The website will be unavailable on Tuesday 20th July 12noon - 2pm for maintenance and upgrade works.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause however we hope the improvements to the site will add even more benefit to the Activities Unlimited Service.

On Friday 10 July, the new government launched a website http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ to let the public have their say about public spending under the its spending review. Government will be looking at the responses over the summer, so that they can publish their decisions in October. The discussions and decisions the government takes over the summer will determine how public money will be spent for the next four years.

I realize that this work is taking place at a time when it can be hard for parents to engage with things. However I cannot stress enough how important it is that as many families with disabled children as possible speak up. This is a critical time, and the decisions taken now will affect families with disabled children for the next few years. There is a real opportunity to make our views heard about the importance of investing in and protecting services for disabled children and their families.

The more people that speak up the better. Other groups will be mobilizing their supporters too, so it is critical that we do the same. Please pass this message on to as many families as you can, so that they can go onto the website http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ and hopefully encourage their friends and relatives to do the same.

Contact a Family will be raising the following issues:

* The importance of investing in services to support disabled children and their parents

* The importance of easing the financial pressures on families by making the right benefits available and also taking steps to help parents take up jobs if appropriate (affordable childcare, flexible working etc)

* The importance of investing in parent participation so that families can drive the development of services locally

Please click onto the link http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ and have your say. The amount of time we have to influence is very limited. Please help us to make the most of that time.

Kind regards

Srabani

Srabani Sen

Chief Executive

Contact a Family

Tel: 020 7608 8704

Address: 209-211 City Road, London EC1V 1JN

Web: www.cafamily.org.uk<http://www.cafamily.org.uk

Sweet Treats and Lolly Poppy’s - specialising in chocolate lollipops and stunning bespoke centre-pieces that are ideal for birthdays and parties for any occasion! Activities Unlimited members can enjoy 10% off their first order and free delivery in Ipswich – just by quoting AU01 when calling 01473 685963/07790 390359! You can also visit: http://www.sweet-treatsandlolly-poppys.co.uk!

Optua have been asked by Ipswich Borough Council to collect some views about their swivel seat taxis which don't seem to be very widely used as no-one seems to know about them.

They've set up a survey about this at this link- http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6G6HYTG.

If this is something that affects you, a friend or a relative, please take just a couple of moments to complete the survey.

MONEY OFF AT PLEASUREWOOD HILLS!

Don’t let the year slip by without a visit to the regions biggest and best theme park, Pleasurewood Hills. This 50-acre park is set in beautiful coastal parkland and ideally situated at Lowestoft but only just 10 minutes south of Great Yarmouth.

As an Activities Unlimited member, you can request special vouchers to give you money off entry tickets - a saving of £2.55 per adult and children over 12 years and £2.75 off a child between 3 and 11 years. All children under 3 years old will be free of charge. Simply contact us with your membership number and we’ll send you your very own vouchers!

DISCOUNTED ENTRY TO FAMILY EVENT IN LEISTON

The Procorda Trust is based at the picturesque Leiston Abbey, close to the Suffolk Coast. The team have been working with Activities Unlimited to provide a series of exciting music theatre workshops, featuring singing, movement, costume creation and set design. On 23rd July, they will be holding a special family day where everyone can come and take part in the areas that interest them most!

Activities Unlimited members can enjoy an exclusive 50% discount – so that’s just £5 entry for a family of up to five people, instead of the usual £10. And for anyone extra, its just £1 per person!

Contact Activities Unlimited to book, and don’t forget to quote your membership number!

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT AT SHAKEAWAY!

ShakeAway is the original re-inventor of MilkShakes!
With over 150 flavours from naughty to healthy, watch the ingredients being blended for you by the ShakeAway Shakettes. From Ferrero Rocher to Jam Doughnut, from fresh Banana to Carrot Cake, from Oreo Cookies to Jaffa Cakes, there is so much to choose from and every visit is a new experience!

Enjoy 20% of your purchase at Shakeaway, simply by showing your membership card! This offer is totally exclusive to members of Activities Unlimited from July 15th to 31st August. 2010.

Valid only at:

Shakeaway, The Butter Market, Ipswich

Shakeaway, 26 Arc Shopping Centre, Bury St Edmunds

FREE ENTRY TO THE ACTIVITIES UNLIMITED SUMMER FAMILY FUN DAY

The Activities Unlimited team are organising a fun filled day for all the family at the Needham Market Community Centre on Sunday 22nd August, 10am until 2pm. Come along and join in with soft play from ‘Play Up’, Paint, Make & Create with Artactiv and much much more…

And, Activities Unlimited members can enjoy free entry by showing their membership card on the day!

The prestigious MJ Achievement Awards for Service Innovations in Health and Social Care were held on 24^th June 2010 at the London Hilton Hotel. Activities Unlimited made the final in the category ‘Best achievement of the year in Children’s Services.’ The judges were looking for an innovative and committed children's services team, who have worked efficiently and effectively to develop the best children's services for 0-19s in their local area. The winning team was required to evidence how they linked successfully with different services and partners in innovative and constructive ways to create forward thinking services for children, young people and families

These attributes are the foundation of Activities Unlimited and I am thrilled to announce that the service emerged victorious on the night. Congratulations to Cheryl Sharland Head of Integrated Services for Children and Young People with Additional Needs and the Activities Unlimited team.

Personal Best is a new training and volunteering programme for young people in Suffolk who are not in work or education, but would like to gain opportunities to volunteer in their community and at the same time improve their skills and chances of getting a job. The Suffolk programme is specifically targeted at disabled young people between the ages of 16 and 25. Personal Best aims to encourage people into training to boost their confidence, and volunteer to gain work experience, using the excitement surrounding the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. All graduates of Personal Best who successfullyapply for a Games Time Volunteer role will be guaranteed an interview. London 2012 will depend on up to 70,000 volunteers to make sure the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games run smoothly and successfully and it is hoped that up to 10% of these volunteers will be graduates of Personal Best.

For more details please view the attached leaflet or e-mail karen.wainer@suffolk.gov.uk or tree@spellbounds.freeserve.co.uk

Optua is holding a disability showcase event this summer as part of London 2012 Open Weekend and to celebrate the achievements of its Disability Sport Academy Project.

The event will be held on Saturday 24th July at Northgate Sports Centre in Ipswich.

The Showcase Day will be a fun and exciting chance to take part in activities with a huge range of disabled sports to try plus other arts and cultural activities such as dance and theatre workshops. The sports on offer include cycling, football, athletics, boccia, sailing, archery, darts, judo, powerlifting and fishing.

London 2012 Open Weekend is an annual UK-wide celebration counting down to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Optua’s Showcase Day has been included on the official list of Open Weekend events.

Optua launched the Suffolk Disability Sport Academy project five years ago and has since organised seven disability sport showcase days across Suffolk, introduced hundreds of people to disability sport and helped to set up several new sports clubs.

The project has even helped to support one young Suffolk girl – Zoe Newson - to take up powerlifting and she’s now currently ranked number one in the world in her class in the International Paralympic world rankings!

Zoe competed at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation World Games in India last year where she came second in her class and holds the British Junior and Senior Records in the under 40kg class as well as European Junior Record in the under 40kg class. Zoe is a member of the Suffolk Spartans Powerlifting club which Optua helped to set up and continues to support.

David Finn, Optua’s Leisure Manager, said: “This event will be a perfect way to celebrate the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London. A lot has been said about the great opportunities the Olympic and Paralympic games coming to London presents to other parts of the country.

We’re a great example of this - we’ve used it to encourage more disabled people to try new sports and in many cases start competing on a regular basis. We’ve even helped some who might just be taking part in 2012! But it gives us as much satisfaction to see people enjoying themselves, getting active and making friends.

“Our event in July should be another really enjoyable and successful day and it’s free. We want as many people as possible to come along and enjoy themselves so get in touch and sign up soon!”

The event has received support from several organisations including £4,200 from Suffolk County Council’s Activities Unlimited Service.

To register for the event call 01473 836770, email sdsa@optua.org.uk or go to www.beyourbest.org.uk to download a registration form. There are plenty of places but the sooner people sign up the more chance of getting their first choice of sports.

We are pleased to announce the launch of phase 1 of our improved website, phase 2 is expected in the next few weeks.

We have taken on board comments from users especially those using the social media (Facebook, Youtube, Flickr) parts of the site and made these more accessible from the homepage.

We are improving the search facility and have now broken down the geographical areas to 8 areas so you can more accurately find your breaks and activities - this will be even easier when we implement a map facility as part of phase 2. You are also now able to see the exact address of the break within the location field when you search for activities.

As ever, we welcome your input and comments, contact us at info@activities-unlimited.co.uk

The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds is looking for a group of enthusiastic young people with mild learning disabilities to help create and run a costume department. There will be many tasks to do and to learn – from sorting, mending and tidying the costumes, hats, shoes and jewellery that we already have, to hunting down things from charity shops and helping to make new costumes from scratch. If you like to make things or are good at collecting things and keeping tidy, or you love to talk to new people - then you could help us make our costume department into a great resource for theatre groups, schools and clubs. The sessions will take place at the Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR. If you are interested and would like to book please contact Activities Unlimited , or if you would just like more details you can telephone The Theatre Royal Direct on 01284 829935 and ask to speak to Heidi or Becca.

This website will be unavailable on Thursday 17th June from 9am - 8pm due to maintenance and upgrade.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Carers Week is a nationally recognised annual event that puts the spot light on family carers. 2010 will be the tenth year that Carers Week has been held in its current format. Carers Week is organised by a consortium of seven national charities.

The theme for 2010 is ‘A life of my own’ – encouraging family carers to consider what they would need to enable them to have a life of their own including:

• Access to relevant and practical information in terms of their caring role.

• The opportunity to take a break

• Support at times of crisis

For further information including events taking place in Suffolk please visit:

www.carersweek.org

‘Rights’ Online Disability Awareness Training www.equo.co.uk	An excellent e-learning module available to anyone with an internet connection. The course features a tutorial followed by a series of questions designed to test the users understanding of issues such as the Disability Discrimination Act, what constitutes a reasonable adjustment, and how the use of language can affect someone’s ability to access services. £25 per candidate – includes all administration and certification costs. Available now.
‘Respect & Readiness’	This one day interactive course asks the learner to explore their role as a short break provider, how to ensure a safe and healthy environment, communicate effectively and to understand the child/young person’s development. £35 per candidate – includes all administration and certification costs, plus refreshments. Dates available from September 2010 countywide
The Short Break Experience Workshop	This informal workshop is available as a full day or half day/evening session. Aimed at those new to providing services to children and young people with additional needs, it offers an excellent induction to some of the key issues providers will face in making sure each young person enjoys a positive short break experience. £20 per organisation of up to 5 attendees per session. £10 for the half day/evening session Dates available from September 2010 countywide

Download The Flyer

We are currently putting all the summer activities onto the website.

You can have a sneak preview of the activities here.

As with all programmes created in advance, changes can be notified after the print run, here is the stop press changes to the summer programme.

Your detailed disability access guide is just a click away.

www.disabledgo.com

Search for Suffolk hospitals, GPs, pharmacies, dentists, opticians, community and mental health services.

NHS Suffolk – working with Suffolk’s acute hospitals, Suffolk Community Healthcare and the Mental Health Partnership – commissioned DisabledGo to visit all the places where healthcare is delivered in the PCT area and assess them for accessibility. The survey information has been used to make an online guide which patients can search by health service and their disability needs, for example, “a GP surgery with on site parking”, “a dental practice with an adapted toilet” or “a pharmacy with a hearing loop” etc.

This means patients, and their carers, will be able to make more informed choices about the services they use so their experience of healthcare will be more comfortable and dignified.

Over 600 detailed surveys of disability access have taken place and the guide will be updated annually. Importantly, the project is not only about wheelchair users but also surveys for all kinds of disabilities including visual impairment, hearing impairment and people who can walk some steps.

The Suffolk primary care trust area is the very first in the country to attempt such a comprehensive survey of healthcare access for people with disabilities and make this information available to patients and carers. The information in the guide is factual and highlights what healthcare providers can offer patients. The guide is available now at www.disabledgo.comand via the NHS Suffolk service locator.

An exciting new venue is going to be launched in the centre of Bury St Edmunds. Space 2 is joint venture between Bury St Edmunds Art Gallery and Activities Unlimited, situated in the heart of the town in the Cornhill Shopping Centre. Space 2 will offer:

• Saturday art sessions where parents and carers of children and young people over eight can go shopping while their young person is engaged in art activities.

• For four weeks of the summer holiday’s daytime art activities will be available.

• Carers of early years will have the opportunity to develop their creative skills in half day sessions programmed throughout the coming months.

• Art activities for young people experiencing emotional distress will be available in half day sessions throughout the coming months.

All sessions will be bookable online through the Activities Unlimited web site www.activities-unlimited.co.uk Computer access will also be available in Space 2 where you will be able to enrol and search for activities.

The launch date will be advertised on the web site soon.

Suffolk County Council have launched a new website, very similar to Activities Unlimited, for people over the age of 18 caring for someone over 18 years of age. The site contains information as well as breaks and activities for the carer and those they care for. The website is www.timeforcarers.info

We have just put all the new breaks on the website.

Download a copy of our programme here or search the website to see everything we have coming up.

Play Up is a newly formed project especially for children with severe additional needs.

Their aim as an organisation is to achieve a regular, permanent and sustainable resource with which to provide respite to any family with a child who requires an extra level of care across the area of Suffolk Coastal.

They intend to provide a safe and fun environment for children of ages 8 – 14.

Each session will run from noon until 5pm in the following venues on Saturdays each month during term times and Tuesday to Friday during half terms and holidays

1. Saturday (1 May): The Shalom Centre, Thomas Mills high school, Framlingham

1. Saturday (8 May): The Saxmundham Resource centre
2. Saturday (15 May): Hacheston village Hall.
3. Saturday (22 May): Mendham Village Hall

Play Up are inviting parents and children to an introductory session each Saturday in May so they can meet , have a nice cup of tea and see what they are about.

Initially places will be limited so please check in advance to discuss placements.

As Play Up aim to offer respite, an assessment will have to be made to see if any particular needs have to be addressed and where possible, they will try to arrange training for specific requirements for individual members if necessary.

Cost: £8 per session (£6 for members of Activities Unlimited)

Contact: David Brookes 07712 892699

or email : playupsuffolk@live.com

or contact Activities Unlimited on 01473 832971

Kirsty from the AU team is proud to announce:

Harrison Jacob Turner born to Kirsty and Matthew @ 3.03 Saturday weighing in at 71bs 15 oz. Mum and Harry doing fine.

We have just put lots of new breaks on the website for the Easter Holidays.

Download a copy of our programme here, or search the website to see everything we have coming up!

The latest issue of our new look magazine,AUNEWS, is out now. Grab your copy here!

If you live in Suffolk Coastal and are aged up to 18, you can find some additional information around what is on in your area from the 'Coastal Potato' website. It contains lots of information about local attractions, such as castle's, sports centres and youth clubs. Check it out at:

http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/coastalpotato/attractions/

Following a hugely successful run in Mid Suffolk, Artactiv is back and will be taking place at different venues to give others the chance to take part in this fantastic creative workshop.
This is what is planned:

Programme 1: Stratford St. Andrew Village Hall, every Thursday for 13 weeks for ages 18 to 25 years from 4th March to 27th May between 11am and 3pm.

Programme 2: Brandon Community Centre starting on Saturday 6th March, every week for 12 weeks until 22nd May for ages 11 to 20 years, between 11am and 3pm.

Programme 3: Gainsborough's House Print Workshop, Sudbury for ages 14 to 25 years. This is a special Easter event taking place on 14th and 15th April between 11am and 3pm.

Call now to book or place a booking request online! Places are sure to go fast!

The Activities Unlimited team has been working extremely hard over the last six months developing fun, safe, short break activities for children and young people with additional needs.

Developing activities

We’re keen that existing services can be developed so that they become more inclusive – so we’ve been contacting many existing providers, such as those who organise Cabin Crew, Kids Play and Cantors Theatre School, to name just a few.

We’re also working with a number of new providers such as Koan, ArtActive and Musica. Musica ran a very successful workshop in the October half term and is now planning to run workshops on a regular basis with Activities Unlimited support. ArtActive began offering fun, creative art sessions in November and spaces filled quickly. The work that was created will soon be exhibited, so keep an eye on the website for information of where and when this will be.

Filling the gaps

Since joining the project in June, the Scope team has been finding out where in the county there are gaps in activities available, and a strategy for filling these gaps has been completed. The ‘I Am’ strategy informs the team of where and what the needs are, based on consultation with children and young people, plus their parents and carers. It sits within the guidelines of the Aiming High Implementation guidance. The overall aim of the strategy is to develop short breaks across Suffolk to meet all age ranges and levels of need. It will include regular weekend, evening and school holiday activities, as well as overnight breaks.

Overnight breaks

Children and young people have told us they would like to spend time away from home overnight, either with existing friends or to meet new friends. We are therefore working hard to develop more overnight activities with providers such as Breakaway Active, Procorda and Klub Group – so watch this space!

School holiday activities

The Ipswich area now has a good range of specialist school holiday activities, such as Orwell Buddies, Heathside Holiday Club and Stars, for children who perhaps find it difficult to take part in mainstream activities. Running throughout the year these providers offer activities to children and young people with a wide range of ages and needs. We are planning to replicate the projects across Suffolk to areas where there is a great need for regular school holiday services for children and young people with disabilities. It’s important there are activities where children and young people know they will have fun, make new friends and feel safe, supported and included.

Teaming Up

For older children who have outgrown play schemes a new service called Teaming Up will soon be coming to Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Sudbury, Ipswich, and Lowestoft. Teaming Up will give young people aged 14 to 25 the opportunity to choose what they would like to do with a small group of others while being supported by volunteers and staff from Optua Leisure. Teaming Up developed after a number of young people told us they just wanted to go out with their mates and take part in community based activities. Keep an eye on the website for details and please contact the team if you are interested in joining Teaming Up.

The Kite Centre

Activities Unlimited has recently invested in a fantastic new resource in Lowestoft called The Kite Centre. It’s an all singing, all dancing media centre where young people aged 16 to 25 will be able to learn how to make films, become DJs and take part in lots of exciting activities related to media and the visual arts.

Just a taster

So, as you can see there are lots of exciting plans in place and this is just a taster. It is vital that children and young people with disabilities, and their parents and carers, talk to us about what they feel is needed. We’ll therefore be running a series of consultation events and road shows, and visiting schools across the county over the next year.

We are always more than happy to talk to anyone about the Activities Unlimited service so if you have something you would like to say please give us a call. If you are an existing or new provider, or if you are someone who has an idea about developing a short break activity, we would be very keen to hear from you: please contact us on 01473 832971 or email info@activities-unlimited.co.uk

In our drive to reach as many families across the county as possible we’ve started an advertising campaign. So, you may already have seen AU on a bus…and we’re also on HEART radio! Please help us spread the word and tell others what AU is all about – the more people who know about us the better...

If you've been wondering what the AU Wiki button on the home page is then here's your answer...

TheWikiisa directory showing services and support available both locally and nationally. It can be edited and amended by professionals and will keep developing and growing as more and more information is added. It can be used by anyone needing to find out about the types of help and support available: children and youngpeople,parents,carers,volunteersandprofessionals. We hope it will make it much easier to find out who to turn to when you need help and support and that it will be a well-used, comprehensive directory.

The first of our regular AU e-newsletters was sent out on Friday 29th January. Everyone who has enrolled as an AU member will receive the e-newsletter on a monthly basis – with special shorter editions in between to highlight any offers or new breaks. We think it’s a great way to keep in touch with you and we’d really like to know what you think. Please keep an eye on your inbox and email any comments to us at info@activities-unlimited.co.uk or phone 01473 832971.

If you haven't received the e-newsletter please make sure you enrol as an AU member asap!

You can also read the e-newsletter here.

CSD has won the UK’s highest accolade at the e-Government National Awards 2009, it was announced last night, Wednesday 20th January, at the prestigious City of London’s Guildhall.The highly sought-after annual Awards recognise creative thinking in the public sector and excellence in innovative technology-driven services.

Up against keen competition from 5 other finalists from around the UK in the category, Building a better society with e-Government services (improving social inclusion / improving lives and communities) CSD triumphed with its travel agency-style website for young people with disabilities in Suffolk, www.activities-unlimited.co.uk . The site had been launched in autumn 2009 with a visit from Dame Ellen MacArthur, after CSD had steered the project from drawing board to delivery success story in a record-breaking 13 weeks. The dynamic site was devised with input from some of the local young people with disabilities who are now enjoying the physical benefits of the project.

As well putting together lost of short breaks and activities that you can find online, the team have also pulled together some ideas of places to go as a family during this half term!

You can contact any one of these places directly, or visit their websites for more information.

Balham House Rare Breeds Farm - 01473 830264
www.baylham-house-farm.co.uk

Birch Farm Indoor Play - 01473 652152

Bressingham Steam and Gardens - 01379 686900
www.bressingham.co.uk

Colchester and ipswich museums - www.colchestermuseums.org.uk

Easton Farm park - 07128 746475 www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk

Felixtowe Leisure Centre - 01394 694600 www.dcleisurecentres.co.uk

Framlingham Castle - www.english-heritage.org.uk

High Lodge Forest Centre - www.forestry.gov.uk/thetfordforestpark

Hollow Trees Farm - 01449 741247 www.hollowtrees.co.uk

Ickworth Park and Gardens - 01284 735961
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth

Jimmy's Farm - 08444 938 088 www.jimmysfarm.co.uk

King Pin Bowling - 01474 611111 www.kingpinbowling.co.uk

Mid Suffolk leisure Centre - 01449 742817 www.everyoneactive.com

Play2Day Martlesham - 01473 611333

Rendlesham Forest

RSPB Minsmere - 01728 648281 www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere

Snakes & Ladders Indoor Play - 01473 255000

Suffolk Leisure Park - 01473 602347 www.suffolkleisurepark.co.uk

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary - 01449 711425
www.owl-help.org.uk

Activities Unlimited is pleased to announce an exciting new series of film making workshops. If you’re aged 13 to 22 and fancy learning how to make films then these workshops are for you!

Run by KOAN (who have previously worked with Activities Unlimited on a number of projects, including appearances at family fun days and the successful 2008 Movie Camp) you’ll get to work with professional film makers and learn some of the tricks of the trade.

Film making and creative workshops will be taking place at both the Priory School in Bury St Edmunds and Thomas Wolsey in Ipswich during 2010. The sessions are open to all, not just pupils of each school.

For full details, and to book, search for KOAN on the website.

Priory School – after-school group

Thomas Wolsey – Saturday group

Thomas Wolsey – after-school group

We have made a change to the enrolment account process which will allow a parent to submit detailed enrolments from their accounts for more than 1 child.

If you have a second child that you would like to submit a detailed enrolment form for, you can now complete the detailed enrolment form for a second time. If you require to submit a change to the details, please select the appropriate child's name on the detailed enrolment form and submit.

You will also notice that when you submit a booking request there is an option to say how many places you require and to enter the child's name.

If you require any help or assistance, please contact the Activities Unlimited Team.

We have amended the Gallery part of the website within Children and Young People Section to include reviews of the events and activities that you have been on. If you would like to submit a written review, photographs or video for us to add to the site, please contact us at info@activities-unlimited.co.uk

The Activities Unlimited team have been working hard over the last few months to develop their new approval scheme for providers, and are pleased to announce its official launch!

From the 1st November 2009, every short break entry that you see on the website will have completed the first stage of our scheme. This means that you can expect certain things from each and every provider.

For example;

• That the venue or provider will have policies and procedures in place relating to health and safety, safeguarding of vulnerable people and equality and diversity.

• That any staff working unsupervised with children and young people will have completed enhanced CRB checks and received basic training around safeguarding vulnerable people.

• That the venue or provider will have basic first aid provision.

• That there will be risk assessments in place to cover the activities undertaken.

• That the venue or provider will possess the relevant insurance for the activities undertaken.

We also ask for other information from providers so that we can match their abilities to the needs of children and young people. You can check this with us whenever you book. In the future, you will also be able to identify these activities when you visit by the special ‘Approved’ logo.

Some of these providers are also going on to work towards achieving our own quality standard called Rights, Respect & Readiness, or Triple R. The standard is aimed specifically at helping providers to develop their skills and capabilities to support disabled children and young people with the most complex needs. To achieve this mark, providers must:

• Evidence that they understand the rights of disabled children and young people and recognise their access requirements.

• Show a broad understanding of the issues faced by disabled children and young people in accessing services.

• Commit members of their staff teams to undertake mandatory accredited ‘Respect’ training.

• Show evidence of specific training for the staff team on a range of issues affecting their service and its users.

• Be able to produce evidence of monitoring and evaluating feedback from people accessing their service. This will be used to inform future service planning and demonstrate a commitment to continuous quality improvement

We will then show a special logo against the activity once this has been achieved.(under development).

So, if you have any questions about the approval scheme, or you know a provider who would like to get involved – don’t hesitate to get in contact!

info@activities-unlimited.co.uk

01473 832971

Suffolk County Council is pleased to announce that Young Voices Advocacy Service is now available for children & young people with additional needs. Speaking Up has been commissioned to run the scheme. Young Voices offers one-to-one advocacy to empower young people to have a stronger voice, express their own needs, make decisions and have choice and control over their lives.

If you are interested in Young Voices and would like to find out more telephone 0778 6984 123, email youngvoices@speakingup.org or visit www.speakingup.org .

The second issue of our fabulous new look magazine, AU NEWS, is out now - you can download your copy here.

Disabled young people in Suffolk enjoyed a very special afternoon sailing with Dame Ellen MacArthur on the 2^nd October 2009. The round the world yachts women showed young people the ropes to celebrate the new Activities Unlimited website. The group all went out with East Anglain Sailing Trust which is just one of many short breaks on the Activities Unlimited website and the young people were over the moon to get some tips from such a famous record breaker!

Fritton Lodge is a new accessible woodland lodge that’s been funded through Suffolk’s Aiming High programme. It’s set in the beautiful surroundings of Fritton Lake and Aiming High money means the lodge has been made fully accessible to people with complex needs. The lodge was officially opened on 5th September by Lady Somerleyton and families with disabled children. Activities on offer at Fritton include horse riding, a nature trail, a boating lake, an accessible play area plus much more. It’s close to Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth and the lodge is available for groups of disabled children and young people, for school groups and for families with disabled children who live in the Waveney district of Suffolk. The lodge can be booked for a week or a weekend away. For further information please contact the AU Team 01473 832971 or visit us www.activities-unlimited.co.uk

The Activities Unlimited team will be hitting the road to visit as many activities, support groups and organisations as possible. And each time they do, they will be writing a ‘blog’ report that you can follow on Facebook!

Facebook is an online social networking community, and Activities Unlimited has its very own page with photographs, videos and news items.

If you haven’t already, you can sign up to Facebook and become an Activities Unlimited fan by following the link in the Children & Young People section of the site.

So keep an eye out for the team in their bright red T-shirts. Come and say hello, and you may even see your name on our Facebook page!

See our fan page here

See The Video Here

Sunday 12th July saw the launch of the activities-unlimited.co.uk website at Trinity Park Family Day.

A great day was had by all and we celebrated in style!

These are the lucky winners of our raffle including the 1st prize of a laptop being presented by Cheryl Sharland and Councillor Graham Newman.

A big thank-you to all those who took part in our consultation exercise at the website launch on Sunday 12th July.

Here are the results:

A total of 45 young people took part, which was excellent.

• 28% of you preferred Music and Dance
• 22% said Sport.
• 20% of you said Outdoor Adventure activities were your favourite.
• 15% said Computer based activities were the best
• 8% said Film and Theatre
• 7% said they preferred Arts & Crafts

There were more young people aged 19 to 25 at the event than any other age group. There were also some interesting comments about other activities that you would like to see, including cookery, the East Coast Truckers and Hair & Beauty sessions.

Several people also left their contact details, and the team will be getting in touch soon to talk about what else you would like to see available.

Thanks once again for taking part!