Alstrom syndrome... can you ride a tandem?

I am writing this

piece for the blog because I am in complete amazement that one of my clients who has Alstrom Syndrome, is registered blind and is an AMAZING person... is also going to add to his list of accomplishments a bike ride from Torbay to Birmingham! I'm adding this to my blog in the hopes that you may be able to donate to his worthy charitable cause.

In his words, this is the story...

You may or may not know that 6 years ago I was diagnosed with Alström Syndrome, http://www.alstrom.org.uk a condition witch can mean any or all of the following, Sight loss, Hearing loss, Obesity, Diabetes, Dilated cardiomyopathy, Kidney disease and failure, and many other associated illnesses. Thankfully none of us get the whole lot, but all of us have several of the symptoms.

At diagnosis I was made aware that there was an organisation who maybe able to help me as the doctors new little about it. The organisation is Alstrom Syndrome UK, who have supported me ever since.

Shortly after becoming a member of the charity, I was invited onto the board of directors, where I've served to try and help other like me ever since. There aren't many people diagnosed worldwide, so much of the work is about learning more about the condition, and trying to raise awareness so that more children will be diagnosed early so they don't have to live to adulthood with many health problems that could have been helped by early intervention.

One of the things I've learnt is that families and patients with complex health conditions rarely have the ability or time to do much to support others, because they are often fighting to get their child or family member some equal right, be it in school or society at large. They draw knowledge and support from each other, but often understandably don't have energy or time to do much more. This can often mean that the charity has to help support families financially as well as emotionally and medically. We try to help people get respite breaks, get activity breaks for patients, as activity often means exercise, and with the expensive equipment needed often to live with sensory loss and other physical disabilities.

With all this in mind, I tried to think what I could do to help a little more than with what I usually do. My idea came when the multidisciplinary clinics for adults were being moved from Torbay to Birmingham. I thought I love cycling, I have a tandem how about doing a cycle ride from one hospital to the other to both raise money, and awareness for the charity and it's moving the health care to a much bigger hospital that could continue research, and also get faster treatment for those seriously in need.

That idea has become reality. as on Friday 22 June a group of us made up of patients, friends, doctors and scientists will begin a 4 day cycle from Torbay hospital in Torquay to the new Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham arriving Monday 25th June. we'll cycle just over 200 miles in an attempt to raise both money and awareness for this small charity.

So please if you are able to help by sponsoring or donating at http://www.justgiving.com/kevin-goodwin0 we would be very grateful.

I'm hoping you'll make it so much harder for me to get off the bike and into a support vehicle when I feel exhausted, as I want to cycle the full distance. It's knowing both what an achievement that would be for me, and that I'll be paying back all those who've supported me over the years to reach a point where I even feel I can attempt something so huge.

We will provide a carefully selected support worker for your exact needs, and no need for you to worry about recruitment, job descriptions, training or dealing with the tax man – the list is endless - we do it all for you as the employer. We listen to your needs, and you tell us what you are looking for… and we do the rest.

If you would like further information on any of the above topics please get in touch!

Tel: 01625 583957 (office) or 07774 230168 (mobile), or joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Marbury Park 24th June Fun Food and Fitness

There's a great event on Sunday at Marbury Park near Northwich, lots of great activities and not forgetting the fab open air swimming pool, which I'm reliably informed will be free of charge to use on Sunday. It's a family event to promote health and well-being lifestyles. Enjoy cookery demonstrations, sporting activities, grow your own competitions and lots more. Sadly SPN won't be there this time, but we're still available for support!

We will provide a carefully selected support worker for your exact needs, and no need for you to worry about recruitment, job descriptions, training or dealing with the tax man – the list is endless - we do it all for you as the employer. We listen to your needs, and you tell us what you are looking for… and we do the rest.

If you would like further information on any of the above topics please get in touch!

Tel: 01625 583957 (office) or 07774 230168 (mobile), or joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Paralympics in Cheshire... and holiday club for disabled children

Last week I collected a couple of leaflets about sporting events and activities that are happening in Cheshire over the summer. The first is  "Paralympics sports and information days" at Wilmslow and Crewe. What I don't understand is why they are on school days as I would have thought this would appeal to older children as well as adults. Contact details are on the attached flyer please call Cheshire East for further information! Our support workers would be delighted to accompany you or your child though!

Another great initiative for disabled children, is Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme, which has and Active Kids club with sessions over the school holidays, and lots of activities taking place indoors and outdoors. All disabilities are catered for, with quiet rooms for those children needed less stimulating surroundings. The flyer for this is below, and we will be supporting our clients to attend so we might see you there!

If you would like further information on any of the above topics please get in touch!

Tel: 01625 583957 (office) or 07774 230168 (mobile), or joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Update on Snowdon!



Bev on her way down Snowdon, light fading but still determined!



On the way down Snowdon in the snow.

Pictures showing the amazing determination of Bev and her friends.

Needless to say everyone was exhausted at the end of a gruelling day, but what a tribute to Bev, her Boma 7 and not forgetting the team that was with her.

Climbing Snowdon with Multiple Sclerosis in a Molten Rock Boma 7

HOW TO CLIMB SNOWDON WITH A DIFFERENCE… IN A BOMA 7 OFF-ROAD WHEELCHAIR!

With a love of outdoor pursuits Bev is not letting MS get in the way of her ambition to climb not only Snowdon but Mount Kilimanjaro! The MS society, which funds the Cambridge Myelin Repair research will benefit from the proceeds of sponsors to this ambitious endeavour. The BOMA 7 costs in the region of £11,000 and Bev still needs about £4,000 to make her dreams possible….a second ascent of Snowdon and then to climb Kilimanjaro in 2013.

The full article first printed in the Alsager Chronicle on 9th February tells how Bev’s daughter first saw a TV programme featuring these impressive wheelchairs and encouraged her mum to find out more.

Manufacturers Molten Rock are lending Bev a BOMA 7 for the first Snowdon ascent in mid March, but Bev is determined to raise sufficient funds to buy one for her future impressive projects.

For more information and how to donate, email beverleywoolrich@yahoo.co.uk and if you would like a sponsorship form sent by email contact Bev or me.

Bev is our newest client: Special People North is providing regular domiciliary support from one of our team of support workers, tailored to Bev’s specific requirements which include helping her access activities in the local community.

If you would like further information on this topic or our services in general please get in touch! Tel: 01625 583957 (home/office) or 07774 230168 (mobile), or joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Personalisation events, Stockport PA register, and more!

Special People North is very busy and is supporting lots of local initiatives and events this Spring … here is information about what’s going on!

We have been successful in winning a contract to work with Stockport Local Authority

to create a database of personal assistants available for adults receiving direct payments in the Stockport area.

Applications for PA positions can be made by sending your CV to

Joy via the link on this website.

If you need a PA you can contact me too!

There is also a link to our services on the new on-line marketplace website launched very recently, and Stockport LA is hosting an open day on March 6th (and we’ll be there!)

The link to Stockport Council’s Adult Social Care website is: http://www.mycaremychoice.org.uk/

 

Cheshire East Voice Fun and Information Day

Following on from the success of last year’s day held in Sandbach, this year Cheshire East Voice has organised their Fun and Information day in Congleton, for families of children with special needs. We will have a stand there too, so please come and say hello.

You might even win a cake in our "guess the weight of the cake" competition!

Social Care and Personalisation 22nd February

Cheshire West Link has sent me information about this discussion event and presentation about personalisation. Contact information is at the bottom of the flyer.

Trafford "Link" Newsletter

Special People North has an article in Trafford’s on-line newsletter, called “The Link”. The aim of this newsletter is to provide news articles and information on services and activities for families with children who have complex and additional needs within the Trafford area.

The February full colour version is now available to download online:

http://www.trafford.gov.uk/thelink

Special People North will be at Disability Awareness Day in Warrington

Disability Awareness Day is this Sunday 10th July from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hope you can make it!

 Disability Awareness Day (DAD), is Europe's largest voluntary-led disability exhibition, and is held annually in a huge tented village within the grounds of Walton Hall Gardens.

Organised by Warrington Disability Partnership, recent shows have attracted over 25,000 visitors. There’ll be events to watch in the main arena, sports activities to watch and join in, new products to see and lots more.

I hope the weather is good because Special People North will be outside on stand CT-26 near the Seating Area – do come and say hello! Nearly 500 spaces will be taken by exhibitors all working to this year’s theme "Promoting Independence Throughout Life & Work", with support groups and services, equipment, transport, technology, holidays, benefits, employment, education, training, mobility, leisure, recreation, sport and much more.


Take a look at the DAD website, there’s a full list of exhibitors and lots of information about this year’s and previous years’ DADs.


follow the link: http://www.disabilityawarenessday.org.uk/


Disability Awareness Day will be a colourful and entertaining day out. The free programme provided on the day will give you full details of:
Entertainments
The 2011 programme features Batala Liverpool Community Samba Band, Revive Dance School, Liverpool Harmonic Gospel Choir, ELLA, Carly Ryan, Martin Finn, Hollie Caddock, Urban Gipsies, Wired For Sound,Dee-sign- BSL Choir, and Alan Martin the dancer.
Paralympics Sports Zone 2011
This year the sports zone will have a theme to include the 'Paralympics Games 2012'. There will be opportunities to try the sport and have a go at participating on the Climbing Wall, Wheelchair Basketball, Rowing, Archery, Football Beat the Goalie, Scuba Diving, Body Zorbes and Small Bore Rifle Shooting. The activities are provided by qualified coaches and instructors.
Arts
There is an exciting programme in the Arts Marquee for 2011. With Carly & Martin from BBC 3’s “Autistic Superstars, the Batala Samba Band, ELLA Performance group, “Wired for Sound” –Warrington’s community choir, Alan Martin- wheelchair dancer, Dee Sign Choir transforming singing into sign, and Stars Drama. The “Urban Gypsies” will be mingling with the crowds.
For the Children
Children's Entertainment include something for all abilities with all the fun of the fair provided by Chadwick's Family Fairground Rides and the hugely popular Bouncy Castles. Professor Fiddlesticks will amaze you with his circus skills, Walton Hall Rangers will be pleased to see you visiting the Walton Hall Zoo.




At Special People North we hope you have a wonderful time during the summer holidays!

If you are in need of some additional support during the summer holidays… or any other time… don’t hesitate to contact me. We are here for you and your family; no-one is too young or too old!

We will provide a carefully selected support worker for your exact needs, and no need for you to worry about recruitment, job descriptions, training or dealing with the tax man – the list is endless – we can do it all for you as the employer. We listen to your needs, and you tell us what you are looking for… and we do the rest.

Youth in Action! is a charity I have just found out about, which provides activities for children between the ages of 5 and 18 during school holidays. Activities range for arts and crafts to music, day trips and much more.

Geographically they mainly cover the Congleton and district area but if you are outside this area and interested do get in touch as you may still be eligible.

Upcoming events include bowling in Crewe on 23rd July from 3 – 5.30 p.m. and a summer play-scheme in August daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The activities co-ordinator to contact is Louise Lovenberry (also one of my support workers!) on 0781 3025237 or louiselovenberry@yahoo.co.uk

Easter, Dementia, World Autism Awareness Day 2nd April 2011, Business Woman of the Year Award

At Special People North we hope you have a wonderful time during the Easter holidays.

If you are in need of some additional support during the Easter holidays… or any other time… don’t hesitate to contact me. We are here for you and your family; no-one is too young or too old!

We will provide a carefully selected support worker for your exact needs, and no need for you to worry about recruitment, job descriptions, training or dealing with the tax man – the list is endless - we do it all for you as the employer. We listen to your needs, and you tell us what you are looking for… and we do the rest.

I have been reading with interest the recent developments in dementia.

Did you know that speaking a second language has been shown to slow the rate at which the brain declines with age? Also did you know that scientists have found a way to deliver drugs direct to the brain to improve their effectiveness?

Bilingual people are better protected against Alzheimer's disease than people who use only one language. Several studies have now demonstrated a clear link between using a second language and cognitive decline, which can be explained by the idea that bilingualism acts like a "mental gymnasium" that keeps the brain active in later life, scientists said. In fact, “the effect of speaking a second language produced a stronger effect on delaying the onset of Alzheimer's than any drug currently used to control the disease” said Ellen Bialystok, professor of psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada.

I read recently about new drugs treatment in the local Manchester Metro paper:

Joy is finalist for Cheshire Business of the Year!

Thanks to the nomination by Cheshire business woman, Michelle Kay (who also designed and produced my website) I was successful in becoming a finalist in this prestigious event. Organised annually by “Network She”, the business community organisation exclusively for Women, the Awards event itself was held in November 2010 and then on 24th February 2011 all the finalists, winners and sponsors of the Network She Awards 2010 were brought together at the Adobe hotel in Chester for an evening of social networking and celebration. Here’s a picture of Michelle and me with my certificate!

World Autism Awareness Day 2nd April 2011

4 years ago the United Nations declared April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day, to increase and develop world knowledge of autism. By bringing together autism organisations all around the world, this helps to give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help.

This Friday lunchtime, 1st April,  I will be at Wilmslow High School as part of their support for this important day. The school is helping to raise awareness and perception of autism. SPACE, the Macclesfield-based support group, will also be providing first hand information representing parents of autistic children.

Wilmslow High School ensures equal provision for all and supplementary provision for those with special needs. The Learning Support Team aims to ensure that all students who have special educational needs have access to a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum, helping students make every effort to meet these aims by working in conjunction with all curriculum teams using different and varied teaching and learning strategies to enhance their self esteem and reach their full potential. Parents are fully involved in the identification, assessment and delivery of SEN provision within Wilmslow High School.


If you would like further information on any of the above topics please get in touch! Tel: 01625 583957 (home/office) or 07774 230168 (mobile), or joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk


Resources and links:
Steve Connor, The Independent Newspaper, Saturday, 19 February 2011
Network She www.networkshe.co.uk
http://www.yourwebstar.co.uk/
http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/
http://www.wilmslowhigh.com/
http://www.space4autism.com/

Events involving Special People North in Spring 2011

There are an increasing number of events that I will be attending and a few that I will be speaking at in the near future, if you are able to and interested do come along, you are most welcome!

Wednesday 26th January - CWAC Parent Partnership, held at 7.30 pm at St Michaels Church Coniston Road, off Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1PX. I am speaking about Special People North and how we can support families with our range of appropriate services and skilled support workers.

Tuesday 8th February - Information Day about transition from primary to secondary school to be held at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall CH65 OAZ from 10 am to 4 pm, organised by CWAC Parent Partnership Service.

There will be a Market Place of stands from lots of services and charities including Special People North where you can ask questions and collect information to help you.

There will be five optional sessions in the afternoon where you can find out more information about ways you can help support your child to get ready for High School if they have the following special educational needs:-
1. Dyslexia
2. Speech and Language difficulties
3. Autistic Spectrum conditions
4. Behaviour difficulties
5. Educational Psychologist talking about the anxieties you or your child may have about moving up to high school and strategies to help.


For a booking form and more information e-mail: carol.longoni@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
or visit the link to the website:
www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/parentpartnership

Wednesday 23rd February - Information Day about transition into adulthood - the young person in your family becoming an adult. To be held at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall CH65 OAZ from 10 am to 4 pm and organised by CWAC Parent Partnership Service.
There will be a Market Place of stands from lots of services and charities including Special People North where you can ask questions and collect information to help you. Additionally there will be optional sessions.
For a booking form and more information e-mail: carol.longoni@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
or visit the link to the website:

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/parentpartnership

Thursday 28th April - ChAPS meeting at the Blue Cap in Sandiway, 7-9 pm. This time it's Special People North in the front line speaking about our services. This is their flyer about the event.

Full address is : The Blue Cap,Chester Road, Sandiway, Northwich, Cheshire CW8 2DN












If you'd like to receive regular email updates when we post articles, just let me know by emailing joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk and as ever if you need to call me please do so on 07774 230168.

Very belated happy new year to everyone! What’s happened since my last blog: a Radio Manchester interview, lots on personalisation and some PR updates!

Last Thursday, very early in the morning my phone rang, and on the other end was a researcher from BBC Radio Manchester asking if I had read a particular news article in the papers that morning. Tricky – I was hardly out of bed! But I was asked if I could comment – live on the radio – and when I asked when it would be the researcher replied “oh… in about 10 minutes?” The adrenalin was going instantly!

It was all about a lady who had posted a comment on the internet that she couldn’t cope with her disabled child any longer and would have to put her in to care because no further help was available from the council in Bristol where she lives. Had David Cameron not given her a personal assurance during his election campaign about the support she would get this news story probably would not have made the headlines. However it does bring to the attention of the public just how much support is needed for families.

If you are interested in hearing more about this and my listening to my interview the link is below, you will need to start 1hour 45 mins 50 secs into the programme for my 5 minutes of fame!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00d5738/Beswick


I am sure you are all on the edge of your seats wanting to know who won the balloon race that started last September in Sandbach at the Cheshire Voice Family Day. Well let’s just say that we weren’t deluged with returned tags… in fact just one found its way back!

But the balloon had gone as far as the village of Priddy near Cheddar in Somerset 158 miles away from where it was released; we were amazed! It was found in October in a field by a couple walking their dog! So my thanks to Becky and Mark who received an M&S voucher for returning it to me. Sadly the tag had not been filled in before it was released so I have no-one to award the prize to. The photo shows the table at the event with our “pink tree” displaying our flyers and the balloons ready to be released just behind it.

The Christmas Tree Festival in Alderley Edge at the end of November was a great success and raised over £4000 for the church’s spire appeal; we were delighted to be a part of such a great fund-raising opportunity.

Alderleyedge.com wrote a great piece about its success and had some super photos on line too. If you want to read more about it follow the link www.alderleyedge.com/news/article/3343/alan-garners-opens-christmas-tree-festival

This was our tree – the only one there that was white so it really stood out well along with Santa on the top with the Special People wave!

I have been to a number of events dedicated to informing people about the personalisation agenda. These have been run by Cheshire East Link, Cheshire West and Chester Link, Cheshire East Council and others. This is me on the right explaining personalisation at the CWAC “My Life My Choice” event on 23rd November. The events have been extremely informative and lots of information was provided for families and carers.

Christmas is coming... and Special People North is supporting the

local community!

During the weekend of 26th- 28th November the Alderley Edge Methodist Church, as part of its church spire appeal, is providing the venue for local organisations to display a Christmas tree decorated with their own unique themes. Local schools, buisnesses, the Scouts, Guides and Brownies are already going to be there along with the British Legion and many, many more. This will be the first time Special People North has participated, so if you have a free hour or so try and pop along.

The Church is organising during the weekend a musical extravaganza, and I’ve attached their flyer so you can see everything that’s going on, and not forgetting the event is being opened by none other than our celebrity local author Alan Garner. Hope to see you there… and watch out for photos on my December blog!

http://www.alderleyedgemethodistchurch.com/

Christmas is coming… and special people need extra special support... and for one family this will be with the help of their lucky balloon!

In my last blog I told you all about the balloon race that was held in Sandbach as part of the Cheshire Voice family day, back in September. I have just received an e-mail to say a label has been found, and I am waiting with anticipation for the post to arrive so that I can share the good news with the winning ticket holder!  Meanwhile here's a glimpse of our stand, our pink tree, our flyers and our Special People North balloons (and that's me there too...)

I also wanted to share with you the editorial that went into the Cheshire Independent newspaper this month on page 36. This paper is distributed free via supermarkets, libraries and all sorts of public venues and is full of GOOD news, leaving the bad and sad for all the other publications!

SPECIAL PEOPLE DESERVE SPECIAL SUPPORT OVER FESTIVE SEASON
One glance at the shops and you would think that Christmas was next week! It won’t be long Hallowe’en and Bonfire Night are both a distant memory and the focus for a lot of people will be the festive season. With this in mind Special People North will ensure there is support for those families with a special needs child or adult in the family during this busy time.

Special People North founder Joy says “At this time of year we know there is so much more to do, whether it’s writing to Santa or writing Christmas cards, shopping for the kids or shopping for a new party dress, going to visit Santa or going to visit grandma. Our Special People North support workers are there for exactly these times. Which means that the family has greater personal choice – including the opportunity and freedom to spend precious time exactly how they want to. Due to our flexible approach support can be either with the rest of the family or on a one-to-one basis”.

Special People North prides itself on maintaining the flexibility to provide support workers when they are wanted and for as long as they are wanted, during the day or night, week-days, week-ends and bank holidays entirely dependent on the family’s requirements.
Special People North provides support workers, personal assistants and buddies for children and adults with special needs including physical difficulties, learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders.

Our support workers are carefully selected to meet specific needs, and are always introduced to the family in advance, ensuring the highest quality dependable domiciliary service.
For further information including our extensive range of available services visit the Special People North website: www.specialpeople.org.uk or call Joy on 07774 230168 or e-mail joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Family fun day in Sandbach, Cheshire on Sunday 26th September 2010... including a Special People North Balloon Race!

This is an amazing opportunity to come to a free event that has been organised by Cheshire East Parents and Carers Voice and supported by other organisations, for families that have or care for a child or young person with special needs. There are loads of activities being organised for the children, indoors and outdoors so bad weather won't stop the fun!

I am organising a balloon race, and so I have been busy this week getting lots of lovely Special People North balloons printed! If you come along on the day and buy a ticket, then release your balloon into the Cheshire sky, you have the opportunity to win at least several hours of respite care absolutely free.

Also on my table will be information about SPACE, the East Cheshire ASC Parents Support Group,  and SPACE for KIDS - a new and exciting club for children between 5 and 19 years.

Sharon Tarbard, a specialist autism teacher will also be represented, and there will be lots of information about her work and examples of her methods available to look through.

Find out more about Special People North, SPACE and Sharon Tarbard by coming along from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you there!

See you all on Sunday - more information including the venue address below!

BBC Radio Manchester debut for Joy Daglish on the Heather Stott coffee club show!


Earlier in the summer I was contacted by one of the BBC’s broadcast journalists about appearing on the Coffee Club show. Well that’ll be a first I thought – and it’ll be great to be able to tell people about Special People North.

So this is how it was that on Wednesday 18th August I found myself driving very nervously to BBC Manchester’s studio, and along with two other members of the public was live on the radio for the best part of an hour. I was the new girl – the other two had done this before – but Heather and the production team put me completely at ease.


I had the opportunity to speak at some length about what Special People North can do for families that have children/young adults with special needs. Not sure my radio voice makes me a natural DJ so I don’t think there will be much moonlighting on the radio for me! But let me know what your think.


If you are interested in listening the link is below to the BBC iplayer site, it’ll be accessible until next Tuesday 24th August so don’t wait too long to listen.


If you'd like to receive email updates when we post articles, just let me know by emailing me at joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk and as ever if you need to call me please do so on 07774 230168


The link is below and the programme also has a heading of “Taekwondo Championship in Manchester” because during the show a reporter came in to talk about training with the team.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p009bw8b

Recent press releases in Cheshire publications

In case you have missed seeing the local press coverage about Special People North, I wanted to share with you some of the editorial that has gone into the local press.

The Cheshire Independent newspaper (distributed free of charge in Macclesfield, Tytherington, Bollington, Prestbury, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Handforth, Poynton and Bramhall) published the following article last month on page 12, and also had a lovely colourful promotional piece too.

"Time to meet some Special People"

Founder and owner Joy Daglish will be speaking about Special People North when Park Lane School holds a coffee morning on 9th July.

Park Lane School, Macclesfield is a Specialist School for Communication and Interaction, and is an appropriate venue to introduce Special People North and its wide range of services. Park Lane parents will be hearing in particular about what is available in the school holidays, as well as in term time before and after school.

Joy founded Special People North in 2009 in response to unfulfilled needs for specialist domiciliary support in the north-west. It expands on the success of Special People in London started over 12 years ago by Joy’s cousin Julie who has a child with special needs. She formed the organisation in response to her difficult experience in finding appropriate, high quality child care.

What differentiates Special People North from other services is the organisation’s flexible approach and attention to detail when meeting the needs of individual clients. Joy takes the time to discover what each family needs and when it’s needed, before deciding on the most appropriate action and appointing a suitable support worker.

Joy said “Special People North recognises that solutions to families’ needs can be extremely varied. Help may be needed before or after school, during holidays, or simply for babysitting. Parents and carers may need a break from round-the-clock care, so we can provide respite for anything from an evening or a night – we can even provide a support worker to accompany a family holiday.”

Special People North addresses the needs of a wide spectrum of families, including both private clients and those accessing direct payments. Joy said “We take the time to find out what an individual family needs and our support workers are always introduced to the family in advance. I shall be delighted to discuss anyone’s particular needs, or simply explain our range of services.”

For more information, please call Joy on 07774 230168 or visit www.specialpeoplenorth.org.uk

Focusing on the school summer holidays that are about to start, Families in Cheshire magazine published in the July/August 2010 edition an article featuring how Special People North can help families.

"A special service for those with special needs"

Do you have a special needs child in the family and need some help during the school holidays? Are you undecided on summer holiday arrangements?

In response to demand from our clients, Special People North is launching its latest service in time for the lengthy annual summer school holidays.

From our extensive range of support workers Special People North can find the right person to accompany a family with special needs on holiday. Which means that the family has greater choices – including the opportunity and freedom to relax and spend precious time exactly how they want to. Special People North understands the how the dynamics of every family differ, just as every family wants something different from their holiday.

Excursions and days out can also be covered and supported. For example: a trip to a family event or a day at the seaside. Due to Special People North’s flexible approach this can be either with the rest of the family or on a one-to-one basis.

Special People North prides itself on maintaining the flexibility to provide our support workers when they are wanted and for as long as they are wanted, during the day or night, week-days and week-ends entirely dependent on the family’s requirements.

Special People North provides support workers and personal assistants for children and young adults with special needs including physical difficulties, learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorders.

Our support workers are carefully selected to meet your specific needs, ensuring the highest quality dependable domiciliary service.

For further information including our extensive range of available services isit the NEW Special People North website: www.specialpeople.org.uk E:joy@specialpeoplenorth.org.uk T: 07774 230168.