Champions to deliver ‘Parenting our children online’ workshops in York

Twelve ‘champions’ have been trained to deliver ‘Parenting our children online’ workshops across the city.
Woman talking on phone and using laptop computer

Woman talking on phone and using laptop computer

Part of the ‘It’s not OK’ campaign to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and exploitation being delivered by City of York Safeguarding Children Board and the NSPCC, the ‘champions’ will deliver free workshops to parents providing information and practical tips about keeping their children safe online.

The workshop will address some of the online issues that parents say they are concerned about including online bullying, sexting, excessive gaming, setting boundaries and where to go for further help and support.

Schools, community and faith groups, sporting organisations and others such as Brownies and Beavers groups will be able to arrange for workshop facilitators to come to a venue of their choice to deliver the 45 minute workshop to a group of parents.

Helen Westerman, NSPCC Campaigns Manager, said: “The ‘champions’ have a great mixture of skills, experience and knowledge and all work with children and families as part of their ‘day jobs’. They’re looking forward to working with parents and carers across the city to help them gain more confidence and knowledge about keeping their children safe online.”

Workshops will be starting in October and run until the end of the campaign in April 2016.

For more information about the workshops visit www.yor-ok.org.uk/parentingonline or to book a session for your organisation or group email hwesterman@NSPCC.org.uk

 York families sought to adopt older children and siblings

National Adoption Week 2015 takes place this week from 19 to 25 October with the theme ‘Too old at 4?’

adoption week 2015

Older children waiting to be adopted are often likely to be in sibling groups or to have additional needs and there is currently a shortage of adoptive parents coming forward for these children.

Sadly, sibling groups, those with complex needs and children from black and minority ethnic families are amongst the children who wait longest to be adopted.

During National Adoption Week 2015, City of York Council is joining all its adoption partners to work together to highlight the need to find adoptive families for these children.

While it’s great news that York has no children waiting to be adopted at the moment, across the country there are brothers and sisters, older children and those with special needs or disabilities looking for forever families. Could that be you?

City of York Council is hosting an information event on 2 November from 6:30-8:30pm  in central York where you can find out more about what adoption involves and whether it could be right for you. . To book a place please contact the duty adoption worker on: adoptiondutyworker@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 553525.

Anyone interested in adopting or who would like to know more can find lots of useful information  onthe Yorkshire and Humber Adoption Consortium website: http://beingfamily.co.uk/ or can phone the national adoption information service – First4Adoption on 0300 222 0022 where the friendly advisers will be happy to answer questions. The First4Adoption information line is open Monday-Friday between 10am and 6pm. You can also find information on their website at http://www.first4adoption.org.uk/

Children’s safety in York under review

York’s 44,000 children are “safe” according to an independent report being considered by the Council next week

Safeguarding children annual report cover 2014 15The annual report of the Safeguarding Children Board is likely to receive more attention than may have been usual in the past following issues arising in South Yorkshire

The report says that the number of looked after children in the city has fallen steadily in 2014- 15 from 226 at the start of the year to 195 by the end. 124 children were on a formal child protection plan at the year end. 82% of children in care felt that they were “really safe” at home.

Fewer children now live in (relative) poverty in the City than a year ago.

Other issues considered by the board included; neglect, Child Sexual Exploitation, domestic abuse, school absenteeism and female genital mutilation.

The summary report can be read by clicking here

Pupils get ready to take Walk to School week in their stride

walking bus 2Thirty one schools and over 9,000 pupils across the city are taking part in the biggest ever Walk to School Week campaign which aims to encourage even more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

The school that gets the highest number of pupils walking, cycling or scooting throughout the week will win the coveted Jack Archer award and £300, funded by Age UK.

Cllr Ian Gillies, Executive Member for Transport and Planning, said: “Walk to School Week is a great opportunity for pupils, parents and teachers to look at how they travel to school and the benefits that walking can bring, such as pupils being more alert in the classroom.”

‘Scoot to School’ day will also take place on Wednesday 14 October. To encourage students to scoot the school with the most pupils who scoot to school on that day will win a Scooter Pod worth £300 donated by CyclePod.

It is recommended that children aged five to sixteen do at least sixty  minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual and they need to do it everyday to burn off calories and prevent them storing up excess fat in the body.

Regular activity is also important for adults and it is recommended that adults make sure they’re active for just 30 minutes each day, or 150 minutes a week.

The scheme is also targeted at families who normally take the car, and encourages them to consider walking or cycling to school instead.

Residents can find out more about changing the way they travel in York at: www.itravelyork.info/

What’s on: Chatterbooks from today (Saturday)

chatterbooks

Check out York Explore events for children aged 5 plus in Chatterbooks week.

Peg Out Poetry Sat 3 Oct

Free drop in event at York Explore 2.30pm – 4.00pm

Every Picture tells a Story Sun 4 Oct

Come along and have a go at illustrating a scene from your favourite book with local artist Adele Karmydzn on hand to offer hints and tips.

This is a free event, booking is essential. 1.30pm – 3.00pm

The Armpit of Doom , by Ken Nesbit Thur 8 Oct

Poetry activity session based on the poem by Ken Nesbitt , make your own air freshener! Free drop – in event. 4.00pm – 5.00pm

For booking and more information contact York Explore on 01904 552828, or email york@exploreyork.org.uk

 

Help needed to foster severely disabled children in York

FosteringA new phase of recruiting foster carers in York is rolling out this month with an emphasis on the need for foster placements for severely disabled children.

City of York Council has vacancies for short breaks carers to help children and young people with disabilities, as part of a regular and supported package of care for them and their family.

The breaks can be anything from a few hours to a few days or up to a month, for children with a permanent and substantial impairment or illness. Carers are supported to involve the children to take part in family or local activities, make new friends and gain independence. This gives families a break from caring plus the reassurance that their child is safe and enjoying positive new experiences.

People with room in their home, hearts and schedule for these special breaks are trained, fully supported and equipped throughout. Many decide to offer short breaks after having had experience of caring for their own or other children with a disability or having had a professional role in education, social care or nursing.

These contract foster carers are paid to provide a series of short breaks during the year for up to seven different children and are allocated time off to recharge their own batteries, as part of their remuneration package.

The council’s Short Breaks team has immediate vacancies and is eager to hear from committed individuals who believe that they have the spare time, energy and commitment to offer short breaks fostering in their own home.

The council’s Fostering Team is also keen to recruit people interested in offering a caring and loving home for children who are looked after away from their families. Short time fostering – up to 12 months – and longer term fostering – until young people reach adulthood – is needed, especially for those who can care for teenagers and young people with additional needs. The remuneration, training and support is substantial.

Jo Clarke, a York foster carer and forensic psychologist, said: “I started my fostering career when my daughter was six. We provided short breaks to a six-year-old girl who had special needs and was living at home with her family. It felt amazing to be able to offer this support to the family who might otherwise have had to consider residential care for their daughter. Bizarrely sometimes the more challenging it was, the more worthwhile it felt, because you realised how much the family needed a break. It was also hugely beneficial to my daughter, who has grown up with a real understanding of disability and a much stronger appreciation of what she’s got. This was such an overwhelmingly positive experience, that we decided to take another step and now we are full time, permanent foster carers to a young man who came to us four years ago, when he was eight.  My daughter says fostering has been the best thing ever and has shaped who she has become. For me, I can’t imagine any job more rewarding.”

For an informal chat about short breaks and fostering, please contact shortbreaks@york.gov.uk or call 01904 555699 or please go to www.york.gov.uk/shortbreakfostercarer.

Council plans for new healthy child service for 0-19 year olds

 Members of City of York Council’s Executive will be asked to approve plans for a change in the way future provision of services for children and young people in the city are delivered by health visitors and school nurses at a meeting later this month (27 August).

Healthy kids

The proposals come since the council became responsible for the Healthy Children Programme for children aged 5-19 years (which includes school nursing and the National Child Measurement Programme) with the transfer of public health to local authorities in April 2013.  Last year the Department of Health confirmed the transfer of 0-5 child public health services (which includes health visiting services) from 1 October 2015 which will complete the transfer of public health responsibilities to local authorities.

The Healthy Child Programme provides a framework of services for children and young people to promote the best health and wellbeing, prevent ill health and provide early intervention when required.

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Summer events programme for young people shining in York

Shine logo

 Children, young people and their families are enjoying a summer of fun holiday activities, with an amazing 29,900 activity places available as part of the council co-ordinated Shine programme.

Shine is an exciting programme of events aimed at five to 18 year olds which runs thanks to a large number of organisers including the council, sports organisations, independent activity providers and local attractions. Many of the activities are free and booking in advance is not always necessary, offering a boredom-free summer throughout the city!

This year Shine includes over 190 different activities throughout the summer, offering all the favourite arts, sports, play sessions, parks and libraries activities.

  • Some of the more unusual events include designing a remote controlled robot or a joystick game and those with a sense of adventure can enjoy activities such as kayaking, outdoor climbing, wild camping and bushcraft skills.
  • Theatre, art, mosaics, dance, sewing and junk drumming with Trashbang are some of the arts activities helping to develop young creative skills, whilst sports activities from Total Sports,
  • York Knights Foundation and City of York Athletics are keeping fitness levels up throughout the summer.
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Crafty family fun this summer at York Minster

kidsact MinsterFrom making your own Minster to decorating a precious treasure box, there’s a different craft activity each Wednesday during the summer holidays to help children get creative and discover what makes York Minster a record breaker.

The sessions, which are suitable for children aged five and above, run from 5 August to 2 September and take inspiration from the cathedral’s treasures, history and architecture.

In addition to the Wednesday workshops, families can enjoy a range of activities while exploring the Minster every day of the holidays.
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