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Wise Owl Feathers - The Newsletter
Hello everyone,
Welcome to the Wise Owl Feathers Magazine. Autumn is here, but as I write this it feels more like summer. There is such a lot in the magazine this time around with some really interesting articles.
Emma has written about becoming a vegan – this means she doesn’t eat any animal products at all, including dairy products made from milk that has come from cows or goats. You can read all about her experience, but I would say that if you are thinking about changing your diet in any way, it’s really important to see your GP or dietitian first, as giving up a particular food group can mean that you miss out on valuable nutrients that you need.
Sophie has shared some pictures of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award so well done, Sophie!
If you are interested in finding out more about the DofE Awards, you can go to their website here: www.dofe.org/run/additionalneeds
Staying safe on social media
We know that some of you use social media, so we’ve put together some useful advice to help you stay safe online.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is achievable by any young person who chooses to take up its challenge, regardless of ability, gender, background or location.
Rowena has a piece in the magazine telling us all about her move when she was told that she only had three months to find a new place - as you can imagine, it was a stressful time, but I’m pleased to say that Rowena has settled in and is loving her new flat.
Millie and Ryan have written about two very different days out with PWSA, and we hope these stories will inspire you to come to some of our events in the future.
Don’t forget that we have an Adult Zoom on the last Wednesday of the month where we meet up for BINGO, QUIZZES and CRAFTS. If you would like to be on the list to get the joining instructions, please email me at rconsterdine@pwsa.co.uk or call me on 01332 365676
As always, we hope you enjoy reading this issue and if you have any stories you’d like to share, please send them in to us at admin@pwsa.uk.
Ruth
How to tell if an account on social media has been hacked or cloned
Social media can be a fun way to stay in touch with your friends.
But remember! It’s important to be sure that the person you are talking to online is really who they say they are.
Sometimes you may receive a friend request or a message from someone claiming to be a friend or family member, with the same photo and name, but it may be from a hacked or cloned account.
What is a hacked account?
This is when someone else is able to get into your account. This can happen when they’ve managed to get hold of your password. Sometimes it happens when you’ve left your account logged in on a computer or device that other people use, such as in a public library.
What is a cloned account?
This is when someone sets up a new account pretending to be you, using your name and photo. They then send friend requests to people who are already on your friends list, pretending to be you.
How can I stay safe?
1. If you receive an unexpected friend request from someone you are already friends with, check the following:
Do they have any other friends in common with you, or any other friends at all? Are they still using their original social media account?
Speak to your friend to find out if it’s a real request – call or text them, don’t message them on social media if you’re not sure which account is real.
Remember - If you’re not sure, don’t accept the request, and check with a parent or carer instead.
Stuart’s active life
Stuart Mitchell tells us all about his life, work and activities:
I am 31 years old and I have been living in supported living in my own house for the last nine years. I have support staff to help me, and they take me to work, the gym, and for outings in my car.
I have a beautiful cat called Grace Kelly. She has orange eyes. She likes playing with her toys.
I also have a beautiful dog, a blind border collie called Rizzy who is 10 and lives with Mum and Dad. I love taking him for walks and he is always excited to see me.
I have two jobs. I work at Burwell Print for two days a week, where I help answering the phone, serve in the shop and help with printing jobs. I see my friends every time, and sometimes I have one of
2. If you receive a message asking for money or wanting you to click on a link you weren’t expecting to receive then don’t reply, but report it to a parent or carer, even if it comes from someone you know. If you click on a link then it may allow someone to hack your account.
3. Don’t answer any unexpected calls through Facebook, even if it comes from someone you know.
4. Don’t share your passwords with anyone else, even your friends. If you receive an email or text message asking you to reset your password, and you didn’t request it, don’t click on any links or forward it on to anyone else who asks for it.
5. If in doubt, always check with a parent or carer first.
them to dinner and to play pool. His name is Mark and I have known him since I was 14 years old.
My other job is with Phoenix Trust. I do woodworking one day a week. We make bird boxes, insect hotels, hedgehog boxes, garden benches or anything else that the customers want. I am just about to start making a dog kennel for my dog, as his old one is falling apart. The second day is in the factory making paving slabs and concrete garden ornaments. We make things to order as well as for stock. We do different shapes and sizes and the slabs can be made different colours by adding dye. It is hard work, and you have to be very careful as cement is dangerous if you get it on your skin or in your eyes. At open day and at Christmas, I help out on the stalls, selling things we have made.
I also sometimes help a friend with her horses and doing odd jobs for her, like painting fences. She lets me ride the quad bike to deliver food to the horses in the fields and afterwards we have a coffee and a biscuit together.
I like living in my house. I have lots of space to have my things, and can choose the paint on the walls, and pictures. I have a pool table and an exercise bike and a dart board and sometimes I challenge the staff to a game.
Last year, I went to Finland in the winter, and went mushing (with Husky dogs) and snowshoeing and for a reindeer ride. It was really great. This year I went to Spain, and did lots of walking. I like holidays. I also went to Wales and did the longest zip wire and the one in the caves. That one is really hard work, but really good. My whole family did it. We were tired afterwards and very hot.
Our Positive News
Kerry welcomes her third niece
Kerry Gould tells us about the latest addition to the family:
This year I became an auntie to three beautiful niecesPaisley who is six; Mylah, who is three but will be four next month, and my youngest sister had a baby which is called Kinley. When I go home, I spend time with the girls and have experienced some milestones. This makes me happy to see, as there may be a chance I might not be able to have children myself. Recently, Kinley got christened. I had the pleasure of attending and celebrated her special day with family.
Emma’s vegan milestone
September marked one year since Emma Samways began her journey of becoming a vegan. Here she tells us all about it. Remember, it is very important that you speak to your GP or dietitian first before changing your diet.
I have always wanted to be a vegan. I am an animal lover, so this is very important to me. I decided I wanted to save the animals and make a difference. A few years ago, I tried to have a strict vegan diet, but I wasn’t well supported with my preferences. Thanks to support from my family and my new placement, I have now achieved my first year of being vegan!
Sticking to my food menus and routines allow me to cook and prepare my own meals independently. My favourite meals are either a vegan Sunday dinner or vegan spaghetti Bolognese, I am very proud of my achievement and would like to share my story with others to hopefully inspire other people with Prader-Willi syndrome to challenge themselves. Here is my recipe for ‘Samways' Special Bolognese'… why not give it a try!
100g vegan pasta or spaghetti
75g plant-based mince
1/4 onion finely chopped
Garlic seasoning or cloves
Tomato passata / vegan Bolognese sauce
Optional:
Top with grated hard cheese like vegan parmesan
Top with basil leaves
The next chapter in my life
Rowena Ashbee tells us all about moving into her new flat.
I had to leave my old place as it was closing down and I had to find a new place in three months. My family has helped a lot, especially my dad and my sister, Philippa. They have come to all my meetings with my social worker to find me the right place to live. I am now in supported living.
My mom and dad helped me move into my place on the 8th August. I am now in a flat. I had lots of meetings over my benefits and my dad becoming my appointee because benefits change when you leave a care home and move into a supported living flat. I am liking it where I live now, and I'm getting the right support that I needed from the new place and my family have been very supportive over my move.
I am now all settled in and my flat is looking like my home. I feel safe there. I wish I could have done it on my own terms, but I had no choice as the place I was living at closed down. I am now trying to find my way around and getting the buses into Barnsley. I wanted to stay near Barnsley and not go anywhere else because of my work at the football club, and my photography on a Monday night. I also go still go to Dodworth Club and stay at my friend’s house on a Thursday night, coming back to my flat the next day. I did this for the first time last week. I have still got a lot to figure out, but I am getting the support that I need.
I miss my friends from where I used to live for 15 years, but I will make new friends where I am now. This is my next chapter in my life - I am looking forward to the future now.
The last three months have been stressful for me, and I have not been sleeping. My eczema has been bad due to the stress of finding a place. For a long time, there was more questions than answers and I only knew where I was going to live 10 days before I had to leave Highfield. But I am now settled in my flat and I am happy where I am. Also, my niece has been here, and she is loving it. It has been nice having my family around at my flat.
One of my PWS friends came over with her mother, Linda. Linda has helped me with talking about how I am feeling about my move, and the
positive that has come out of it. Linda came over and helped me pack my photos up and we had a long chat. When I first found out that I had to move, I was on holiday with my family, and I didn't want to talk to anybody about how I was feeling. But by talking to Linda from PWS and the others on the sign language Zoom group has given me the love and support that I needed from an outside perspective. This has been great for me, as it's not just my family that have been supporting me. I have now just got to believe that I can do it, and everybody says I'm ready for this move. It's now getting a routine back in place again like I had before. I still go to the gym, but it's near where I live. They do aqua aerobics on a Tuesday, and I started going there. I am also going back
Sophie’s Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award
Congratulations to Sophie Bunting, who completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and has now received her certificate and badge. Sophie, her mother and her nan attended a celebration garden party hosted by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, who even had a brief chat with a very thrilled Sophie on his walkabout!
To complete her Gold, which she started in 2019, Sophie needed to complete all 5 categories:
Volunteering - Sophie helped as a Scout Section Assistant at her local Beavers Group and also her weekly morning at British Heart Foundation. She still does both these activities.
Physical - Sophie attends Taekwondo classes twice a week and is aiming to complete her black belt within the next few months.
Skills - Sophie helps at a local smallholding, where they have a flock of dairy sheep. Sophie is fully hands-on with everything to do with the care of the sheep, including lambing!
Expedition - Sophie exceeded all expectations with her ability to complete this part of the award. It involved two trips to the Peak District to complete a few days of camping, walking and being amazingly independent with a group of participants she had never met before.
Residential - This also involved two trips to Kendal, where she helped as a volunteer at the Bendrigg Trust, a charity which provides outdoor activities for disabled children and adults. They were amazingly supportive and Sophie loved it.
This whole experience has really boosted Sophie's confidence and independence.
to marshal at football. I can honestly tell you that Barnsley Football Club has been really supportive of my move. I've had to cancel shifts and they've been really supportive over that.
I'm doing a lot more batch cooking and having the support that I need around food as I have got PWS. My cupboards and fridge are locked. I will continue weighing myself with support. I'm going to appointments.
It has been a big change in my life, but my family have said that I've dealt with it really well and that they are proud of me on this move. I hope I inspire other people to do the things I do, to improve the independence skills that I need in the world. I am really looking forward to the future.
Community Events
We have had a busy summer of community and fundraising events, which some of you may have come along to. Here, Millie Goode-Counsell and Ryan Inwards write about two very different events they went to, along with plenty of pictures.
My day at Parallel Windsor
by Millie Goode-Counsell
I went to Parallel Windsor with my mum, and we saw Karen when we got there. My number went missing and Karen had to get me another one. It was very busy with lots to do like sewing, tombola, holding birds and lucky dips.
I did the supersensory walk of 1km. There was a big gazebo to walk under with sunflowers and tinsel, and a sensory car wash. I got two clappers and a goody bag and medal for doing the walk. I also got a T-shirt. I didn’t like people cheering when I was walking because it was loud.
After the walk, I sat with two of my friends who also have PWS, and we had lunch together. We talked about memories of when we first met each other. Then I went for a walk around the festival and learnt how to sew with a sewing machine. I did a tombola and a lucky dip and made a worry bottle. I held an owl on my arm, and it was very good.
I had a nice day and was very tired at the end.
MOD
Lyneham by Ryan Inwards
On the 24th July 2023, we had a PWS day at REME and we done make cars and race them, we make a soldier bear, tin shooting and looking round the museum. We had lunch and I talked to lots of people. I had a good time as I met people at the door and took them through to the hall to meet my mum, Sheila. I liked meeting other people who have PWS. The REME soldiers were really good and did lots of things with us and told us about the museum.
You spoke – and we listened! PWS Sunflower lanyards now available!
Thanks to an amazing suggestion from the Owl Focus Group, we have joined with the team who created the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and developed a lanyard and information card specifically for our PWS community!
The Owl Focus Group wanted the lanyard to show they have a disability and if a situation arises in public, it isn’t them but their PWS.
We listened to this suggestion and thought it was a great idea, which is why we have worked so quickly to produce the lanyards.
The lanyard and card are sold together and cost £5.95 including P&P. Get yours now at www.pwsa-uk.ecwid.com!
Colouring Time & Birthdays
Calum Alexander
Martin Anderson
Joe Atkinson
Johanna Barnes
Aneil Bhogal
Troy James
William Blades
Alice Briscall
Katie Brockley
Joshua Butler
Claire Campbell
David Carter
Clair Challenor
Sarah Cuthbert
Alfie Dandy
Claire Darley
James Dewar
Grant Domagala
Josie Drake
Jennifer Eggl
Mikala Elliott
Rebecca Evans
Richard R C Field
Emily Fleming
Kate Fleming
Patrick Frankcom
Kathryn Graham
Sarah Joanne
Greenhalgh
Rebecca Griffin
Colm James Grimes
Robyn Hatton
Bloomfield
Nicholas Hawley
Marina Hicks
Rebecca Higgins
Elizabeth Holmes
Paul Homer
Ashlyn Honey
Thomas Hue
Tina Huggett
Emily James
David Kelly
Neil Kipling
Chanil Kisthoo
John Laidlaw
Jonathan LaverickBrown
Hannah Lawrence
Anthony Lawson
Tom Leach
Duncan Logie
Jameel Mandeel
Hayley Marsh
Christy Matthews
Wayne Maud
Amy McAllister
Lesley-Anne McKinnon
Eve Metcalf
Matthew Minton
Stuart Mitchell
Peter Morice
Nicholas Murduck
Elizabeth Owen
Heidi Parry
Elliot Perkins
Mia Phillips
Julie Pinel
Damon Rackley
Ashley Redford
Vicki Riley
Alexander Robson
Sean Samways
James Sanderson
James Schofield
Glen Shannon
Arron Simpson
Natalie SlevinGreer
Lydia Smith
Tamzyn Softley
Heather Stark
Paul Streeter
Richard Tallon
Alison Thomson
Philip Tremain
Colette Tyre
Sharon Waldron
Elisha Wallington
Bradley Ward
Samantha Warnel
Stacey Waterhouse
Kate Wedlock
Elizabeth Wilson
Archie Woollacott
18th birthday
Ellie Louise Angus
Freya Hall
Jack Lindsey
Quiz & Riddles
Promotional Merchandise
Quiz
1. Which sport is played at The Oval in London?
¨ Football
¨ Tennis
¨ Cricket
2. What are the nicknames for these football teams?
Leicester City
Arsenal
Brighton and Hove Albion
Manchester United
3. Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to America?
¨ Egypt
¨ France
¨ Spain
4. Who invented the World Wide Web?
¨ Elon Musk
¨ Tim Berners-Lee
¨ Steve Jobs
5. In which American city is the Golden Gate Bridge?
¨ Los Angeles
¨ San Francisco
¨ Las Vegas
6. The bones of which King were found in a car park in Leicester?
¨ Richard III
¨ Henry VIII
¨ Edward II
Riddles
What can you catch but not throw?
What has lots of hearts but no other organs?
What has one eye but can’t see?
Which word comes before Agent Passage Ballot
What do these words have in common? Ball Cash Vegas
7. Which of these is the odd one out?
¨ Walking under a ladder
¨ Seeing a single magpie
¨ Finding a four leaved clover
¨ Breaking a mirror
8. Which is the odd one out?
¨ Warwick Castle
¨ Leeds Castle
¨ Windsor Castle
¨ Nottingham Castle
9. What is the name of Prince William and Kate’s eldest child?
¨ Henry
¨ Edward
¨ George
10. What is the name of the park in London that’s home to a zoo?
¨ Hyde Park
¨ Regents Park
¨ Green Park
11. What is Harry Potter’s middle name?
¨ James
¨ John
¨ Jason
12. Where is The Great Barrier Reef?
¨ Thailand
¨ Australia
¨ New Zealand
WINNER! Congratulations to the winner of last issue’s quiz, Grace Adamson. A prize is on its way to you!
Send your answers to the quiz and your completed word search by 4th December 2023 to:
PWSA UK c/o Metcalf’s Commercial Decorators, 3 Deer Park Road, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6RX
Name:
Address:
REMEMBER… make sure you put the correct postage on your envelopes!
Overcome the challenges of Prader-Willi syndrome.