Listen Again to "The Voluntary Sector with HVA"

Would you like a second chance to hear the latest episode of "The Voluntary Sector with HVA" on Halton Community Radio?

This episode (initially broadcast on Thursday 29th April) included interviews with Ralph Owen Friends of Runcorn Hill), Louise Faint (Halton Borough Council Adult Learning & Skills Development Team) and Andrew Shaw, Helen Bushell & Linda Ashton (from Ditton West Community Group). Lee Goodier (HVA) joined me for “Voluntary Opportunity of the Week”.

To listen to the show (or to download a copy to your PC), please visit http://tinyurl.com/248amyh.

If you'd like to promote your voluntary organisation on a future episode of the show, please contact me on mroberts@haltonva.org.uk or (01928) 593 118.

Many Thanks.

Matthew Roberts

Innovation Exchange - Call For Ideas

Here's a message from our colleagues at Innovation Exchange:

Call for Ideas for third sector projects working to green public services.

Innovation Exchange is seeking high-potential third sector innovation projects that could participate in its new Green Next Practice Programme

This programme will provide brokerage support to five or six third sector innovation projects with the potential to green public services. The projects might seek to deliver public services, work for public services or influence public service strategies. The Innovation Exchange believes that public services can play a leading role in greening the UK.

The programme has six things to offer the third sector: practical support, links to policy-makers and investors, links to public services, coaching and facilitation, networking events to develop and share your work; and promotion through Innovation Exchange.

If you’re a third sector project working to green public services then apply by Wednesday, 2nd June 2010 for the chance to participate.

Any questions regarding the Green Next Practice Programme should be directed to Raj Cheema, 020 7259 1368.

'YOMP needs YOU!!'

A message from our colleague Rob Warburton (from Halton Youth Service):

Youth Cabinet members have just returned from a 'Youthforia' North West Regional Residential. During the residential all young people were asked to form part of campaign groups including YOMP!

YOMP stands for Youth Opportunities, Media and Police. Its all about raising awareness of all the different Youth Opportunities and trying to provide even more, raising young peoples profile, breaking the negative stereotypes associated with young people, raising awareness of young peoples right's with the police and generating better relationships between the police and young people, and as part of our campaign plan we hope to create a web viral video!

The video will consist of images of all different young people from all different walks of life from the borough holding a sign displaying something positive that they have done such as 'I've volunteered 10 hours this week' or 'I've completed all my assignments for school/college' or 'two weeks ago I quit smoking' it can say anything as long as it is positive and its what they have done.

It would be great if you could speak to the young people at all your provision's and see if they would be interested in taking part. If so then it would be great if you could get them to complete an image consent form, if they haven't already, and take photographs of the young people holding the signs and send the pictures to Vanessa, the more the better!

Alternatively if the YP do not want to have their pictures taken but still want to be involved in the project then they still can - YOMP will have their own page on the Halton4Teenz website where there will be the video and also a place where anyone can comment about something positive that they have done in Halton.

So, what are you waiting for?!!

If you want more information by all means drop me an email or call on the numbers below, otherwise, I look forward to receiving hundreds of photos!

Regards,

Rob Warburton
Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator

Action for Children
Halton Youth Service
Youth HUB Grangeway Runcorn WA7 5HA

t: 01928 583323
m: 07540 919525
e: robert.warburton@actionforchildren.org.uk

www.actionforchildren.org.uk

Listen Again to "The voluntary Sector with HVA"

Would you like a second chance to hear the latest episode of "The Voluntary Sector with HVA" on Halton Community Radio?

This episode (initially broadcast on Thursday 22nd April) included interviews with Ceri Edwards (Youth Federation), Vicki Bennett (Imagine Mental Health) and Irene Bramwell (from Halton LINk). Lee Goodier (HVA) joined me for “Voluntary Opportunity of the Week”.

To listen to the show (or to download a copy to your PC), please visit http://tinyurl.com/2utzg4t.

If you'd like to promote your voluntary organisation on a future episode of the show, please contact me on mroberts@haltonva.org.uk or (01928) 593 118.

Many Thanks.

Matthew Roberts

Halton Autistic Family Support Group use HVA Radio Show to tackle Halton Borough Council

Has your organisation been asking the right questions, but been greeted only with silence in response?

Have decision makers in the borough ignored your pleas for help or information?

If the answer to either of these questions is “yes”, why not Challenge Matt to get those answers on your behalf? HVA has used the public forum of “The Voluntary Sector with HVA” on Halton Community Radio to get the lines of communication open.

That's what HAFS did.

Ciaran Shanahan popped the question: Why are NHS Halton & St Helens and Halton Borough Council ignoring the needs of Autistic children in Halton whilst pretending not to do so?

Here's David Parr's (the HBC Chief Executive) reply:

Matthew

It is difficult to know where to start in responding to the question posed by Mr Ciaran Shanahan (of Halton Autistic Family Support Group) as there is so much going on in Halton in this area

His question was :-
“Why are NHS Halton & St Helens and Halton Borough Council ignoring the needs of Autistic children in Halton, whilst pretending not to do so?”

So here goes

There is a comprehensive range of services for autistic children and adults in Halton, for example

- Woodview Child Development Team provide multi agency assessments for pre school children including children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including Moonbeams education assessment service and therapy services.

- Early Bird Parent training/advice courses for parents/carers of children with ASD,

- Little Stars advice/training and support group for parent/carers of disabled children including those with ASD

- CanBe service - consultation, guidance and support service for children who have disabilities and behaviour that challenges their carers which includes significant percentage of children with ASD.

- Inglefield short break residential unit providing short breaks for carers of disabled children - half of the children who have used this resource in last 12 months have ASD.

- Children's Disability Team provide social work, family support, outreach services, group based activities to disabled children including those with ASD

- Transition support provided by a Transition coordinator to provide smooth transition for those young disabled people who are transfered from childrens to adult social care services.

- Other transition projects include Change It - multi agency project looking at developing the local offer for young people to access further education, employment and leisure etc in Halton and Person Centred Planning that supports young disabled people to have their voice heard in planning for their futures. Again this is available and accessed by young people with ASD.

- Carers Officer - provides carers assessments and advice and support to carers of disabled children.

- Aiming High for Disabled Children Services include the following contracted services -

- Carers Centre - Provide support and information and advice to carers. They have established a carers reference group, been involved with AHDC and Parents officer to establish new parent participation group called Parents4Parents n Carers to be involved in decision making processes with HBC and PCT and other bodies to influence the provision of services in the Borough. They provide short breaks activities and trips and family fun days for families of disabled children, support to young carers, support carers groups in the Borough, provide outreach, information events, therapy services, parent carer training including Caring with Confidence course.

- Halton Play Council - contract to provide inclusive playschemes throughout all school holidays. Also contracted to provide specialist out of school group sessions for disabled children based in Runcorn.

- Barnardos - Contract to provide brokerage services, support planning and reviews for children and families requesting short breaks. They also provide befriending service, teenage groups, activity breaks and consultation sessions for young disabled people.

- Crossroads - Have contract to provide individual support either in the home or out in the community for disabled children and their families. They also have a contract to deliver specialist out of school group sessions for disabled children based in Widnes.

- Connexions - Youth services provided both inclusive and specialist settings. Circle of Influence consultation with young people.

- HAFS - have a contract to deliver family short break activities exclusively for children and young people with ASD and their families in Halton which includes activites such as trampoline sessions, discos, parties, day trips, social events for carers, family weekend to Blackpool et

- Direct Payments and Individual Budget Pilot - over half of the children using these have ASD.

· 2 Children Centres worked with Crossroads and Barnardos in last summer holidays to provide mini playscheme for young children - over half had ASD. They are now delivering a fortnightly Saturday club for this group in the children centres.

· Christmas short breaks - programme of extra sessions to deliver range of activities for disabled children and young people, in the 6 weeks up to Christmas to enable carers to have more time to do shopping etc. in preparation for Christmas.

· Bespoke packages of support - 4 young people have intensive support packages provided via agencies - all these young people have ASD.




Strategic Planning for ASC

Developments for people with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) are considered at the ASC Strategic Group, which is attended by Local Authority and PCT colleagues, as well as Mike Fry who is the chair of HAFS. Having commissioned support from the National Autistic Society, the Group is currently working on an Autism Strategy, which will address a number of areas, including the range of services available, and staff training. It is hoped that HAFS will participate in this. We are of course awaiting statutory guidance from the Government arising from the 2009 Autism Act.

One development already planned is to set up a specialist Community Positive Behaviour Service. This is a true collaborative effort between adult and children partners across the PCT and the Local Authorities (Halton and St Helens), and it will be jointly funded. Representatives from all the contributing partners have met regularly over the last year to work on the proposal.

Although the service is not specifically targeted at people with Autism Spectrum Conditions, they are heavily represented (between 50 and 60%) in the group likely to benefit. These will be people with more complex needs. As the service becomes fully functional over the next year, it will provide direct specialist support to frontline services, and also to families.



An example of Education Provision for pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Annual expenditure 2009-2010

Pupils in Independent /Non Maintained Schools £370,000

Additional Support in Mainstream Schools
(includes statements and school action enhanced) £417,000

SLA with Speech and Language Therapy Services £129,000
(includes training)

SLA for Early Years Speech and Language Therapy Services
(includes training) £270,000

Accredited Autism Training £20,000
(through Canterbury & Christchurch University and ADOS)

Total £ 1,206,000


In addition to this expenditure, The Borough currently maintains x 2 Special Schools that have specialist provision for ASD and Aspergers one of which is fully NAS( National Autism Society) Accredited and the other in the process of full accreditation. This covers age range 2–19yrs.

The Borough is in the final stages of review of Special Unit Provision and the proposals approved by the Council are out for Statutory Notice These proposals are that the mainstream resourced provision for Autism should be increased to incorporate an additional 42 specialist places for pupils ranging from 5-16. This provision, if approved, will be positioned to meet the locality needs of both Runcorn and Widnes.

Halton will be in the enviable position of being able to provide a range of Specialist provision across the Borough to support the continuum of need experienced by pupils with Autism.

I hope this demonstrates Halton is very actively engaged in supporting the needs of Autistic children in the Borough and that Mr Shanahan’s criticisms are not supported by what is actually going on on the ground

David Parr
Chief Executive



And here's Ciaran Shanahan's response to the above:



Matt,

Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight on Halton Community Radio slot " Challenge Matt". I would be grateful if you could read out my comments below on the debate so far.

Following the original programme a couple of weeks ago, we have now arranged a meeting with the PCT to discuss funding and commissioning and are confident of moving forward with them to assist them to meet the health needs of children and young people with Autism and work towards a healthier Halton.

However, as far as Halton Borough Council is concerned the situation is far less positive.

I read Mr Parr's reply and comments on my question on Challenge Matt and it was a very comprehensive reply that was produced for him by his Officers. What a shame it was so very inaccurate and misleading.

The litany of services that were described were universal services for general disabilities that some autistic people access and the real facts are that apart from Early Birds service and what we at HAFS, deliver none of the other services are Autism specific and certainly not designed around the needs of individuals as the Government says they should be.

Also, only those who meet the stringent eligibility criteria, set at a very high level, can actually get to access these services and many people are excluded from support because of this criteria.

There are a number of families in crisis due to their needs being ignored and Mr Parr needs to understand this rather than just being briefed incorrectly by his Officers. This is particularly bad in terms of Special Needs Education where bullying, assault and intimidation is rife and families are having to resort to Tribunals and other legal action against HBC to fight this discrimination. More and more children are being removed from education altogether to protect them from harm and inappropraite placements that dont meet their needs.

Parents are having to send their children out of Borough for an appropriate education and these specialist placements and transport costs are high. Why should these children have to travel so far and we are local council tax payers have to pay so much to ensure these children have their educational needs met? The answer is simple because this authority will not listen to the sound logistical and financial sense of having an ASD specific school in the borough and with 150 children and young people in Halton it is well justified. Tinkering arouond the edges with mixed disabilities special schools and pretend ASD units does not meet these needs.

As far as the Strategy for Autism is concerned, that is just lip service and just a talking shop to be seen to be doing something and our Chairman Mr Mike Fry has frustratingly observed it as such. How can you have a strategy for Autism without HAFS involvement that represents the majority of families in Halton affected by Autism?

These are the real unsanitised facts that Mr Parr and his colleagues would like to brush under the carpet.

Therefore, I repeat my original question why are people with Autism having their needs ignored by HBC and I repeat my offer to debate these situations live on radio with him.

Regards,

Ciaran.


Many thanks to both Ciaran Shanahan and David Parr for contributing to this debate.

Matthew Roberts

Listen Again to "The Voluntary Sector with HVA"

Would you like a second chance to hear the latest episode of "The Voluntary Sector with HVA" on Halton Community Radio?

This episode (initially broadcast on Thursday 15th April) included interviews with Andy Shard (Valliant Gym, British Special Olympics), Ciaran Clotworthy (Halton Haven Hospice) and Stu Brown, Amy Pennington & Pete Muldoon (from LOOSE Music). Lee Goodier (HVA) joined me for “Voluntary Opportunity of the Week”.

To listen to the show (or to download a copy to your PC), please visit http://tinyurl.com/y2ten3n

If you'd like to promote your voluntary organisation on a future episode of the show, please contact me on mroberts@haltonva.org.uk or (01928) 593 118.

Many Thanks.

Matthew Roberts

Runcorn Carnival Support Group

Dear Friends,

I am writing to inform you that our group is planning to bring the Runcorn Carnival back in 2011.

We hope your group will be able to take part in the carnival and would just like to ask at this stage if you could indicate your willingness to take part. Further details and an application will be sent at a later date to all those indicating their interest.

There are several ways in which you can get involved such as taking part in the parade or having a fund raising stall on the field, or maybe you would like to give a demonstration of some sort in the event arena. We will be having a walking parade, (no floats or other vehicles), and we hope each group will get into the spirit of the event by dressing up in costumes. The carnival will have an overall theme which we will announce at a future date.

Our vision is of a modern and vibrant carnival involving a wide variety of local groups and organisations. If you have an interest in joining in then please reply to this email indicating how you would like to be involved.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Regards

George Low (Runcorn Carnival Support Group).

Tel: (01928) 500 521.

Email: runcorncarnival@talktalk.net

Halton Adults with Learning Disabilities Support

Thanks very much to Pam Roberts (no relation) for sending us the above information about her superb new group HALDS (Halton Adults with Learning Disabilities Support).

Just click on the image to bring up a much larger version.

RWA: Final Destination

Don't miss the superb Runcorn Wrestling Academy, this Saturday night at the Grangeway Community Centre in Runcorn.

Hear the RWA's Voodoo Child, Dan Monroe promoting the event on today's HVA radio show. Live on Halton Community Radio (92.3FM) from 2pm.

Listen Again to the Voluntary Sector with HVA - Tribute to HITS

Would you like a second chance to hear the latest episode of "The Voluntary Sector with HVA" on Halton Community Radio?

This episode (initially broadcast on Thursday 1st April) was dedicated to the superb team at HITS, who shut their doors for the final time on Wednesday 31st March. It featured interviews with HITS Alumni Linda Brown, John Chambers, Gary Fowler, Charlene Simpson, Brenda Scahill, Dawn Moores, Juliette Yardley, Mike Davies, Joanne McCarrick, May Kinch, Kelly Cartwright, Louise Nulty and Jane Bennett.

Norma Hornby (Canal Boat Adventure Project) and Nick Calland (Kings Cross Project) joined me to talk about their experiences working with HITS. Paul Quigley from Norton Priory Museum & Gardens outlined Easter activities at the Priory.

To listen to the show (or to download a copy to your PC), please visit http://tinyurl.com/yca8zcq.

If you'd like to promote your voluntary organisation on a future episode of the show, please contact me on mroberts@haltonva.org.uk or (01928) 593 118.

Many Thanks.

Matthew Roberts