I'm very pleased to say that following a review of the new government and Public Health England rules on social gatherings we are able to resume our respite groups once again, as they are currently exempt from the Rule of 6.
We will restart on Monday 21st September with the Rayleigh Secondary Group. We would remind parents that although the guidance says we are safe to run these groups it is for them to make the ultimate decision as to whether it is safe for their children to attend, dependent on their personal circumstances.
We would also like to remind those attending that they must still observe social distancing and have a face covering for use where they cannot; those who do not comply may be sent home. Those who travel by taxi will be required to wear a face covering during the journey. If your child is not capable or willing to abide by these rules then it will be safer for all concerned if they do not attend until the situation allows more relaxed conditions. ... See MoreSee Less
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SCAFT Volunteer Ron Coutts has very kindly offered to open his award winning garden in Rayleigh to SCAFT carers and their families during August, free of charge. Ron will have some amazing plants available for sale, with a percentage of the proceeds going to SCAFT.
Ron's extensive knowledge of plants and gardening will also be at your disposal to answer any questions you might have.
For obvious safety reasons Ron will only be accepting one family group at a time. Sadly refreshments will not be available, but you are welcome to take your own. The garden is wheelchair accessible and access to a toilet is possible, although it is not disability friendly.
Ron has slots available on:
Wednesday 12th Aug - AM & PM
Thursday 13th Aug - PM
Mon 17th Aug - PM
Wednesday 19th Aug - AM & PM
Friday 21st Aug - PM
Monday 24 Aug - PM
Wednesday 26th Aug - AM& PM
All PM slots will start no earlier than 2pm.
If you would like to book a slot please email Ron directly on couttsier636@outlook.com to arrange to visit. ... See MoreSee Less
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We're still here! Despite these strange and challenging times we've managed to continue providing a reduced service to our young carers and their families. Lucy and I have been available via phone and Facebook to help if needed. I'm pleased to say many families appear to have coped very well and have found ways to treat lockdown as an opportunity to spend quality time with each other, that they might not otherwise have had.
However not everyone experienced the restrictions as a positive time and it has been a real test for them. We've assisted with difficulties obtaining food, feelings of loneliness and isolation, and with difficulties when other services have been withdrawn or been a struggle to access. I'm also very sad to say that not all families have as many members as they did at the outset and they are in our thoughts.
We are all go to resume a more usual pattern of service in September, assuming the schools reopen in full as planned and there are no significant changes to the situation. Our venues are ready for us to return to, both for group sessions and One2one's in schools; and we've some exciting new opportunities for our young people including a chance to be part of a new video production, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes making it happen.
As we head into the summer break we wish all our families a safe and enjoyable time, but know that for some things will still be difficult. Although our usual services will not be running, and we're very disappointed that our usual spread of summer activities has not been possible, Jayne and I will still be manning the office and there to help if needed, on 01268 741811 and I will also be available via our Facebook groups. If you're not already a member of either our parents or young carers groups please send us a message and we'll join you up.
We look forward to seeing you all then! :) ... See MoreSee Less
With so much free time there has been a massive boost in interest in live streaming apps such as Tik Tok, and they can be great fun; but, do you know how to judge if a challenge is physically safe to do or whether it might leave you open to exploitation? If something feels wrong or uncomfortable don't do it just because everyone else is. We've all seen video clips online of people getting seriously hurt, abused or embarrassed doing things they probably wouldn't have, if they hadn't been egged into it by others. Real friends won't ask you to do something that is going to harm you in any way.
Here are some activities that might help you think about the risks and ways of protecting yourself or your children.
For 5-7's www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/5-7s/?utm_source=Thinkuknow&u...
For 8-11's www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/8-10s/?utm_source=Thinkuknow&...
For 11-13's www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/11-13s/?utm_source=Thinkuknow...
For 14+ www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/14-plus/?utm_source=Thinkukno... ... See MoreSee Less
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