Livin’ it up Spring 2015
Welcome to the YCP Spring 2015 Newsletter! Spring is upon us! The flowers are blooming and the sun is finally showing his face. We have so much to tell you about what we’ve been up to, so have a look inside. We’re looking forward to the next few months which we know will be full of FUN and good times. Best wishes from the YCP Team!
Supported by...
Inside this issue:
Teen Zone
News and Updates
Zany Zone
Dates for your Diary
Recent Activities
YCP on Social Media!
Parents’ Page
Contact Us!
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! February Half Term! Art Workshops Kat and Chrissy ran two awesome art workshops where young carers showed off their creative skills with plenty of different activities. We especially loved using the graffiti pens on our wooden boards!
Horse Rangers Our friends at horse rangers in Hampton court kindly provided us with another fantastic day of horsey fun. We spent the day meeting, grooming and riding the beautiful horses and We loved every second! Pancake Day Family Event We had a flippin’ good time at Barnfield Youth Centre for Pancake Day. Everyone had the chance to flip their own pancake before covering it in a variety of tasty toppings. The bouncy castle was a real hit too! Thanks to Alana and Lucy for all their help in the kitchen!
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Splash Party We had a wicked time in the pool at the malden centre. Well done to everyone who had a go (and succeeded) at defeating the dreaded wobstacle course! Snakes and Ladders What a blast we had at the HUMUNGOUS soft play centre in Syon Park. Although it was super busy, we all enjoyed exploring the play frame with all its tunnels and slides! Butlins We had a fantastic day enjoying all that Butlins has to offer (despite the drizzle) followed by a tasty meal in the restaurant. Most of us agreed that our favourite part was the HUGE swimming pool with all it’s brill slides!
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
Easter Holidays in Pictures!
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Cook and Eat programme Liz recently ran another wonderful and successful Cook and Eat Programme in partnership with Public Health. We’d like to say a HUGE thank you to Norbiton Children’s Centre who kindly allowed us to use their awesome facilities. Check out our online blog to read more about Cook and Eat. See page 7 for blog details!
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
We always have loads of fun at our Welcome Group. It’s a great way to start off in the YCP, get to know the staff and meet new people in a small group! At our recent groups, we’ve been making our very own delicious ice cream sundaes as well as enjoying all that the brilliant Barnfield Youth Centre has to offer! (If you’re new to the YCP and haven’t been to a Welcome Group yet we will be writing to you soon!)
SMALL GROUPS Thanks to those who came along to the recent small group workshops which were all about FEELINGS. What better way to learn techniques for coping with uncomfortable feelings than to make milkshakes?! You can try it at home… if you’re feeling worried or nervous try blowing bubbles through a straw in a half full cup of your favourite drink. Use this breathing technique while you do it: Breathe in slowly through your nose for 3 counts. Hold your breath for 2 counts. Breathe out slowly through your mouth for 3 counts!
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GET YOUR VOICE HEARD!
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For our most recent focus group, the girls chose a behind-thescenes tour at our local Krispy Kreme. We had a great time learning about how they make all those delicious donuts and then sat down for our focus group chat with free donuts and a milkshake! We had an interesting chat about what parts of the Young Carers’ Project are most helpful to our young carers. Would you like to represent the views of young carers in Kingston and help guide the work we do at the YCP? Get in touch!
We’ve started A NEW BLOG! It’s a great place for us to let everyone know about all the fab things we’ve been doing, share important info and keep you up to date with all the news for and about young carers. We’d love you to contribute! It can be anything; a story, poem, drawing or news article that you want to share.
Check it out in the Young Carers’ Zone on our website www.kingstoncarers.org.uk If you want to contribute, email Andora, youngcarers4@kingstoncarers.org.uk
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
TEENS PAGE ‘WORK IT!’ FREE 8 week fitness programme for 1118 year old girls running at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre.
What’s your number one song of the season?
Let us know!
A great way to boost body confidence, feel fitter & make healthier choices through a range of different sessions including martial arts, yoga and climbing. Let us know if you’re interested and we can tell you how to get started!
Are you interested in finding out more about education, training, apprenticeships, traineeships and work in Kingston? Check out FutureHub—a great resource for 14-19 year olds.
Check out this brill supportive social network for young carers set up and run by Carers’ Trust:
www.afc-futurehub.org.uk
www.babble.carers.org It’s a great place to turn to if you’re looking for support and aren’t sure who to talk to.
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TEENS PAGE
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KEEPING THE INTERNET FUN! Sharing photos and videos online and on apps like Instagram and Snapchat can be a great way of keeping everyone up to date with what you’ve been up to. It’s important to remember that these photos and videos can be really difficult to delete off the internet once you’ve posted them though. If you send an embarrassing pic to a friend, it could end up anywhere! Even your parents or your teacher could end up seeing it! Check out www.thinkuknow.org.uk for LOADS of advice about staying safe online and what to do if things go wrong.
We’re really looking forward to the release of the new Avengers movie later this month. When Tony Stark jumpstarts a dormant peacekeeping programme, things go terribly awry, forcing him, Thor, the Incredible Hulk and the rest of the Avengers to reassemble. As the fate of Earth hangs in the balance, the team is put to the ultimate test as they battle Ultron, a technological terror hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they encounter two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff.
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
ZANY ZONE Poetry Competition Write a poem about being a young carer and send it into us (by post, email or by hand) by May half term for a chance to win this cuddly bear and for your poem to be included in our next newsletter (anonymously if you would like).
JOKE BOX!
What do you get when you pour hot water down a rabbit hole? A hot cross bunny!
Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke? Because it might crack up!
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EASTER EGG HUNT!
ZANY ZONE
Count how many eggs you can find in this newsletter and send us your answers for a chance to be entered into our prize draw!
Follow these simple guidelines to learn to draw a cute Easter chick!
Out of cave! Out of hole! Bear, rabbit, little mole. Hatch from egg in nest in trees! The birds are back and so are bees. The flowers bloom. The leaves are green. How do they know when it’s spring? Build your web! The bugs are back! Little spider dressed in black. Bears, rabbits, birds and bees, Flowers, grass and trees, Just like me their face is warm, That’s how they know spring has come.
COLOUR ME IN! Do you need to talk to somebody outside of your family? Come and have a chat with Young Carers’ Project staff if you are feeling sad or worried. Or if you would rather talk to someone else, call Childline on 0800 1111
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Kingston Carers’ Network
UNDER 12 DROP IN
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
Our recent change of venue to Barnfield Youth Centre for the drop in was a roaring success! Our growing numbers mean it’s much safer for us to hold the group at the youth centre... and there’s plenty more The drop in is for us to do there! always lots of fun. We have a great time doing arts and crafts, playing games and just chilling out after school! Snacks and drinks are provided so all you need to bring is YOURSELF!
Do you have any ideas for activities to do at the drop in? Let us know and we will do our best to include them!
WHEN? EVERY 2ND THURS OF THE MONTH WHERE?BARNFIELD YOUTH CENTRE WHO? YOUNG CARERS AGED 5-12 YEARS
(TERM TIME)
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12+ Youth Group ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT TERM: Ghost tour Drug and alcohol workshop Sumo wrestling Graffiti workshop BBQ AND MUCH MORE...! If this sounds like something you’re interested in, give us a call for more info!
WHEN? EVERY WEDNESDAY (TERM TIME)
WHERE?BARNFIELD YOUTH CENTRE
WHO? YOUNG CARERS AGED
12+
YEARS
We’d like to say a HUGE thanks to Dave at adaptckd for coming along to our youth group to do some Choi Kwang Do sessions which the group LOVED. Get in touch with Dave if you’re interested in going along to one of his classes:
adaptckd@gmail.com
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE YCP Emma, our Young Adult Carers’ Support Worker, has been very busy supporting carers aged 1525. As well as offering a variety of social activities, Emma supports young adult carers on a one-to-one basis. She empowers them to deal with issues such as work and education, housing, personal development and provides much-needed emotional support. Sometimes, a bit of support around the transition into adulthood can go a long way! 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
Contribution Corner I am the beginning of everything, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end and the end of every place. What am I? Find the answer on page 18 We’re looking into the Jack Petchey Award here at the YCP. Would you be interested in getting involved with it? Get in touch with Kat to find out more!
We really depend on our brilliant bunch of volunteers who help us out at activities. We’d like to say a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you for all you do. If you are interested in doing some volunteering or mentoring with the Young Carers’ Project, please don’t hesitate to contact Lyndsey on 020 3375 8226.
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Are you aged 14-25? Are you worried about your future? We’ve got a new project that can help! If you are not studying, working or on a skills course OR you’re not sure what you want to do next, we can help. Our new project will offer 1:1 support to help you identify where you want to be, as well as things that might be stopping you getting there. Support will include advice, advocacy and skills training. Our aim is to help you get on track for achieving your life and career goals. If you are interested in this support please contact Kat on schoolslink@kingstoncarers.org.uk 020 3757 8430 or 07756 593 456
The Young Carers’ Project is GROWING! We are now supporting more young carers than ever in Kingston—a massive
417 children and young people aged 5-18! This means we have to work really hard to make sure we get enough funding to keep doing the work we’re doing! Do you have any ideas for fundraising? 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
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE YCP We’ve been working hard on developing our new website. Check it out at www.kingstoncarers.org.uk (Young Carers’ Zone) and let us know your thoughts!
We’d love you to get involved—draw a picture, write a poem, write a blog about being a young carer— just send it in to us by email or post and it might be featured on the website!
We’ve got plenty of information and resources on there for you to have a look at and all of our past (and present) newsletters! We also have a blog which is regularly updated with stories, news, info and updates. You can find our referral form and contact info online too. We hope you like it! The answer to the riddle on page 16 is… the letter ‘E’! Did you work it out?
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THE YCP ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Recently, we have been celebrating the diversity of the young carers we work with. We are so proud to work with children and young people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. Thanks to everyone who contributed to our language map! Special thanks to Callum and Alex for the fab art work!
On Self-Injury Awareness Day Chrissy talked to our youth group about the importance of raising awareness of the issues surrounding self harm. If you are feeling affected by the issue of self-injury, visit our blog for info about where you can access support!
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for plenty more updates, info and support!
www.facebook.com/Kingston.YCP @YCPKingston
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
PARENTS’ PAGE Check out these free Spring activities in Kingston on May 28th! There’s plenty to do including jewellery making, pottery, cooking and a scavenger hunt! There’s lots more info on the kingstonfirst website. Do you have any suggestions for how we could improve the Young Carers’ Project? We’d love to hear from you and are always looking to change, adapt and improve the support we offer. Get in touch! Email: youngcarers1@kingstoncarers.org.uk
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 complementary therapies and beauty treatments.
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PARENTS’ PAGE
WelCare in Kingston offers local families with support in a warm, safe and stimulating environment. the project aims to promote good parenting to enhance parents’ self confidence, skills and enjoyment of their role and to promote the well-being and development of young children. www.welcarekingston.org.uk
KCN SUPPORT GROUPS Carers’ Support Group Merritt Medical Centre, Chessington, 10.00am to 11.30am Third Wednesday of each month
Carers of Adults with Asperger's Syndrome Noble Centre, New Malden, 10.00am to 12.00pm First Wednesday of each month
Parents and Carers of Children and Young People with ADHD Noble Centre, New Malden, 10.00am to 12.00pm Second Friday of each month
Parents and Carers of Children with Mental Health Problems Tolworth Children’s Centre, 9.15am to 11.15am Last Monday of each month (date will change during school holidays)
Mental Health Carers Group Tolworth Hospital, 6.00pm to 7.15pm Second Tuesday of each month For more information on any of the support groups, please contact the office on 020 3031 2757 or admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk
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Kingston Carers’ Network
www.kingstoncarers.org.uk
CONTACT US! Diane 07818 878 931 youngcarers1@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Chrissy 07565 540 676 youngcarers2@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Liz 07551 647 448 youngcarers3@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Andora 07824 781 705 youngcarers4@kingstoncarers.org.uk
Kat 07756 593 456 schoolslink@kingstoncarers.org.uk