Through The Maze Winter 2021

Easy read information about accessible events and activities in Leeds for adults with learning disabilities

Winter Edition 2021 A service of Connect in the North registered charity number 1078829 registered in England and Wales.

A non-profit company limited by guarantee, number 3127540

Contents

Page

Welcome to Through the Maze

2

How to update information on Through the Maze Through the Maze WhatsApp Information service

3 4

Through the Maze Ask Us Drop In

5

Connect in the North – The Great Winter Chat

6

People Matters Health and Wellbeing groups

7

People in Action – Ready! Steady! Cook!

8

People in Action – Independent Lives

9

People in Action – Digital Basics

10

Winter Word Search

11

Winter Word Search

12

Colouring in

13

Spot the difference

14

Spot the difference answers

15

Tips to keep your mind well over winter

16

Swarthmore Education Centre Study Programme

17

Pyramid – ALaDDIN

18

NHS – The learning disability and autism team

19

Flexibus East Leeds

20

Pass it on People Meanwood Farm

21

Leeds City Council

22

Contact us

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Page 1

Welcome to Through the Maze

Hello and welcome to the Through the Maze Winter newsletter.

The Through The Maze office will be closed for Christmas from Friday 20th December  Tuesday 4th January.

If you need any information over Christmas you can look at our website http://through-the-maze.org.uk

Please pass on this magazine to a friend or recycle after reading.

For more information see http://www.recyclenow.com/local-recycling

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Through the Maze WhatsApp information service Each week Through the Maze send out a WhatsApp message telling people about accessible events and activities that are coming up in Leeds.

If you are having problems getting signed up let us know so we can help you.

How to get the WhatsApp Updates To get weekly updates from Through the Maze add our number  0776 052 8588 to your phonebook.

Save the number as Through the Maze.

Send a WhatsApp message saying Get Weekly Update to the number you just saved.

Privacy We are using a WhatsApp broadcast list.

In the broadcast lists you can’t see who else is a member of the list or anyone’s phone number.

We will not share your contact details with anyone else.

Important Information We will not reply to any messages sent to our mobile number.

If you would like to ask a question you must either phone us on  0113 270 3233, email  ttm@citn.org.uk or send us a message using the online form on the Through the Maze website.

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Through the Maze Ask Us Drop In on Zoom The Through the Maze Ask Us Drop In is running on Zoom.

The drop in runs every Monday.

12:30PM ➞ 3:00PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83379473641?pwd=SH AzL1kwTmcyYm1PdkdzNVNLNUZ6dz09 833 7947 3641 For the password to the meeting please contact  0113 270 3233 or email  ttm@citn.org.uk If you would like a private session please contact us to make an appointment on  0113 270 3233 Page 5

The Great Winter Chat – Members Event Thursday 20th January 2022 1:00PM – 2:30PM On Zoom Come to the Great Winter Chat to catch up with us.

Book your place to get a welcome pack sent to you.

Join us for –  Maddy’s Mega Bingo  Sarah’s Quiz  What’s on this Winter The Zoom link is – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8382752616?pwd=V0lm WFRRL0R6Tm56QTdRUHNoMWI3QT09 Meeting ID: 838 275 2616 Email  sarah@citn.org.uk to book on and get the password.

Or ring  0113 270 32 33 The event is for Connect in the North’s members.

Not a member yet? No problem. It’s free to become a member.

Email  sarah@citn.org.uk to get a membership form.

Thanks to

for the use of their image bank ©LYPFT

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People Matters Health and Wellbeing groups

People Matters are running 2 wellbeing groups weekly that will focus on your health and wellbeing. This is through a fun, active and creative programme led by members.

Starting the week beginning 15th November on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Tuesdays, 10:30AM -12:30PM Fridays,10:30AM – 12:30PM

These groups are free.

For more information contact,  info@peoplemattersleeds.co.uk 0113 234 6896 Page 7

People in Action Ready, Steady, Cook! is a 12-week cookery course.

Members learn to plan and cook simple healthy meals.

You can choose the sort of foods you want to make.

You can also get a certificate from the National Open College Network.

One of People in Action’s members said “It’s a good way to get to know people and to learn how to cook food and build your skills for day-to-day life. The staff are very supportive and it’s very relaxed and easygoing.”

People in Action are looking for new members to start the course in January.

For more information contact Danielle Martin danielle.martin@peopleinaction.org.uk 0113 244 3729 Page 8

People in Action Independent Lives is a 16-week course.

Members learn to be more independent in their lives.

The course gives its members the chance to learn how to use services safely.

Members will learn about using public transport independently.

People in Action are looking for new members to start the course in January.

For more information contact, Danielle Martin danielle.martin@peopleinaction.org.uk 0113 244 3729 Page 9

People in Action Digital basics is a course that runs every other Friday at The Old Fire Station in Gipton.

You can come along if you would like some help using your digital device, like a phone, tablet or laptop.

You can learn things like using video calls, Google services and creating profiles.

For more information contact, Danielle Martin danielle.martin@peopleinaction.org.uk 0113 2443729

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Image used with permission of Purple Patch Arts.

Artist Lorna Johnstone.

See more colouring pages by visiting https://purplepatcharts.org/colouring-pages/ Page 13

Spot the Difference – Headrow Leeds

Additional image used under licenese CC BY-SA 4.0 CC BY-SA 4.0 – Mtaylor848 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Former_Post_Office_and_christmas_tree_on_City_Square,_Leeds_(21st_December_2015)_003.JPG

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Spot the Difference Answers

1. Clock face is missing 2. Christmas light missing from lamppost on right 3. Van changed colour 4. Top of lamp post missing left 5. Person on phone missing from bottom left

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Tips to keep your mind well over winter Stay connected with other people.  Stay in touch with family, friends and neighbours by phone.  Ask for help with shopping and other jobs.  Find some volunteering to do.

Plan practical things.  Keep up with usual everyday activities and interests.  Make a to do list for each day, make shopping lists and order repeat prescriptions.  Get support or help from your doctor if you feel unwell.

Stay on top of difficult feelings and worries.  Try to focus on things you can control.  Take time to talk to others about how you are feeling.

Take time to notice and feel joy.  Do activities you enjoy.  Set yourself a goal, learn a new skill or take on a challenge.  Take note of things that bring you joy and share them with other people.

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Swarthmore Education Centre Study Programme

Over spring 2022 Swarthmore Education Centre have different courses to help you make friends and have fun.

You might like to join a music course.

You might like to join a cooking course.

You might like to join an art and crafts course.

For more information about all course being run at Swarthmore over spring 2022 contact, Amanda Torbitt  mandy@swarthmore.org.uk  0113 243 2210

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Pyramid – ALaDDIN

The ALaDDIN network supports people with a learning disability and autistic people to be digitally included.

It is important that ALaDDIN listens to people with a learning disability and autistic people about their experiences of digital inclusion.

This is why ALaDDIN is putting together a new consultation group.

This group will help ALaDDIN focus on the real issues that people are facing around digital inclusion The group is starting in December 2021. It will be made up of people who are members of ALaDDIN organisations.

The group will share updates with Through the Maze as they go along so you can read about their work.

For more information contact, Carley Stubbs Carley@pyramid.org.uk 

0754 978 279 Page 18

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FlexiBus East Leeds FlexiBus East Leeds is a trial service that will change the way you use public transport.

You can use it to travel to work, the shops, a health appointment or to visit family and friends in the East Leeds area. Off peak only you can also access Leeds Bus Station and Leeds Market.

How will it work?

From your smartphone,  Download the ‘FlexiBus WY’ app – Apple store or Google Play.  Register an account.  Request your journey - at least one hour in advance.  Walk to your pickup point.  Pay by contactless on the bus.

How much will it cost?  £2 flat fare for a single journey.  £1.20 for under 19s.  All MCard products are accepted smartcards and MCard Mobile.  Holders of senior, blind and disabled person’s bus pass travel free after 9.30AM on weekdays and all day on Saturdays.

Where can I find out more? www.wymetro.com/flexibus 0113 245 7676 Page 20

Pass it on People find out about Leeds City Council Pass it on People visited the Council Chambers where big decisions are made by Leeds City Council.

Leeds City Council make and carry out decisions on local services. Some of the things they are responsible for are     

Local roads.

Collecting our rubbish.

Licencing bars and taxis.

Housing.

Care and support.

There are 99 Councillors in Leeds. There are 3 in every ward. You can find yours by looking on this website https://democracy.leeds.gov.uk You can get in touch with your councillor by phone, email, letter or in person.

You can go to council and committee meetings.

You can speak at some meetings.

Find out more on the Leeds City Council website https://www.leeds.gov.uk Or phoning  0113 222 4444

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Pass it on People Meanwood Farm Meanwood Valley Urban Farm is a working farm in Leeds.

There are animals, gardens and woods to explore. There is a café and shop.

We really enjoyed seeing the alpacas and the pigs.

We couldn’t see all the small animals because of the coronavirus restrictions. We will visit them another time.

There were accessible toilets and parking.

Many of the paths are accessible.

It was easy to get there. We caught the 51/52 bus across from the Corn Exchange to Woodhouse Cricket Club. The farm was well signposted.

Cost - Adult: £2.50 Child: 50p Children Under 2: Free It is open every day 10:00AM – 3:00PM Cafe: 10:00AM – 4:00PM Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Sugar Well Road, Leeds LS7 2QG

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By phone

Write to

By email

 0113 270 3233

Office 45 Sugar Mill Oakhurst Road Leeds LS11 7HL

 info@citn.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/CintN Facebook www.facebook.com/ throughthemazeleeds @ConnectintNorth Twitter @ThroughTheMaze

If you want to stop getting this newsletter let us know by any of the ways above.

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