Hi folks, apologies for taking so long to find time to post an update Change x fund have very kindly passed to me a further £150. I've been talking to a GP who had to retire due to health issues through covid. She Currently runs djembe drumming classes for adults and we are both keen to give this a go with our kids. It may be an utter disaster but it may be thoroughly life affirming,positive, relaxing and hypnotic thing of beauty for our kids.. its an opportunity we need to try Cos it may be a way for them to relax as they get older..
So we have cairns Church booked on Monday 16th, 23rd, 30th Jan 445-545pm as Nadja can't do Tuesdays Currently. Please feel free to come along - give it a try. If it works we will keep rhe group going.. hoping to hear back about more funding for the choir and something else in the next month. Happy New year when it comes! Karen

We've had 3 wonderful sessions for our young people with ASN- young people who attend mainstream school and young people who attend special school. Children who can talk and children who communicate in other ways. Some who hold hands and dance with others and some who certainly don't! We've sing along and clapped and had the fun of kids bringing their instruments from home - even though they can't read music or play a tune. We've sung our hearts out unashamedly and wholeheartedly. We've shouted out which animal we want for Old Macdonald had a farm and We've sang about our grannies on Ye Cannae Shove yer granny aff The Bus. We've sung along to Mamma Mia and we have blasted put Valerie. The kids have loved the safe, stimulating and encouraging environment. They've been able to do whatever they want with no feat of being judged. We parents loved having the chance to exchange knowledge and experiences with those further down the journey. Its been so much fun, We've shared new experiences and we've made new friends. It's something that no-one who attended will ever forget! Thank you Change -X for such a brilliant experience!

Hi everyone, we've been successful in accessing funding for another 3 weeks at present- and hopefully with a further week after that. Thanks so much to everyone for finding time to be part of our initial chat; for joining this group and for helping this move forward.
i will email the hall tonight and ask if they have the 25th october, 1st and 8th available.
these sessions will be for all children with ASN over the age of 8 or so. Having young people who don't attend ASN schools may help us move on from singing so many rhymes, moving and adapting the group and offering the opportunity for a greater number of families to benefit from the funding from The Lego Corporation. And all young people will still be accompanied by an adult.
So, upwards and onwards...

Hi everyone,
So just a quick note to say that I have a flyer created for the sessions that I hope will be funded by The Lego Foundation. The flyer will be sent out once we have dates, hall etc confirmed. These sessions will be open to all those with ASN (with parent, PA etc) in order to try and get the number of people who benefit from the funding to be as many as possible. Its a wonderful concept so it will be great if a fair number of families can receive some benefit from the grant.
The choirmaster Is in place- but is obviously dependent upon the dates etc.
Building will obviously be wheelchair accessible in order to allow as many young people as possible to attend.
And we have the lyrics from a few songs typed up and ready to go.
If anyone happens to know a good makaton practitioner who fancies adding to the ambience then please do let me know!
Thanks
Karen

Screenshot of initial meeting and action plan

Confirmation Implementation guide