Livin’ it up Summer 2014
Welcome to the YCP Summer 2014 Newsletter! With this busy term coming to an end we’re looking forward to our summer holidays and having fun in the sun. To see all the fun we’ve been up to in the past term have a look inside!
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Inside this issue:
Teen Zone
News and Updates
Zany Zone
Dates for your Diary
Recent Activities
Contact Us!
Parents’ Page
Kingston Carers’ Network, Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, New Malden, KT3 4BD, 020 3031 2757 Registered Charity No. 1151456 Company No. 8376060
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO! EASTER HOLS We had so much fun at the Science Museum; all the children loved the experience so much whilst learning a lot. Our favourite part was definitely the experiment show!
We all had a lovely chocolate-filled time at the Easter Baking day in the Easter holidays. Easter nests, an Easter egg hunt and a trip to the park made it a BRILLIANT day!
At the Create Music workshop the group wrote and performed some incredible music as well as turning fruit into instruments (we know, we didn’t believe it at first either).
Our trip to The Pod was a great day out, all the kids had a great time but we think Nadia had the best time of all.
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MAY HALF TERM Our trip to Bekonscot Model Village was very interesting; riding on the train was our favourite bit.
We saw some tennis skills fit for Wimbledon at our two tennis sessions at the Hawker Centre during half term! Keep working on those swings!
The children and adults involved in our kite-making workshop had a great time making and flying our beautiful kites. Thank you so much to all who helped.
What a fantastic day we had at Kew Gardens on the family day out! The highlight was the Barefoot Trail and meeting a beautiful peacock!
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
FOCUS GROUPS Our girls had a wonderful time bowling, eating and working very hard on thoughts and ideas at our June focus group.
Boys’ Focus Group The next boys’ focus group is on Friday 25th July. We will be heading to Barnfield Youth Centre for a couple of games of basketball with a coach followed by grub and discussions about the YCP. Let us know if you want to get involved!
Focus Groups: Would you like to represent the views of young carers in Kingston and help guide the work we do at the YCP? The focus groups meet every 8 weeks or so. This is a perfect opportunity for you to develop your confidence within a small group, meet new friends and make a difference to the lives of young carers in Kingston.
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Our Summer Party! Thank you so much to all who made our summer party possible; we are so grateful to all who donated such as Grow baby, Build A Bear, Tudor Williams, The Malden Centre, ll Villago, Concord Dry Cleaners, Crystal Repairs, Mace, Tiffin Boys School, Go Ape and Di Base Hairdressers New Malden.
A final thank you to Neil at the Living Jungle for the fantastic hands-on experience with his lovely (if a little scaly) reptiles and insects. Check out his twitter @themobilezoo
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
BARNFIELD DROP IN (12+ YEARS)
We had such a wonderful time learning how to cook Portuguese food at Barnfield recently and a huge thanks to Leo who took the time to teach us!
WHEN? EVERY WEDNESDAY (TERM TIME)
WHERE?BARNFIELD We went for a behind the scenes tour at McDonald’s which was fantastic (and we got a free meal out of it!)
YOUTH CENTRE
WHO? YOUNG CARERS AGED
12+
YEARS
We would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the Youth Service for their ongoing help and support. We couldn't carry on with Barnfield without you and appreciate all you do. Thank you also to the Ambulance Service for their recent visit and for showing us some useful skills!
What do you want us to do at Barnfield next term? Email Liz with your ideas: youngcarers3@kingstoncarers.org.uk
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NOBLE DROP IN (UNDER 12S)
Special thanks to Squires Garden Centre and Chessington Garden Centre who made our planting day possible.
WHEN? EVERY 2ND THURS OF THE MONTH
(TERM
TIME)
WHERE?NOBLE CENTRE WHO? YOUNG CARERS AGED
Thank you to all of you who took some time out at the drop in to speak to the lovely people from the Carers’ Trust and British Airways. They were very pleased to meet you all!
Why not come along to our next Noble Drop In? The next date is the 10th July when we will be having a tasty PICNIC IN THE PARK!¬
5-12 YEARS
We had so much fun with our art competition!
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
TEENS PAGE
FILM REVIEW— The Fault In Our Stars Adapted from John Green's best-selling novel, 'The Fault In Our Stars' tells the tragic love story of two cancer-stricken teens. Hazel and Augustus, both suffering from devastating diseases, meet at a cancer support group and hit it off. She sports a breathing tube and he has a prosthetic leg, but the love -struck pair won't let their illnesses hold them back when it comes to matters of the heart.
HAVE YOU SEEN IT? LET US KNOW WHAT YOU RATE IT! Don’t forget we’re doing the Dragon Boat Race on Sunday 20th July. Come down and get involved or just watch from the safety of the riverbank!
Footbal
l fever!
Here at the YCP we’re loving watching the World Cup; unfortunately England are out of the tournament but we still want to know who you’re cheering on and who you think is going to win. Let us know on our Facebook page or via email!
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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!!!
Dear YCP, over the past couple of weeks I sat some really important exams and I don’t think I revised as hard as I could’ve. I’m worried about how my results will affect my future because they don’t reflect how hard I work. Everyone gets stressed over the exam period and it’s okay that you feel nervous about your results. Just remember that one exam will not define your future as things can always be changed later on. Take a break over summer and go back next year refreshed and ready to try again. CHECK IT OUT!!
The International Youth Arts Festival is on in Kingston from 5th-27th July. It showcases the best work of young artists through dance, theatre and art.
Recommended Reading for Summer 2014 ‘Stargirl’ by Jerry Spinelli 11th-grader Leo has never met anyone like Stargirl, and neither has anyone else at Mica High. She dances around the cafeteria playing a ukulele, and never misses a chance to sing "Happy Birthday." She doesn't act right, she dresses weird, and she is always blazingly herself. At first the students are puzzled, then entranced, and Stargirl becomes the most popular girl at school. And Leo is in love. But just as quickly Stargirl becomes the most despised student, shunned by the others, and Leo, now her boyfriend, is shunned with her. Though she has opened him up to new ways of experiencing life, when forced to choose between Stargirl and everyone else, Leo does what any teenager would do, and that choice reverberates down the rest of the years of his life.
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
ZANY ZONE JOKE BOX! Where do frogs get changed? In a croak room! What has two humps and can be found in the north pole? A camel that’s lost!
How many butterflies can you find in the newsletter? (The answer is on page 15)
DON’T PEEK! SPOT THE DIFFERENCES.
There are EIGHT differences to find. Can you find them all?
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ZANY ZONE
Learn how to make an origami koala! All you need is a square piece of paper.
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
PARENTS’ PAGE Community Church Activities Teddy Bear picnic: Thursday 21st August 2-5pm at Alexandra Park (off King Charles’ Road, Tolworth) BBQ and games in the park Sunday 24th August at Alexandra Park (off King Charles’ Road, Tolworth) Check out http://www.community-church.org.uk/one_big_summer for more info.
Carol Harvey is going to be starting a 10-week Family Links Nurturing Programme soon. There’s lots of info on what it is all about on www.familylinks.org.uk If you’re interested in taking part contact: Carol on 020 3031 2753 DON’T MISS: Kingston Carnival Sunday 7th September Includes the annual grand procession, dancing, live music, stalls and great food!
Are you looking after someone? If you are an adult carer, Kingston Carers’ Network can support YOU! The services provided by Kingston Carers’ Network aim to minimise the consequences of caring by offering practical and emotional support and opportunities to take regular breaks from the responsibilities of caring. Carers can also benefit from a range of complimentary therapies and beauty treatments.
FREE ACTIVITIES IN KINGSTON FOR THE SUMMER HOLS! Thumbs Up It’s Thursday 24th July-28th August Calendar of events every Thursday afternoon; children’s activities through the town including story-telling, face-painting, craft activities and enetertainers. Www.kingstonfirst.co.uk
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NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE YCP Do you live with someone who has a mental health issue? Andora is running a project which aims to provide one -to-one support and age-appropriate information to children and young people about mental ill health. If you would like some support around this, or know someone who would benefit, please get in touch by phone or email: 020 3031 2756 youngcarers4@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Emma has been very busy with our Young Adult Carers recently. She has been meeting young people one-to-one to support them with a range of issues as well as organising brilliant social opportunities. She’s even started up a YAC Book Club! If you are between the ages of 15-25 and think you’d like to meet Emma for some support or just a chat give her a call or email: Emma Bell 020 3725 3050 yac@kingstoncarers.org.uk
We’d like to welcome Anne Stegmann as a new member of staff to the YCP. Anne is our Schools’ Link Worker and will be working closely with primary and secondary schools so keep an eye out for her at your school! Contact Anne on: 020 3031 2756 schoolslink@kingstoncarers.org.uk
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
How Well Do You Know the YCP Staff? Match up the pictures to the facts below.. See if you can guess all three! Send us your answers for the chance to win a prize!
I speak Chinese and my favourite meal is fish and chips!
I love animals and I bake yummy cakes!
I’m learning sign language and I know all the states in the US in alphabetical order!
As always, we’d like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers, we really couldn’t do without all your help and support. For anyone interested in becoming a volunteer with the Young Carers’ Project please don’t hesitate to contact Lyndsey on 020 3375 8226. Our Welcome Group is a perfect way for children and young people who are new to the YCP to get to know the staff and some other children in a small group setting whilst doing something fun!
Contribution Corner WELL DONE TO HAYLEY FOR WINNING THE 1D COMPETITION. WE WILL GIVE YOU YOUR PRIZE WHEN WE SEE YOU! We love receiving your contributions! Please send us your jokes, photos, drawings, recommendations, etc. so that we can feature them here in CONTRIBUTION CORNER!
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The YCP have taken Twitter by storm… follow us @YCPKingston The Wakey Face Selfie campaign was all about raising awareness of the tireless work of carers in our community. #wakeyfaceselfie
Carers’ Week saw us attending lots of events to raise awareness and Andora helped out at KCN’s first annual Carers’ Conference which was a huge success. #carersweek #youngcarersday
Andora pledged to continue to support children who care for parents with mental ill health at a Time to Change stand. #timetotalk #timetochange
Liz and Carol got into the spirit of Carers’ Week by posing for a YC pic! #ycpic
There are 23 butterflies in this newsletter. Did you count right?
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
CONTACT US! Please feel free to contact us at any time for advice and support, information about our activities or projects or just for a chat! Diane 079818 878 931 youngcarers1@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Liz 07551 647 448 youngcarers3@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Andora 07824 781 705 youngcarers4@kingstoncarers.org.uk
www.facebook.com/Kingston.YCP @YCPKingston