Update letter from Co-Chairs of Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Local Area Group - June 2021

 

Dear friends 

This is a letter from Rebecca and Jim. We are the co-chairs of the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Local Area Group.

We hope you are feeling better with lockdown lifting and the good weather.

This letter is to help us stay in touch.

It tells you about some of the things we have done since our last letter.

KeyRing are staying in touch with self-advocates with letters, phone calls and emails. 

 

We are taking a summer break from our Zoom quiz. It is so much more than a quiz! We have made new friends and learned new skills.

We have self-advocacy meetings online. We will have a face-to-face self-advocacy meeting in Scarborough in July. You can talk to KeyRing if you want to join a self-advocacy meeting.

 

Karen retires

In May we said goodbye to Karen who has retired from her job as manager at KeyRing. She has been a wonderful supporter of self-advocates and she will be missed by everyone. We wish her well.

 

 

Jess goes on maternity leave and welcome Sophie!

In June Jess went on maternity leave. We send her our very best wishes and we look forward to seeing her when she returns.

Sophie has joined the KeyRing North Yorkshire team while Jess is on maternity leave.

Sophie has lots of experience supporting people with learning difficulties and/or autism. We are looking forward to working with her. Welcome Sophie!

 

 

Human Rights Workshops

Self-advocates have taken part in workshops about Human Rights by Inclusion North.

 

Stewart and Samuel wrote about the workshops in a blog for KeyRing.

Stewart said: “I think it was an important workshop to do because talking about people’s rights is important. People should be able to live their life the way they want to.”

You can read the blog by following this link https://www.keyring.org/news/blog-learning-about-human-rights.aspx

There are more workshops later in the year. You can talk to Sophie from KeyRing if you want to find out more.

 

Safeguarding Week 2021

Self-advocates Stewart and Christopher worked with Laura Watson from North Yorkshire County Council to make a video for Safeguarding Week.

Stewart and Christopher talked about keeping safe and what we can learn from the pandemic.

 

Sam is the self-advocate Keeping Safe Champion. He made a podcast about Safeguarding and Keeping Safe.

You can listen to the podcast by following this link https://anchor.fm/nyselfadvocates

If you don’t have the internet you can talk to Sophie.

 

Learning Disability Week

It was Learning Disability Week earlier in June. The theme this year was Art and Creativity.

Self-advocates shared their work to celebrate. Amanda shared her knitting and Gary shared a painting he made.

You can look at everyone’s work by following this link https://www.nypartnerships.org.uk/ldweek2021

Self-Advocacy Celebration

Self-advocates are celebrating everything they have done over the past couple of years.

Self-advocates got keyrings and certificates. They also made a video and some podcasts.

They worked with Laura Watson from North Yorkshire County Council to make a very special poster.

The poster, the podcasts and the video remind everyone about the amazing things self-advocates have achieved. You can find them by following this link: https://www.nypartnerships.org.uk/selfadvocacycelebration

Coronavirus vaccine

Lots of people have now had their second vaccine. This will help keep people safe.  

There is lots of useful information about the vaccine on the Keep Safe website https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/

If you do not have the internet, you can ask Sophie for information.

Partnership Board Updates

The Partnership Board has not met because of coronavirus.

The Partnership Board has been busy writing an annual report about the work they did last year. They will put it on their website when it is ready.

You can read news from the Partnership Board here: https://www.nypartnerships.org.uk/node/72

We are sorry we don't know when we can next meet.

We will listen to the Government and follow advice as that everyone can stay safe.

If you have questions about anything in this letter you can call Sophie at Keyring on 07415 258262 or email Sophie.Gallagher@keyring.org.

You can also contact Claire at North Yorkshire County Council at claire.canavan@northyorks.gov.uk 

Take care and stay safe!

Rebecca and Jim, co-chairs, Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Local Area Group.