Family Matters
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Family Matters
May 2017
Dear All.
I hope you all had a good Easter and you were able to enjoy the settled weather.
It is all go now for our Family Eventwhich is on Saturday 20th May at Staunton Country Park.If you haven’t already booked your place, it would be great to hear from you soon.It is a lovely day out and be assured that is a very relaxed session that is very much lead by the children.If you have any questions about the day, please get in touch with me.
Below is a little reminder of the day.
Open Sight and the Specialist Teachers Advisers, Visual Impairment Team, are pleased to invite you to a Family Event.
The event is open to children aged 0-16 with a visual impairment and their siblings are very welcome too.
The event is being held at Staunton Country Park, Middle Park Way, Havant PO95HB at 09.45.
During the morning, you will have an exciting opportunity to join the park staff for an animal and sensory session at the farm. We will all get together for a picnic lunch. After lunch you may like to continue to enjoy everything the farm has to offer. You will have ample time to visit the adjoining country park where you can explore the many acres of parkland walks in the afternoon.
The Farm is home to many different animals ranging from the everyday farm animal, like pigs, sheep, Shetland ponies, a shire horse and chickens to a selection of other animals such as llamas, a Poitou donkey, alpacas and a herd of Longhorn cattle.
The Sensory Garden has an ambience allof its own. Readily accessible it's an area to relax and contemplate in. The plants to engage visitors await discovery. Wind chimes add further dimensions to this charming garden.
Great for families and children, planted in 2002, the Golden Jubilee Maze creates fun and adventure, with twists and turns, open and locked gates to reach the middle. See if you can make it, but don’t forget once you’ve made it to the middle, can you remember the way out? Located behind the glasshouses, the maze is a great place to spend time with the family.
George’s Play Barn
George’s Play Barn is a new addition to the Farm – somewhere for the children to play, whatever the weather’s doing outside!
Visit our Gothic Barn in the farmyard and let the kids loose. There’s a soft play area for the younger ones and a climbing frame with slides, rope bridges and cargo nets for older, more energetic children.
We are asking that each family make a £10 donation towards the cost of the activities and after booking we will provide you with all the joining information for the day, including where to meet, what to wear and what to bring.
We would love to see you at the event and look forward to receiving your
booking form (attached). If you have any questions please contact JennyCollins, Family Support Coordinator, Open Sight, 023 8064 6382.
Inspiring You Weekends at Avon Tyrrell: Avon Tyrrell are happy to announce that they have received another year of funding from Hampshire County Council for their ‘Inspiring You’ Inclusion weekends. Stay for two nights in their Grade 1 listed house • Enjoy a full activity package which can include climbing, archery, bushcraft, high ropes, kayaking and much more • Refuel each day with three hot cooked meals. If you have a child with a disability, join them at Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Activity Centre, Bransgore BH23 8EE. The next inclusion weekend is being held on Friday 26th-Sunday 28th May. The cost for Hampshire Gateway Card holders is £55 per person (if you do not have a Gateway card, contact them for alternative pricing). They offer a supportive and friendly environment, with staff that are highly qualified and here for you throughout your visit. They guarantee you will be looked after and leave with some incredible memories that will last a lifetime! If you cannot make the weekend in May perhaps Friday 14th-Sunday 16th July will suit you better. For more information call 01425 672347 or to book, click here.
New Forest Area News
The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy (FCRT) invites you to an Open Day: at the FCRT Avon Tyrrell location BH23 8EE, on Thursday 11th May, from 11am-4pm. Go along and see them at work and find out more…Meet staff, students and horses. During the open day, accompanied by FCRT staff, there will be an opportunity to visit student residential accommodation at the FCRT Wootton Hall Farm site where once a week riding therapy sessions for local children also take place. Refreshments will be available. For more details email or call 01425 673297. Click here to view their website.
Rose Road Association Stay & Play Family Coffee Morning: held every Saturday, 9.30-11.30am, at The Bradbury Centre, 300 Aldermoor Road, Southampton SO16 5NA. Go along and join them for Music, Arts & Crafts, Sensory and Soft Play and lots more activities. It is suitable for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs aged 3-16 years. Siblings are also welcome. There is no charge, this is a free session for all families! Donations for refreshments. For more information contact Claire Headington on 02380 721234 or 07823 353887 or email . The sessions are funded by BBC Children in Need.
Sailability is back! They have the sun, the boats, amazing location, eager volunteers, they just need you! Active Nation are holding their sessions at Southampton Water Activities Centre, Floating Bridge Road, Chapel, Southampton, SO14 3FLevery Monday from 6pm. It doesn’t matter what disability, they have adapted boats and regular boats to give you the best sailing experience. Sessions cost £8 and are for all ages. So get out there and have some fun! For more information or to book, call 02380 915753.
Hampshire Parent Carer Network (HPCN) Learn Together Event: Being held on Wednesday 3rd May, 10am-12pm, at The Nightingale Room, Wells Place, Eastleigh, SO50 5LJ. Meet your Hampshire Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team in Eastleigh. Go along and meet Liz Flaherty (County Services Manager for SEN and specialist teacher advisory service) and her team from Hampshire Children’s Services. Find out how Hampshire are working to do things differently for children and young people with SEN. Discover more about Education Health and Care Plans in Hampshire. Put your questions directly to Liz and her team. Also at the event, find out more about HPCN’s new Solent Get Together Group which will be holding a meeting on Friday 5 May, 9.30-11.30am. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance – go to and search Eastleigh: Meet the Hampshire SEN Team. If you are unable to access Eventbrite get in touch with HPCN by calling 01962 853153 or email .
A new phone number and address for Hampshire Parent Carer Network (HPCN): with immediate effect their telephone number is 01962 853153 and main office address is Winnall Community Association, Garbett Road, Winchester, SO23 0NY. Their email address is and you can view their website by clicking here
New podcasts from Care for the Family: free fun and practical podcasts have been launched by Care for the Family to strengthen family life. The titles are - Parentalk: The Primary Years • Raising Teens • The Marriage Challenge. To subscribe, click here. On this page, you can also subscribe to their free eFamily Newsletter which is produced every two months, full of helpful articles, top and personal stories for every type of family. Alternatively, call 02920 810800.
You can contact Jenny for feedback or any enquiries using the following details:
Jenny Collins – Family SupportCoordinator at Open Sight:
023 8064 6382.
If for any reason you don’t wish to receive Family Matters in the future please let me know. All information to the best of our knowledge is correct to date but please check individual web sites for further or up-to-date information.