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1ST FOR
Stockton News ...
TWO AWARDS FOR LOCAL
VOLUNTARY GROUP
No-one
was more surprised than Jenny Lumley, Manager of Stockton Parent
Support when two of their young people’s groups gained regional
recognition through the Durham Shevralty Awards. Stockton Parent
Support is a local charity that provides information, support and
activities for disabled children and their families.
‘As
part of our aims we try to enable young people to engage in their
local community and speak out for disabled children. A staff member
saw the criteria for the awards and suggested that two groups had
met them well.’ The groups were a drama club and a Disability Forum
of 8 young people who had listened to disabled children and planned
involvement in local events.
The
T.y.p.e Drama Group in November 2006 gave a presentation about their
concerns about life in Stockton for disabled children. Five members
of the group spoke to members of Stockton’s Children’s Trust and
listed the improvements that they would like to see. As a
consequence of this night, 3 young people went on to join Stockton’s
Disability Equality Group and have attended sessions to provide
young people’s viewpoints.
The
Stockton Disability Youth Forum was so moved by the death of one of
their members, Michael Benson that they planned and devised an
awards ceremony in his memory in October 2006. This was so
successful that the group plan to make it an annual event. They
have just received funding from Stockton’s Youth Bank to put their
next Awards Ceremony plans into action.
On
Friday 23rd March this year, group members from T.y.p.e
and DYF travelled to Durham Castle to receive the awards. They were
pictured with Sareth Nainby-Luxmoore, the current High Sheriff of
Durham who commended the children on their positive community
spirit.
- Jenny
Lumley, Parent Support. Tel: 01642 878137; Email:
stocktonps@yahoo.co.uk
ends
1st FOR STOCKTON ON TEES - WE'RE NUMBER 1!!
Children and young people who provide care, have led
the way and made it a 1st for Stockton-on-Tees.
The Young Carers Project at Eastern Ravens Trust,
which offers respite and support to Young Carers, has become the
first organisation in Stockton Borough to be awarded ‘Investing in
Children’ membership status. Young Carers, their families, project
staff and partner agencies recently celebrated their success with
the Mayor of Stockton who presented their ‘Investing in Children’
certificate.
‘Investing in Children’ works to ensure that children
and young people have a voice and are able to influence the services
they use; the project was awarded membership due to the ongoing
participation and consultation with Young Carers who access the
project.
“Young Carers deserve the highest accolades for this
achievement, and we would like to congratulate them richly. We hope
this will be the first of many projects who reach this goal, as part
of this participation development work commissioned by the
Children’s Fund.”, said Tony Quantrill, Commissioning Manager for
the Children’s Fund and Stockton Borough Council.
Young carers are children and young people who look
after another family member due to ill health and/or disabilities.
The project enables Young Carers aged 8-17 to take a break from
their caring roles and responsibilities, and provides opportunities
to meet and make friends with other Young Carers experiencing
similar situations; the project also provides activities which Young
Carers may not get the opportunity to take part in because of their
caring roles.
If you would like any further information about the
Young Carers Project or Eastern Ravens Trust, please feel free to
contact Tracey Hamilton on 01642 678454 or via e-mail:
info@easternravenstrust.org
The
Mayor of Stockton with Young Carers at the recent Celebration Event
Stockton Healthy
School Relaxation Club
The Relaxation Club has been
running for the past year now in Children’s Fund primary schools
throughout Stockton. The 5 week club is delivered to years 4, 5 and
6 but can be adapted to secondary school aged pupils or even staff.
The club gives pupils the chance to learn many different techniques
to help them cope with stressful situations such as exams. These
techniques include visualisation, hand massage, peer weather
massage, breathing techniques, exercises (such as ribbon twirling)
and nutritional information is also covered. School’s who have
accessed the club are; The Oak Tree Primary School, Tilery Primary
School, Mill Lane Primary School, St. John the Evangelist Primary
School, Egglescliffe Primary School and Bowesfield Primary.
Blakeston Sports College have also accessed parts of the club at the
new Health Drop in. The Children’s Fund has enabled us to provide
additional resources for the pupils to take home and utilise, such
as stress diaries, stress balls and sensory bags. Every school that
has taken part have reported a great enjoyment of the program and
initial feedback has suggested that the club has really helped the
children to calm down. For more information on this exciting club,
please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Edwards on 01642 853 989
or
Jennifer.edwards@stockton.gov.uk . |
