Kindred's blog

Kindred’s Chair, Morag Steven is doing the Loony Dook this up and coming New Year’s Day to help raise money for Kindred!  Not only is she going to brave the freezing Forth but she has persuaded her two sons and their girlfriends to take the plunge too!  The five strong team are raising money for Kindred in loving memory of Morag’s other son, Duncan Steven (1988 - 2010).

Capability Scotland is looking for roving reporters to tell them how accessible Scotland’s Christmas attractions are. It could be a family trip to see Santa, a festive outing to the panto or even just a spot of Christmas shopping. Tell them about it at: www.capability-scotland.org.uk/christmascracker and be in with the chance of winning £50 shopping vouchers.

Good luck!

The City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Community Health Partnership want to know what should the priorities for carer support be for the next 3-5 years?

They want to hear what carers think, and that’s why they will be hosting events where you can:
• Meet other people who are carers for a relative or friend
• Come for tea, cake and complementary therapies
• Share your ideas and thoughts about services for carers
• Hear about ways for carers to shape services
• Find out what support there is for carers in Edinburgh

These events are one way to feed in your views.  Click on their information leaflet to find out more.

Since September CEN (National Managed Clinical Network for Children with Exceptional Healthcare Need) have been trying to evaluate the work they have done on the emotional impact of tube feeding.

If you have a child who started on tube feeding in 2010, 2011 and 2012 please take a few minutes to complete their short questionnaire. This includes all children on tube feeding with additional impairments . 

Just click on their survey to complete.   http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LXJGSCG
CEN can also provide a paper copy  of the survey with stamped return envelopes if you would prefer: contact them via their website http://www.cen.scot.nhs.uk/ , where you can also find out more about the work they do.

City Cabs have very kindly purchased a season ticket for Kindred, under the Kicks for Kids scheme, for two tickets (at least one of which must be for under 18) to attend Hibs Home SPL Fixtures. 

If you know a child with additional needs who would like to attend a match for free, with a complimentary ticket for an accompanying adult, simply email kindred.enquiries@gmail.com with the subject HIBS Tickets.

Are you a young person with additional needs, aged 14-20?  Fancy doing something on Saturday Nights? 
Over the next 5 months Kindred will be running a series of 5 social get-togethers and we would like to invite you to come to any or all of them. The events are free and will be held in central Edinburgh. We will do our best to accommodate any support needs you may have and can guarantee you a really fun time!
The first event is happening this coming Saturday 24 November at a bowling alley in Edinburgh and there’s still time to join in!
Our Booking Form lists the other events on the programme – just click on the link,  print off, complete and post back if you are interested.

Would you like to meet other lone parents in a similar situation?  Did you know that Scotland has 657,000 carers who care for a family member who is ill, disabled or frail?    Without their dedication the cost to the government would be equivalent to 3/4 of the NHS budget in Scotland, yet Carer's Allowance is paid at a rate of £58.45 per week or £1.67 an hour (based on the minimum 35 hours of caring required to be eligible for the allowance).

If you think carers should be paid a living wage then join a discussion group on Weds 5th December 2012, at 10.30 am.  The event will be held at  One Parent Families Scotland, 13 Gayfield Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3NX.  Please call One Parent Families Scotland directly on 0131 556 3899 to reserve a place.

Kindred's 2012 AGM will be held at our WEST END office at 7 Rutland Court Lane, Edinburgh, EH3 8ES.

It will begin at 4pm and finish at 5pm. 

PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF TIME FROM THAT IN THE SUMMER NEWSFLASH THAT WAS MAILED OUT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

Please let us know if you would like to attend our AGM and find out all about our achievements, activities and plans.
 

Tea and scones will be served to keep your strength up....
 

You need to call Mel on 0131 538 5650 or email m.grenfell@nhs.net to say if you intend to come.

We're looking forward to seeing you!

Not sure what to get up to during the October break with the kids?

Lorraine Shaw passed on a website to us which may be of interest:

www.skootkidz.com

Take a Break is part of the £2million ‘Better Breaks Development Fund’ which, under The Scottish Government, aims to improve the provision of, and access to, quality short breaks for disabled children and their families, especially where children and young people have multiple support needs.