Here is a round-up of information and news for November 2024.
Latest News
Sheffield Autistic Society Art Wellbeing Group
This group has been running for some years now and we are happy to report that we have been awarded a grant of £3,000 from JG Graves Charitable Trust. This will ensure we can run for the next year!
Sheffield Aspergers Parents Action Group: SAPAG
The next SAPAG support meeting will be at 7pm on Wednesday 20 November at The Curzon Cinema in the upstairs cafe bar area. Look out for the table with the SAPAG label. This is an opportunity for SAPAG members to meet socially and receive support with ongoing challenges. We welcome parents who are new to SAPAG and look forward to seeing old faces again too!
Also, advance notice of SAPAG Support meeting on Wednesday 15th January 7-9pm which will be about Wills & Estates.
Look forward to seeing you at these meetings.
Sheffield City Council Autism Festival
The Sheffield City Council Autism Festival is planned for next April (during World Autism Acceptance Month). If you would like to take part in this event Katie from SAPN is looking to convene a small advisory group to help ensure the needs of the network are being properly represented.
If you would be interested in being part of this supporting group, please drop Katie an email at k.drinkwater@vas.org.uk to discuss further.
Craft Group for Carers
The Sheffield Carers Centre have a new Crafts group for unpaid carers that will run on the first Friday of each month. This group will meet from 10am-12noon at our Dearing House office (S1 4UP). There will be different types of crafts each month such as weaving, felting, pottery, stitching, and card making.
https://www.sheffieldcarers.org.uk/forms/craft-group-for-carers
Carers Rights Day
Carers need to know their rights throughout their caring journey
Carers Rights Day is 21 November 2024 and is a national campaign that aims to (1) ensure carers are aware of their rights (2) inform carers where to get help and support plus (3) raise awareness of the needs of carers. The theme for this year is ‘Recognising your Rights’ which helps empower you with information about what you’re entitled to. Find out more from Carers UK. https://www.carersuk.org/
Sheffield Parent Carer Forum sessions November/December
Booking essential
For full information and to book any event please click on the link Events | Sheffield Parent Carer Forum
Information Session: Speak Up!! 14 November
Annual General Meeting (AGM) 15 November
Information Session: All you need to know about DLA and PIP 22 Nov
Information Session: Neurodiversity and eating 27 November
Information Session: Introduction to demand-avoidant behaviour ONLINE 4 Dec
Information session: Understanding sensory needs (ONLINE) 5 December
Coffee & Chat
Offered every two months in a community venue. These drop-in sessions will offer a chance to meet up with other parent carers and chat with our amazing volunteers.
Dates, times, and specialist details will be advertised on our Events and Facebook pages.
GET INVOLVED – ADULTS
· Join A Team!
We are a group of adults on the autistic spectrum who meet socially on a regular basis either just to enjoy ourselves or to learn something new or to improve our physical or mental health. Some of us are parents, some work for local employers or are self-employed, others engage in volunteering and other forms of work experience and others still are studying.
We have a number of regular activities which include a monthly meeting at a friendly city centre pub, a monthly walk in the area, a monthly art/craft event, a fortnightly snooker club and a monthly online social group. We send out a weekly newsletter to members about activities that are coming up and wider events in Sheffield.
For details of how to join please see https://sheffield-aspergers.org.uk/a-team-social-group/
· WAND – Autistic Women’s Network
WAND is a self-run community of Autistic women, providing a completely private online forum as a safe space to share stories and experiences with each other, give each other informal tips and advice, as well as providing opportunities to meet in-person in small groups based on shared interests and activities. The group recently became a fully constituted voluntary group with an organising committee.
Anyone who identifies as an Autistic woman can sign up for the forum here.
- ACCTing Out Social Group
ACCTing Out is a social group for young autistic adults aged 18 and above. We run fortnightly activities normally on Tuesday evenings, to places like the cinema, to play pool, go for a meal, and more. The group runs supportive social opportunities that help young adults to get out of the house and participate in activities with friends and peers. The group aims to help boost the confidence and self-esteem of young adults, have a positive impact on mental health and build social, communication and life skills. Each ACCTing Out activity is led and supported by ACCT staff and volunteers.
For details of how to join please see https://acctsheffield.org.uk/accting-out/
- Peer support – ADHD Adult Group
Face to face meetings upstairs at the NHS Walk In Centre on 75 Broad Lane, Sheffield, S1 3PB. Second Wednesday of every month 6pm to 7.30pm.
For more details contact: ADHDPEERSSHEFFIELD@GMAIL.COM
- Sheffield Support Hub
What can you expect from us?
The Sheffield Support Hub offers free mental health support in a welcoming, comfortable, non-judgmental, and non-clinical environment.
Our experienced staff team is available to provide emotional, social and practical support if you are in crisis or feel you are heading toward a crisis situation.
Phone: 07890 987 384
Email: sheffieldsupporthub.mhm@nhs.net
Opening hours: see attached
Address: 44 Bank Street, Sheffield, S1 2DS
Adult Autism Support Hub – now open
The aim of the new service is to develop and deliver provision offering support to autistic people aged 16 and above, and their (informal) carers and families.
People will be provided with information, advice and opportunities to connect with community groups and support in a welcoming and safe environment. What we can help with:
• Benefits Support
• Confidence Building
• Understanding and information around diagnosis support
• Finding out what is happening within Sheffield to support with other avenues or support and/or social opportunities
• Employment Support
• Family Support
• Mental health advice/signposting
• Peer Support
Please contact the service for an appointment and details of group support.
Get in touch: 07811 589 909 | adultautismsupporthub.mhm@nhs.net
Website: https://www.mhm.org.uk/adult-autism-support-hub
- Autistic friendly swim at Concord Sports Centre
An autism friendly session takes place on Sundays between 3.45pm – 4.30pm: Autism/Sensory Swim. Please see website for details of pricing and booking https://www.sheffieldcitytrust.org/venues/concord-sports-centre
- Inclusive LGBTQ+ Café
A social meet up for neurodiverse/disabled members of the LGBTQ+ community. Email Kelly.scargill@disabilitysheffield.org.uk for more information.
Get Involved – Children and Young People
- Sheffield Parent Hub
Sheffield City Council’s Parenting Specialists provide group based and one to one parenting support for parents and carers of children, from babies to teenagers.
We deliver programmes that are evidence based, and tried and tested. This means that the content is written by professional psychologists who have years of research into what works to manage behaviours and difficulties that we can all face as parents. These programmes are delivered across the world and have over 30 years of research behind them.
There are different types of groups you can access depending on your needs and the time you have to spare.
To find out what’s on and when in your area see our Sheffield Parenting What’s on Guide on the below website. Details will also be posted on our Sheffield Family Centres Facebook page.
All our courses are available to parents who live in Sheffield only. Please contact your local authority early help team as they may offer something similar.
Any bookings made by parents not in Sheffield will be cancelled .
www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sheffield-parent-hub-17631456258
• The Peer Support Service for parents/carers from Sheffield Parent Carer Forum
The Peer Support Service was created in response to feedback from parents of children and young people aged 0-25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Sheffield. Feedback clearly showed that there is a lack of support both before and after a child receives a diagnosis. Although the funding for the project has a focus on autism and other neurodevelopmental needs, our service is available for ALL families, with or without a diagnosis. We will continue to work closely with families in Sheffield, listening to their ideas and concerns, using these to shape the service going forward
If you would like a 1-1 appointment, please call our main number 0300 321 4721 and select option 1 for our Peer Support Service. Alternatively, please email peersupport@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk
- Family Support Groups
- Autism Hope Sheffield
We are a support group for parents and family members of children of all ages, with Autism Spectrum Conditions based in north Sheffield. We meet weekly to offer support, understanding, advice and friendship to each other (during term time). We have in person meetings with a cuppa, cake and chat and also zoom meetings if you can’t make it in person. We have regular guest speakers from organisations that can help and signpost to other services.
Contact Details: Email Address: autismhopesheffield@gmail.com Facebook: Autism Hope Sheffield Tel: 07968 984179 Web: https://www.autismhopesheffield.co.uk/
- ACCT Sheffield
We run a wide range of in-person and online activity groups for autistic children and young people, parent-carers and whole family activities. We run several sessions each week, including multi-activity groups and specialist sessions focused on particular activities that children and young people attending ACCT has asked us to run.
Our regular activities currently include:
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- Acctivate – multi-activity in-person group for autistic 5-12 year-olds held on Saturday mornings (9.45am-12.15pm). Places available through Sheffield City Council’s referral process.
- Teenage Club – in-person group for autistic teenagers aged up to 18, held on Wednesday evenings (7-9pm). Places available through Sheffield City Council’s referral process.
- ACCT Academy Football Coaching – Friday evenings (6 -7pm) at Goals on Norfolk Park Road. Book a place by contacting ACCT.
- Minecraft Club (Online groups) – facilitated by ACCT staff and run through a private server. For any age, every Saturday morning. ACCT has guest logins available for participants who don’t have their own. Book a place by contacting ACCT.
- Dungeons and Dragons (Online groups) – facilitated by ACCT staff and run over Zoom. For teenagers and young adults. Every Monday evening or Saturday afternoon. Book a place by contacting ACCT.
- Parent-Carer Meetings – ACCT runs fortnightly meetings, on Tuesday evenings, via Zoom, for peer support, information sharing and discussion of topics of interest and importance to parent-carers of autistic children and young people. Book a place by contacting ACCT. We also run workshops and training for parent-carers.
Places at Acctivate and Teenage Club are available through referral by contacting Sheffield City Council. All other activities are available directly from ACCT. Join ACCT as a member (it’s free), then contact us to book a place. More information about referrals and joining ACCT available here https://acctsheffield.org.uk/about/
- Sparkle Sheffield
Sparkle Sheffield is a local registered charity that supports children and young people from birth to 25 with Autism Spectrum Conditions and other social communication difficulties. Founded and run by parents who have autistic children, we understand what life is like and how we can work together to improve our children’s and our family’s life. Sparkle Sheffield exists to support families with autistic children meet the challenges they face, feel less isolated, less frightened and more empowered. Autism affects individuals and their families in a wide variety of ways and the approach we use recognises these individualities.
Sparkle Sheffield aim to support and help individuals and families by providing:
• Opportunities for children and families to create a support network with others in similar situations – we regularly organise online and in-person events where children and families can meet others without fear of judgment.
• Providing support for autistic individuals: social groups, activities and forming friendships – we host regular events such as Ninja Warrior, swimming, cinema trips and other fun activities.
• Providing a circle of support for individuals to feel they belong and fit in, have friends and develop the strategies and skills they need to succeed in life.
Most importantly – we have lots of fun in the process! https://sparklesheffield.co.uk/
Medieval Mayhem SEND group
My name is Kelly and I work for Medieval Mayhem, a children’s play centre in Sheffield.
We currently do a SEND group called Kids Together on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, this group allows children to play in a safe and quiet environment. It also allows the parents to interact and learn from each other.
For details please contact: Kelly@medievalmayhem.co.uk
- SSENDIAS information sessions
Sheffield SENDIAS (Sheffield SEND Information and Advice Service) offer free online information sessions. These are for parents and carers of young people aged 0-25 with SEND. The sessions answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
There are various sessions available, which run in both the daytime and evenings covering topics such as:
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- – What is an EHC Needs Assessment
- – SEN Support in Schools
- – Checking a Draft EHC Plan
Details are at https://sheffieldsendias.org.uk/training-and-events
- SEND Youth Clubs
Sheffield City Council Community Youth Services run the following youth clubs for young people aged 13 to 25 years with special educational needs and/or disabilities:
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- Leo’s SEND club: Monday 6-8pm, Centre in the Park, Guildford Avenue, Norfolk Park, Sheffield S2 2PL
- S Club 5 SEND club: Tuesday 6-8pm, Milan Youth Centre, Longley Lane, Sheffield S5 7JS
Just turn up to your chosen club and a Youth Worker will help you to complete the registration form. For further information contact Community Youth Services on 0114 2057450 or e-mail youth.services@sheffield.gov.uk
- SENDing Voices
Sheffield City Council Community Youth Services have set up a group called SENDing Voices.
The group is for young people aged 13 – 25 with a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). It is for those who want to help make things better for young people with SEND.
Meet up every 2 weeks – meetings will be in an accessible venue in Sheffield City Centre or online
- Talk about experiences of being a young person with SEND
- Work on issues important for young people with SEND
- Work together with other young people and adults to help make things better
- Do fun activities as a group
- Share ideas and experiences with decision makers
- Help to make SEND services better for young people in Sheffield
- Meet new people and make new friends
- Be able to include this on your CV and get a reference for future jobs or college applications
- Get to do different activities
Time details
The group meets once a month – either online or in a venue
Contact information Tel: 07391 739118 Email: youth.voice@sheffield.gov.uk
Website:
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/schools-childcare/youth-services-transition
Support for Carers
- •Sheffield Carers Centre is a local independent charity founded in 1993, that is also affiliated to the national Carers Trust charity. They provide a range of high quality services to unpaid adult carers in Sheffield:
• Carer Advice Line: Call us for personalised expert advice on anything related to your caring role. We use an interpretation service for all languages.
• Carer Card: This offers discounts on a wide range of services, products and activities from local and national businesses.
• Carer Activities & Carers Workshops: Regular activities for carers to have a break from their caring role and look after their own wellbeing and a programme of workshops to help carers share experiences and learn new skills.
• Legal Advice Clinic: Free 30-minute individual legal advice sessions with a legal expert, offering advice around topics such as wills, estate planning and power of attorney. Clinics are held on a monthly basis.
• Carer Café & Support Groups: The Café is held every Friday and is a great chance to meet other carers. The Support Groups take place at various locations around Sheffield on a regular basis.
• Community Connect: A telephone support service providing phone calls from volunteers to reduce social isolation and connect carers with their local community.
• Emergency Planning: We provide information to help carers make an emergency plan if something unexpectedly stopped them from looking after the person they care for.
• Carer’s Assessment: A carer’s assessment to discuss the impact of your caring role with our Carer Advisors to discuss the support you might need put this in place.
• Time for a Break Grant: Small grants for short breaks or activities that support wellbeing and help you take a break from your caring role. We’ll assess your eligibility as part of a Carers Assessment.
• Information and resources: Easy access to a range of information and resources on our website from expert sources covering more than 20 topics to help with your caring role.
• Digital Resources for Carers: Carers can access the free online ‘Digital Resources for Carers’ provided by Carers UK and Sheffield City Council, includes information, eLearning, resources, and the Jointly app.
• Carers News: This free monthly E-newsletter provides up-to-date information about our services and activities, along with key news items that affect carers.
Details of all of the above are at: https://www.sheffieldcarers.org.uk/i-am-a-carer-so-how-can-you-help-me
Working together for better services
- What is the Sheffield Autism Partnership Board?
Sheffield’s Autism Partnership Board (APB) currently meets each month to improve the provision of services and support for autistic children, adults, their families and carers in Sheffield, including young autistic persons in transition to adulthood. Members include representatives from Sheffield City Council and local NHS bodies, community and voluntary sector organisations and services; autistic adults, their parents, carers and family members, professionals and other relevant organisations and individuals.
You can read more about the work of the APB on our website here https://sheffieldautisticsociety.org.uk/partnership-key-documents/
- Sheffield Autism Partnership Network (SAPN)
The Sheffield Autism Partnership Network is a Sheffield based consortium focusing on improving the lives of Autistic people and their families in our city.
It is a network of organisations (voluntary, community, public, private and statutory), Autistic individuals and their support systems (parents, carers, friends, partners, etc) who work with Autistic people, their families and carers. For information about the network, its member organisations and how they can help you and your support system see the website: https://sapn.org.uk
Best wishes
Sheffield Autistic Society