help is needed. They
also have to ask anyone else the young carer or their
parent wants them to ask.
When it has finished checking what help the young carer
needs, the council has to decide what help it should be
giving. This could involve giving help to the person that
the young carer looks after, so that the young carer does
not have to do so much
caring. The Government can make rules about how councils
must do all this.
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CARERS W EEK: 8 th -14 th JUNE 2015
Check out our website: http://www.spurgeonsyc.org
Young Carer Groups
Banbury Under 5-10’s
Abingdon
Junior 8-11’s at 4-5.30pm
Seniors 12-19’s at 6.30-8pm
Both groups run on the 3rd
Monday of every month at
The Net, Stratton Way, Abingdon,
OX14 3RG.
Contact: Isobel Holt on
01865 328400.
Meet from 4pm-5.30pm, every 2
weeks on a Monday from 9th
September at Sunshine
Centre,
Edmunds Road, Banbury, OX16 0PJ
Contact 01865 777224
East Oxford
Faringdon
Young Carers group in East Oxford
for those aged 11 and upwards. Runs
once a fortnight on a
Monday from 4-6pm.
Contact Nicola Holmes Brown on
01865 777224
FAZE Faringdon Youth Project run a
free, fun open youth club session for
young carers from Faringdon and the
surrounding area. They provide
transport for those that require it free
of charge. The sessions take place at
the FAZE youth centre (Highworth
Road) every Tuesday 3.30-6.30pm.
Kidlington 5-11’s
Littlemore
A group for young carers takes
place at 3.30pm-5.30pm
fortnightly on Monday at The
Forum , Oxford Road,
Kidlington, Oxfordshire OX5
1AB. Contact: Amy Young on
07788302183.
Littlem ore YC G roup: A group
for 8-13s runs at 4.30-6.30pm on
alternate Wednesdays at Oxford
Academy Campus, Sandy Lane
West, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 6JY.
Contact: Emma Titcombe 01865
816202
Witney
Didcot
Under 12's from 4.30- 6pm
12-18 years from 6.30-8.00pm with
the opportunity of a free swimming
session once a month. All take place
at West Oxfordshire Hub, Witney Youth
Centre, Witan Way, Witney, OX28 4YA
Contact: Lesley Bailey / Clara Lovell
01865 328730
Junior & Seniors YC Drop-in:
every week during the summer Mon 14pm at the hub, Park Rd, Didcot,
Oxfordshire, OX11 8QX
Junior YC runs fortnightly on Mon
3.30-5pm. Senior YC runs fortnightly
on Mon 3.30-5pm.
Contact Ginny Stock and
Kerry Crisp on: 01865 328480
Bicester
Bicester Junior session for 5-9 year olds at 3.30pm-5pm, fortnightly on a Mondays.
Bicester Senior session for 9 years upwards at 3.30pm-5.30pm, fortnightly on a
Wednesdays from 8th Jan. Both groups run at the Bicester Early Intervention Centre, The
Courtyard, Launton Road, Bicester, OX26 6DJ. Contact: Ben Johnston (07824840021)
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Check out our website: http://www.spurgeonsyc.org
Young Carers Oxfordshire Forum
Young Carers from Oxford City
have
embarked
on
the
development of a Young Carers
Forum. The forum aims to
represent the views and become
the voice of Young Carers from
across Oxfordshire.
During February half term six
young carers participated in a
training event delivered by The
Young Carers Service (OCC and
Spurgens) and The East Oxford
early Intervention Service. The
training focused on Young
Carers rights, their right to a
Voice and a right to be involved
in decisions that affect them,
emerging changes in legislation
and professionals roles and
responsibilities
to
ensure
support is in place so that young
carers can thrive and reach their
potential. During the day the
participants
were
also
introduced to the Oxfordshire
Young Carers School Standards.
They became familiar with the
standards and the format used to
support School to adopt this
practice.
The young people participated
well in the day, engaging in all
of the activities planned. They
were committed, insightful,
experienced and very keen to be
instrumental in creating change
for all Young Carers. The group
plans to develop training for
other
young
people
and
professionals, to insect those
schools who are at Gold
Standard, to ensure that the
voice of Young Carers is
represented
locally
and
nationally and make links with
the
Oxfordshire
Youth
Parliament.
Since this initial event the group
have been meeting on a weekly
basis to develop the agenda for
the Young Carers Schools and
Professionals Partnership events
that are delivered in South and
Vale, The City and The North.
The group have developed the
agenda for each event and have
tailored activities and designed
new activities to support
Professional understanding of
what life is like for a young
carer and to ensure that
5
everyone is ‘Young Carer
Aware’.
All three partnership events
have been lead and delivered by
Young Carers from YCOF, with
limited support from the Young
Carers
team
and
the
Engagement Team. The young
people have shared their own
life experiences and given real
hand accounts of what life is
like for them, both at home and
at school. Each event has been
powerful, inspiring and very
informative and the Young
People have certainly had their
voice heard across Oxfordshire.
Feedback from Professionals
who attended the practitioner’s
event:
'Great delivery form the young
people
involved.
Valuable
stories,
great
audience
participation’
Fab to have the girls here, really
gave a thoughtful perspective.'
Check out our website: http://www.spurgeonsyc.org
Services and Activities
Especially for young carers with a sibling with a disability and their
families
Autism-Friendly Cinema For children and adults with autism and their families/carers. Low lights are left on in the
auditorium, the volume is reduced and it is fine for customers to move around, make noise or take a break.
Odeon, Cineworld and Vue: Dimensions has partnerships with various cinemas. For details visit:
http://www.dimensions-uk.org/support-services/autism-care/autism-friendly-screenings/
Picturehouse in Oxford and Henley-on-Thames. . Email:[email protected] Call: 0871 79012 5738
Autism Family Support Children in Touch – Supports families with a child with autism. They have a newsletter and
lots of activities that are relevant to young carers as well as those they care for. Tel: 01844 338696 Email:
[email protected]
Barnardo’s Community Short Breaks provide holiday playschemes for disabled children and young people (5-18
years). They run during the school holiday based in Bicester, Banbury and Wantage five days a week, five hours
per day. Tel: 01869 252905 or email [email protected].
Camp Mohawk Camp Mohawk, Highfield Lane, Crazies Hill, Wargrave, Berks, RG10 8PU. 0118 9404045 Email:
[email protected] www.campmohawk.org.uk Outward Bound Courses for 8-25 yr olds, Family Days.
Carers Oxfordshire - Offering support and training for carers who are over 18. Please email at:
[email protected] or call 0845 050 7666.
Website: www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk
CHICKS – Free 5-day respite breaks for young carers full of exciting activities and positive experiences. To apply for a
free respite break at CHICKS this year a professional adult such as a staff member at the young carers centre (or
teachers or social workers) must complete our 2014 Child Referral Form. They can contact our Coordination
Team on 01822 811112 or [email protected] to discuss the applications and arrange your break with us.
Guideposts Trust - Tel: 01993 899980 / [email protected] www.guidepoststrust.org.uk Inclusive clubs
supporting children with a range of disabilities aged 3-19 in Abingdon, Banbury, Sonning Common, Wheatley and
Witney. Holiday clubs up to 5 days a week 9am-4pm. After school clubs (excluding Banbury). Youth clubs for 1118 yr olds in Witney, Abingdon, Eynsham and Banbury. Booking required. All sessions are fully staffed.
Lets Play Project - Tel: 01295 263694 Web: www.letsplaybanbury.org [email protected] Activities based
in Banbury area for 5-19 year olds and siblings from Oxfordshire.
OASIS: Tel: 07900 144493 www.oasisonline.org.uk Email: [email protected] Parent led support group that
arranges family playdays during the school holidays for all children on the Autistic Spectrum & siblings. These are
heavily subsidised but a parents/carers must accompany children
Oxfordshire Support Finder 2014 is now available online and in libraries, Health and Wellbeing Centres and council
offices. You can find out more at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/supportfinder. Free printed copies are also available in
libraries, Health and Wellbeing Centres and council offices. Oxfordshire County Council’s Social and Health Care
team can also post one to you – just call 0845 0507 666.
OXSRAD - Tel: 01865 741 336 Email: [email protected] Web: www.oxsrad.org Integrated Sports & Leisure Centre.
Recreational and leisure activities accessible to all. Gym, Sensory Room, Trampolining. Address: Court Place
Farm, Marsh Lane, Marston, Oxford OX3 0NQ. .
Parasol - Tel: 01865 742816 Inclusive Play & Leisure in Oxford. Also provides Enablers – 1:1 staff to accompany
children to other mainstream activities – contact Parasol for up-to-date details. www.parasolproject.org
th
th
SS Mary & John School, Meadow Lane, Oxford OX4 1TJ, Summer Holiday Playscheme, from 28 July till 8 August,
9:30am – 5pm for children age 5-12 years old. More information on www.ssmjhouseoffun.co.uk. Please contact
Jake, [email protected]
Special Needs Tennis Shrivenham Tennis Club, SN6 8BL. Contact: Chris Hand: email: [email protected] 07970
481 7075
The Music Club held at Crowmarsh Village Hall, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh. OX10 8ED
Children aged 0–19 years, siblings & carers. Music workshops, fun days. First Monday in the month (except bank
holidays) and school holidays. 07768 298297 / 0118 9722322 [email protected]
www.music4disabledchildren.org.uk
Thomley Activity Centre Tel: 01844 338380 www.thomleyhall.org Email:[email protected] Menmarsh Road,
Worminghall HP18 9JZ. Recreational facility on Oxon/Bucks border, for children & young people with disabilities,
families & friends. Specialist equipment, workshops, art & crafts, outdoor play, bikes, swings, sensory room.
Yellow Submarine Tel:01865 236119 Website: www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk [email protected] Day
trips in the Oxford and West Oxfordshire area for 11-18 year olds during school holidays throughout the year.
Contact them for more information.
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