Reg. Charity No.

1053815

The newsletter of the Peterborough and District Deaf Childrens Society. October - December 2006

planning for the Christmas Party and Panto. Please get in touch if you have any suggestions or want to get involved. Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the newsletter. Also big hello to all our new member families who have recently joined us, we hope you make the most of whats on offer from the PDDCS and were extremely happy to have you on board. Id also like to introduce you to all the new committee members who joined the committee at the AGM in May. Jason Sharpe, Nicola Epathite, Vicky Bennett and Lanks Patel all put their hands up to take an active role in the running of our society this year and I want to thank and applaud them for their commitment. Leaving the committee at the last AGM was Diana Bedford who has been involved with the committee for many years in her role as treasurer. Id like to express our thanks for her hard work and dedication and wish her well. In addition, our Chair for many years, Sheila Lever, stood down from that role in May and remains on the committee. A warm thanks and congratulation to Sheila for successfully steering the PDDCS through many challenges, successes and putting our society on a firm footing. As you will see from this newsletter, we have had an extremely successful summer with many well attended activities. Thanks to Nicola Epathite and her team for the planning and running of the free play scheme this summer. By all accounts it was a huge success and a key part of our programme of activities during the summer. Also thanks to Wendy Fssler for all her hard work arranging and organising the trips to the NDCS Family Fun Day in Coventry and Woburn Safari Park. Both events were a success with large attendances. More information on the trips and activities is in our Activities Round Up The Second Annual Under 5s day took place at Caverstede Early Years Centre in July organised by Fiona Forkin. Fiona has been instrumental in managing a programme of activities for our smallest members over the year and the event at Caverstede was another success. Thanks Fiona. Looking ahead, we have a few big projects underway. The Holiday to Hilltop in Norfolk is almost upon us and its at this time of year we also begin Another exciting project currently in development is a termly forum for parents. Fiona Forkin is working on this one and will be looking for suggestions so get in touch if you have any ideas. The forum will stand out as the only totally parent focused work we do and it represents a further broadening of our horizons. One of the most important aspects of our society is being able to be in touch with people who share some of the experiences and challenges we may face and overcome. We now have 45 families in our society and that number is always growing so there is lots of potential for exchanges of ideas and experiences between our families which will only be of benefit for our children. Aside from the activities and events that the PDDCS organise, one of the most valuable resources our society is able to provide is one of friendship and community. So if you have met other families on days out or other activities, stay in touch with them. Sometimes it can only take a quick phone call or an email to make someones day. Go on, make that call. Andy Palmer, Chairman

Second annual under 5s day. On the 27th July, Caverstede Early Years Centre in the City hosted the second annual under-5s day. 20 people from 6 families attended and took part in a range of activities. Thanks to Caverstede Early Years Centre for hosting and to Fiona Forkin for organising the event. Toddler Group celebrates the First Anniversary
The fortnightly Toddler Group held at the Hearing Support Service offices at Middleton School celebrated its 1st Birthday in May. The hugely successful group for the under 5s has been providing activities for children and support for parents every fortnight during term time. Call Fiona Forkin on 01733 765878 for more information.

same day. All who went had a brilliant day and enjoyed the fantastic weather and activities on offer, such as quad biking, climbing walls, tractor rides and much more. The coach took along about 40 people, another great result!

without whom, we would not be able to put on such an event. Also a big thank you to Nicola Epithite who organised and led the play scheme brilliantly.

Woburn
Two coaches were filled for the trip to Woburn Safari Park which again enjoyed brilliant weather with lots to do for the kids. A great time was had by all and ranks as one of our most successful trips with two coaches full for the trip. Thanks to Wendy Fssler for organising this summers popular trips.

Get a free NDCS Weekly Planner!

My weekly planner is a parenting tool that is used to help take the stress out of explaining to deaf children what activities or appointments they are taking part in. The planner has been designed in consultation with experienced teachers of the deaf, parents of deaf children and the NDCS Parenting Project. The board is divided into days of the week with space to write in or attach pictures of morning, afternoon and evening appointments and activities. To get hold of your planner, call the NDCS helpline on 0808 800 8880 or log on to www.ndcs.org.uk to order.

Puffin Summer Play Scheme

A daily average of 18 deaf children attended the week long puffin play scheme packed with things to do with the kids during the summer holidays. One of the highlights was a trip to Ferry Meadows with the FogLife team for a fascinating day out. The Mayor also paid a visit with councillors from the City Council and praised the work of the PDDCS, plus all the kids got their photo in the Evening Telegraph. Thanks to all the helpers,

Best Ever Trips Away

The PDDCS put on two coach trips this summer. On July 1st, the destination was the NDCS exhibition and Fun-day at the Heart of England Showground near Coventry. One coach was booked but the attendance was, unsurprisingly, dented by the England v Portugal Match in the

Kids Activities at Peterborough Deaf Club

Debbie Powell is running activities for Children at Peterborough Deaf Club, every second Friday of the month at Westgate Church in the City Centre from 6pm till 10pm. Debbie is a deaf person who

uses both speech and sign. The activities on offer include arts and crafts and offer both parents and children the opportunity mix with the local deaf community.

I have been meeting, on a three-monthly basis, with Nathan Stuart, Head of Audiology, and Val Callis, Head of the Children with Disabilities team at Social Services. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss any feedback our members have for either department and put forward ideas and suggestions which may help them improve their service for our children. Here is the progress so far: Social Services I have been meeting with the CWDT (Children with Disabilities Team) for over a year now and the discussions have mainly focused on the provision of equipment. The main feedback from the members is about consistency of the service and equipment available. We are currently in the process of trying to agree service standards with the CWDT which will then provide clarity to parents about what they can expect. We will be able to bring you the results of that soon. Below is the progress our relationship with the CWDT has made so far:

We are now able, through Wendy Fssler, Outreach Worker, to refer cases to the CWDT, avoiding intake and assessment. The RNID, who provide the equipment service on behalf the CWDT now conduct reviews to check and see if equipment is working correctly Agreement that specially adapted e q u i pm en t like d o o r be l l s , telephones and smoke alarms should be available for families of deaf children at all ages. Parents feedback given to CWDT and acted upon.

discounts? Service standard agreements to set out the process of providing equipment, its servicing the expected timescales.

Audiology

The current issues we are discussing are:

Nathan Stuart, the Head of Audiology, has agreed to provide a document which outlines service standards for patients. This will detail how long patients should wait for hearing tests, new hearing aids, replacement aids and repairs. Parents to be given extra information on maintenance of hearing aids and the equipment to re-tube at home when required

Can deaf children be given standard social services cards which certify their deafness to enable them to access more services and receive certain

If you have any feedback or comments, or would like to discuss any issue regarding Audiology or CWDT, please get in touch.

HILLTOP PLACES STILL AVAILABLE!!

There are limited places available for the subsidised activity break to Hilltop in Norfolk, beginning on 20th October for 2 Nights. Call Fiona Forkin on 01733 765878 to enquire about going on the trip but hurry, places are limited. The

Could you do with some help?

The PDDCS runs Outreach service an for

Good Luck, Pippa!

Teacher of the Deaf, Pippa Dale, has been appointed as Teacher of the Deaf, Key Stage 2, at the Hearing Support Service, Middleton School. Pippa, who is based in Cambridge, became known to many of our members though her work at Addenbrookes Hospitals cochlear implant centre and has overseas experience working with Deaf Children.

Contact Details
Andy Palmer Chairman, Secretary and Liaison 01733 845174 07949 571173 andypalmer177@hotmail.com Toddler Group Dates Future Dates for Toddler Group. 27th September 11th October 8th November 22nd November 13th December Call Fiona Forkin on 01733 765878 Hilltop Activity Holiday 20th October Call Fiona Forkin on 01733 765878 Christmas Party 9th December More Details to follow soon Signed Christmas Pantomime 6th January More Details to follow soon New Parents Forum TBA More Details to follow soon Committee Meetings October 17th November 21st December 19th Contact Andy Palmer on 07949 571173 Wendy Fssler Treasurer, Activities and Outreach 01733 579586 07905 028597 wefassler@aol.com Fiona Forkin Vice Chair and Toddler Group 01733 765878 07762 252842 Fiona.f1@ntlworld.com Amanda Ayres Membership Secretary

01733 347030 ayresamanda@aol.com