This month, we’ve asked YMCA East Surrey to tell you about their activities in the last few weeks. Do explore their website here once you’ve read about their amazing work! https://www.ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk/ YMCA East Surrey Short Breaks team have been busy contacting and supporting families in a variety of ways - all with the aim of making life in the lockdown a bit easier. In early April, the Short Breaks team completed 170 welfare phone calls to families; offering advice and support and a friendly, empathetic ear. These calls also allowed staff to identify families who were really struggling and therefore to offer additional, more practical support, where possible. The team were disappoint

Read more about the burning issues mentioned in our June 2020 newsletter: Eating Disorders If you have any concerns, particularly recently, related to a change in your child’s eating, a change in their eating habits or a sudden change in their weight, you can access support via the dedicated Eating Disorder Team which is provided via Mindsight CAMHS. There is an option for parents to self-refer and to discuss any concerns you may have about your child or young person and this can be done by contacting the team on 01372 206 325. The following attachments also give more information about this service. https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/mindsightsurreycamhs/services/MH-LD/ED-CYP/eating-disorders https://w

Today we published new research which shows families feel abandoned and have been left in lockdown without any support. Together with families we are demanding action and recognition from government. The survey results based on more than 4,000 UK families with disabled children have been featured on the BBC TV and radio, Sky News and Channel 5 news today. This has helped us shine a spotlight on the difficulties families are facing during the Coronavirus lockdown so thank you to everyone who completed the survey and have helped with the launch today. Lou, mum to Euan, aged 14 who has autism, described being left in lockdown without support 'like living in a pressure cooker. It's constant an

FVS welcomes the readiness of SEND senior officers to listen to the concerns we raised with them on behalf of SEND families. Top Concerns shared by parents in May were: Delay in naming appropriate school or college placements for this September for children and young people with EHCPs at a key Transition stage. Poor practice RE EHCP plans including unspecified advice, outcomes that are not SMART, provision removed following Annual Review without evidence to support the change, failure to include right of appeal advice when final plans are issues, long delays in issuing amended plan following Annual Review Communication problems: difficulty contacting caseworkers or other SEND officers, not b

Dear Families, Today dawned bright, sunny and hot, but our world here at Family Voice Surrey has been plunged into something of a cold winter this morning. We awoke to the very sad news from Surrey County Council that Dave Hill, Director of Children's Services, had passed away suddenly. Dave has been in post at Surrey since 2018 and has been responsible for a considerable change in culture and activity. He welcomed Family Voice Surrey into his office from day one, and always showed great empathy and understanding for the experience of our families in Surrey. He was passionate about improving SEND services and improving the lives and outcomes of some of the most vulnerable families in Surrey.

Led by Active Surrey, the strategic lead for physical activity in the County, the programme partners with Children and Family Health Surrey (school nurses) and the University of Surrey’s Dietetics Department. The two year programme will target families with overweight children aged 0-11years. Be Your Best is about supporting families to eat better and move more. The programme includes 1-1 nurse led sessions in homes and group learning sessions with family activity (including supermarket tours and cooking sessions). Please note that in the current climate of Covid-19, eligible families will be offered 6 1:1 virtual nurse led consultations, and have access to child friendly, virtual, fun and e