What's On
Online support group for our parents of children with complex needs.
Please contact Neel Wilson for more information. E: neel.wilson@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Berkshire Deaf Children's Society have lots of events coming up for all ages- we have listed a few below but
to find out more about all their events click here
Friday 8th April 2022 – 6pm – Red Kangaroo Trampoline Park in Reading (aimed at older members)
We have booked exclusive use of Red Kangaroo so our youngsters can bounce their heart’s delight!
More details and booking information to follow soon.
Sunday 15th May 2022 – Beale Wildlife Park (aimed at younger members)
Come and join us for a day at the park, short zoo keeper talks (BSL interpreter available) and a group picnic
Details and booking to follow
Sunday 29th May 2022 – 5.15pm High Scores Arcade in Newbury (aimed at older members)
Calling all fun-seekers! BDCS are super excited to invite you to Newbury's newest family entertainment experience. High Score is a free-play amusement centre, packed with over 60 games to either reminisce or play for the first time. From old school classics including Space Invaders and PAC-man to pinball, sports games and the newest arcade fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We are taking over the whole venue!
Details and booking to follow
Sunday 3rd July 2022 – 10am – Camp Mohawk in Wargrave RG10 (Aimed at all members)
Join us for a day of activities at this amazing accessible venue. Swimming, climbing, archery will all hopefully be available.
Details and booking to follow
August 2022 – exact date to be confirmed – Legoland – (aimed at all members)
A day at Legoland with signed shows.
More details to be confirmed soon.
Thomas Pocklington Trust’s vision is a society where blind and partially sighted people can participate fully. Our mission is to support blind and partially sighted people of all ages to live the life they want to lead and we do this with the help and support of blind and partially sighted volunteers.
Sally the Youth Participation Coordinator for Thomas Pocklington Trust is currently recruiting for one young person to represent the south east area for a project called ‘Young Voices’. Young Voices is a youth forum made up of blind and partially sighted young volunteers (aged 14 – 18) who want to bring about positive change for their community and act as a voice for young people with sight loss. Young Voices will inform and educate society by challenging negative perceptions of visual impairment and advocating for positive change at a local and national level.
Young Voices will make a difference by working to improve experiences within education, employment and engagement whilst focusing in on health and wellbeing in the VI community, making sure communities are inclusive and helping VI young people to develop life and employment skills.
Pleas see the attached leaflets for more information.
Supporting visually impaired young people to thrive. Look provide online Parent Support Groups to expert-led webinars, Youth Forums and Music Groups - , get your diaries out and make a note of these fab events from LOOK!
Watermill Theatre in Newbury have some opportunities for watching and making theatre that you might enjoy and have provided this information:
Deaf/hearing loss
Duologue is our weekly youth theatre group for young people aged 11-16, held at Arlington Arts in Newbury. Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing, CODA, all are welcome. We always have an interpreter at the sessions. We’d love to welcome some of your young people!
Vision impairment
All of our youth theatre activities can be made accessible to support needs. Visit our webpages for more information about what’s on offer.
We are delighted to be providing audio described performances at The Watermill as usual
The next Audio described performance is The Girl of Ink and Stars. It is a great choice as the book was winner of the British Book Award’s Children’s Book of the Year.
Blind in Business have some fantastic opportunities coming up this term with employers. Alongside this, they still provide the following:
- 1:1 mentoring
- School and county in person and virtual careers workshops
- Technology advice
To sign up for any of the below events or for more details, email. jess@blindinbusiness.org.uk
Building Prospects Afterschool Workshops
5 weeks of employment and higher education sessions
Via zoom
Starting Thursday 5th May @4:30 – 5pm
AND
Tuesday 4th October 5pm – 5:45pm
British Airways Insight Webinar
28th April 11-11:30am
Financial Times Insight Webinar
18th May, PM (time tbc)
Interview Masterclass and Mock Interview Session with employers
30th June at 4:30pm
CV Masterclass
July, date and time tbc
Uni Top Tips Insight Session
Friday 22nd July @4:30
Work Experience Week
(Now full) 25th-29th July
Expectations Exceeded Q&A Parents Webinar
Weds 27th September @ 5pm
Wokingham Children with Additional needs (CAN) Network is an information and support service for children and young people with additional needs and their families. Their March Newsletter has lots of information and things to do during the Easter holidays.
Nystagmus Network are running a Raindrops story writing and drawing competition for children with Nystagmus. The Nystagmus Network Raindrops competition celebrates the wonderful creativity of children’s writing and illustration.
The best stories and drawings will be published in a special book which will be available to purchase from September 2021.
Click here for details of how to enter.
Soundabout have unveiled a brand new timetable for their online music provision. We have a variety of fun, interactive and educational sessions on Facebook, YouTube and Zoom.Sessions are free to access except for those held on Zoom. Please view their website for more details.
Following on from the amazing success of our autumn events we can now announce another new spring programme of events for children, young people and their families.
Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation we have still suspended our face-to-face events and our new events will all be delivered online.
Please visit the RNIB website for more details.
Activities aimed at children and young people can be found by clicking here
Your Berkshire Vision Children and Young People’s magazine needs you!
- Do you have some funny jokes to share?
- Can you inspire us with a new family favourite recipe?
- Can you show us some of your amazing art and craft designs?
- Want to tell us about a good film or TV programme suitable for young members?
- Could you design a quiz or crossword puzzle?
- Have you got a funny photo you could share? Or a story about something funny that happened to you or someone in your family?
- Can you tell us your favourite sport or hobby and encourage others to try something new?
Please contact Carol Barnfather for more information –
British Blind Sport have some great at home workouts for vision impaired children and young people including dance and yoga from Synergy Dance Ltd. For more details, please visit their website.
British Blind Sport have designed an innovative pack to provide children with all the tools they need to take their first steps to leading a more active life. In addition to receiving the First Steps Pack, our First Steps families will receive ongoing support and will be invited to Family Days organised by BBS which not only bring young people together but also introduce them to new activities and inclusive clubs in their local community. For more information, please visit our website.
New College Worcester have lots of great events happening throughout the year. See their event directory for more details.
Learn how young people can manage low mood and depression during COVID-19. On this course, young people, parents, carers, teachers, and other professionals can learn helpful, practical techniques to cope with low mood and depression during the lockdown period and beyond. You’ll examine how to help young people structure their day and improve sleep and diet. For more information please click here.
We are a national charity getting more children with disabilities learning how to swim. We have recently launched a new programme in Slough in partnership with Everyone Active at The Centre and are offering lessons immediately.
We fund lessons for children: aged 4-11, who cannot currently swim 10 metres, with a physical disability or sensory impairment. For more information, please email contact@levelwater.org or visit our website.
We want to introduce to you a research project called the READY study (Recording Emerging Adulthood in Deaf Youth) and offer your child the opportunity to take part if they wish. The READY study is a 6 year research project about deaf young people between the ages of 16 and 23 years old. It is interested in the changes in deaf young people’s lives from their point of view as they move between childhood and adulthood. The project is being conducted by the University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh. For further information, please see the following documents:
The University of Birmingham is undertaking a research project regarding the experiences of students with VI applying for Higher Education. In particular they are interested in how useful, or not, parents, students and teachers have found the information available on the RNIB’s website regarding applying for university and life at university, and the 'Supporting the achievement of learners with vision impairment in Higher Education' available on the NatSIP website. These documents can be accessed here:RNIB and Supporting the achievements of learners
If you would like further information about the project or would like to complete an online questionnaire based on your experiences of using them, then please contact Rachel Hewett, Birmingham University at R.G.Hewett@bham.ac.uk
Jungle Mania based in Woodley, Reading are keen to offer discounted sessions to SEN families in the local area. Please contact Jungle Mania directly for further information: woodley@junglemania.com 0118 969 2635
Speech and Language Therapy drop in sessions normally take place throughout Berkshire. Due to COVID19, these unfortunately remain closed but details of how to make contact with the team can be found here.
The Ear Foundation have a team of clinical and educational practitioner who run a variety of interesting and relevant programmes. Please see their website for more details.
The NDCS hold many events and these can be found here: https://www.ndcs.org.uk/our-services/our-events
Wokingham Parents - There is a new local offer link for parents looking for what’s on which should make it easier to find activities:
https://directory.wokingham.gov.uk/kb5/wokingham/directory/lo_whats_on.page
Subtitled/Captioned Accessible Cinema! 1,500+ shows nationwide! Clifford the Big red dog, Spiderman West Side Story, Captain Underpants, Despicable Me 3, The Beguiled, Baby Driver, Transformers, Wonder Woman & more! All cinemas can show all the films listed above with English-language subtitles. Click the link for more details: http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/films.html
Berks and Bucks and Berks Football Association are now running Pan Disability Football sessions on Friday afternoons for ages 14+ at Park House School, Newbury.
SportsAble are running a weekly deaf friendly football session for 16+ in Maidenhead with FA qualified coaches leading the sessions.