The SEND Information Advice Support Service (SENDIASS) is expanding its service in Fenland and East Cambridgeshire. This service is available to provide support to parents/carers of young people with special education needs and disabilities. This support is currently available via telephone or Skype drop ins.
For more information and to contact the team see the Fenland & East Cambs Opportunity Area website
Caring Together, a charity supporting carers, are offering a free online course for parents and carers of children with autism – the Hope programme.
The Hope Programme is a six-week online group peer-support course based on positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy originally developed by Coventry University. It covers topics such as mindfulness, goal setting, anxiety, fatigue and stress management, healthy eating, physical activity and working with health care teams.
For more information on the Hope programme and how to book see the Caring Together website
Fathima Kodakkadan at Anglia Ruskin University is carrying out a study comparing the factors influencing the stress and resilience among the British Indian parents of children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC).
If you are interested in taking part there is more information and contact details here. There is a chance for you to WIN £50 for participating in this survey.
Is lockdown having a negative effect on your child? Or are you a young person struggling with high levels of anxiety and mental distress during lockdown?
Not sure how to access help? Two local sources of support are:
CHUMS Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service is for children & young people experiencing poor mental health. They are currently offering a phoneline service to replace their drop-ins.
KeepYourHead is Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’s Children & Young People’s mental health services site. It includes lots of information about mental health, things you can do to help yourself, and where to go to for more support.
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) have online webinars available on a range of topics in Special Education Needs & Disability law, including Education, Health & Care plans, school exclusions, school/college transport and tribunals. These cost £9 each and include presentation slides to download and keep.
Everything you need to know during the coronavirus outbreak including resources & tips for families, benefits and employment, going out, health & wellbeing, social care, education, shopping and working from home:
We have a new public facebook page in addition to our existing facebook group. We will be posting useful information, fun things and when lockdown eases, notifications of our groups and activities.
You can like us on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CambridgeNAS
If you also choose See first under Following or Follow settings this makes sure facebook will always show you our posts.
After questions were raised about the effect of the Coronavirus lockdown on people with autism the Government has issued some new guidance which will hopefully bring some reassurance to our members. For more details see the post on the National Autistic Society website:
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough are holding a consultation on their draft Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2024, which outlines the priority areas and how local councils, the NHS and community organisations would like to work together to improve people’s health and reduce health inequalities that exist across the area.
If you would like to give your views on the strategy, use the link below to the online survey. There is an easy-read version of the survey available as well.
https://consultcambs.uk.engagementhq.com/health-and-wellbeing-strategy-consultation
Are you or your child feeling anxious about Covid-19 or struggling with all the changes to your usual routine?
We’ve found a few helpful websites with suggestions to reduce anxiety and support your mental health through the next few months:
Coronavirus and your wellbeing – advice from MIND the mental health charity
Managing your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak – from Rethink Mental Illness
How to help an autistic child during the coronavirus outbreak – advice from the Priory
Uncertainty, anxiety and the Coronavirus pandemic – Ambitious about Autism