Family News Stockport Family News Stockport

Family News Stockport
Family info Link’s Newsletter for Parents and Carers
ISSUE No. 5 Summer 2011
FAMILY INFORMATION SERVICE
Summer Edition Contents
Page 2
Welcome to the fifth edition of Family News
Stockport. In this issue we’ve included
information about activities and events
throughout the summer holidays
(Pages 2, 7 and 8).
In September 2011 young people who need some
financial support to help them stay in education
or training can apply for a new Bursary Fund. The
article on page 2 contains more detail about this
new fund.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and
local authorities have rolled out a new system which
automatically transfers information regarding Tax
Credits changes. For more information see the
article on page 3.
If you have something you would like to see in the
next edition of Family News Stockport or you would
like to be added to the distribution list please
Freephone 0808 800 0606 or
email: [email protected]
Top Quality Award
Summer Holiday Activities
New 16 - 19 Bursary Fund
Page 3
Do you need help dealing with
your debt?
Automatic transfer of Information
There’s a Warmfront
Page 4
Coping after a break-up of a
relationship
Page 5
Tell the Stockport LINk
Lets Play
Page 6
Parentline Plus Relaunched
Page 7
Dates for your Diary
Page 8
Dates for your Diary (cont).
Family News Stockport is published by Family info Link, Stockport Family Information Service.
23 High Street, Stockport SK1 1EG. Freephone: 0808 800 0606. Email: [email protected] Website: www.familyinfolink.co.uk
Family info Link provides free, impartial information on childcare and family services.
Top Quality Award for Family Information Service
Family info Link has won a national award for expertise and excellent quality service.
We are a local charity, established in 1983, which works with Stockport Council to provide information to Stockport
families. The service offers free information on childcare, leisure activities, education, parenting and family support
services. Over 4,000 families contacted our helpline last year and 19,000 visited the website.
The ‘Families First’ Award was developed by the National Association of Family Information Services and is endorsed
by the Department for Education.
Fiona Clear, Family info Link Manager said:
“This award is confirmation that we are
delivering a high quality information service
to families in Stockport and is recognition
of the hard work and dedication of the
whole team”.
To find out more about
Family info Link please
FREEPHONE 0808 800 0606,
email [email protected] or
visit www.familyinfolink.co.uk
Summer Holiday
Activities
A range of activities take place
throughout Stockport over the
summer months. These include
park events, play schemes, heritage,
library and sports courses.
We produce a ‘Summer Holiday Activity
Pack’ which contains details of these
activities. If you would like a copy please
contact us on
FREEPHONE 0808 800 0606 or
email [email protected]
Page 2
The new 16 to 19 Bursary Fund
The new 16 to 19 Bursar
From September 2011, young people who need some financial
support to help them stay in education or training after 16 can
apply to their school, college or training provider for the new 16-19
Bursary Fund.
Those most in need will be eligible for a bursary of £1200 a year.
This includes young people in care, care leavers, young people
receiving income support and disabled young people receiving both
Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
From September 2011, young people who ne
support to help them stay in education or tra
apply to their school, college or training prov
Bursary Fund.
Those most in need will be eligible for a burs
This includes young people in care, care leave
receiving income support and disabled youn
Employment Support Allowance and Disabili
Other students facing financial difficulties ma
Other
may
also
claim
a bursary
toto
help
with
costs
of of
Other students
studentsfacing
facingfinancial
financialdifficulties
difficulties
may
alsobebeable
abletoto
claim
a bursary
help
with
costs
port,
food,
equipment
ortransother course-related
transport,
equipment
or other
course-related
costs.
port, food,food,
equipment
or other
course-related
costs.
How do I find out more?
How do I find out more?
You have to apply directly to your school, coll
decide on the amount you could receive, whe
You have to apply directly to your school, college or training provider for a bursary. In most cases they
For advice speak to student support services
decide on the amount you could receive, when it is paid, and what conditions they might attach.
For advice speak to student support services or your tutor, or go to www.direct.gov.uk/16-19bursary
What if I get EMA at the moment?
What if I get EMA at the moment?
If you first applied successfully for Education
receive the same level of weekly payments w
If you first applied successfully for the maxim
a week you’ll
while you
study into
2011/12.
If you first applied successfully for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in £20
2009/10,
continue
receive the same level of weekly payments while you study in 2011/12.
If you’re in care, a care leaver, on income supp
Disability Living Allowance, your weekly EMA
If you first applied successfully for the maximum EMA payment of £30 a week in
2010/11,
you’ll
receive
from
September
2011.
You’ll receive that burs
£20 a week while you study in 2011/12.
If you get EMA at the moment but are not in o
through your school, college or training prov
If you’re in care, a care leaver, on income support, or receiving both Employment
Support Allowance and
Disability Living Allowance, your weekly EMA payments will be replaced with a bursary of £1200 a year
from September 2011. You’ll receive that bursary directly from your school, college or training provider.
If you get EMA at the moment but are not in one of these groups, you can still apply for a bursary
through your school, college or training provider.
Do you need help dealing with
your debt?
Automatic Transfer
of Information
Stockport MIND is offering a new service for people who
need help in dealing with debts, such as:
A new project which enables a secure, electronic
transfer of information between Her Majesty’s
Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Local
Authorities has been rolled out nationally from
4th July 2011.
•
•
•
•
•
Water Bills
Banks Loans
Credit Cards
Council Tax
Court Fines
•
•
•
•
Utility Bills
Overdrafts
Store Cards
Benefit Overpayments
For more details about this new service, or for
advice on dealing with your debts,
call 0161 480 7393.
The Benefits Section at the Town Hall will automatically
receive information when Tax Credits start, change or
end for customers who are receiving Housing Benefit
and, or Council Tax Benefit.
This automatic transfer of information will significantly
reduce under and overpayments.
Whist this means you do not need to report a change
in your Tax Credits to Stockport Council from this date,
you must still notify them of any other changes in your
income or your household that could affect your benefit.
There’s a Warmfront……
……But not for long!
For more information see the Reporting Changes
page on Stockport Council’s website:
www.stockport.gov.uk/services/benefits_advice/
benefits/reportingchanges
As prices for fuel are on the rise, the grant funding for heating is on the decline. The Government grant
for heating and insulation is potentially going to end during 2012/2013 and has already seen a
significant drop in funding.
The Stockport Take Up Partnership; a group of organisations commited to improving the take up of income
maximisation advice and assistance, are now urging home-owners and those living in private rented accomodation
who either have no central heating at all or have a broken down or condemned boiler and who are in receipt of a
qualifying benefit to apply for their grant as soon as possible.
For qualifying benefits or to apply for a Warmfront Grant call freephone
number 0800 316 2805 or visit www.warmfront.co.uk
For free energy saving advice contact the Energy Saving Trust on
0800 512 012.
If you are having difficulty with your fuel bills and would like debt advice
contact Stockport Advice on 0161 474 3093 or call in to one of the
Direct Centres for help and assistance in applying for a grant.
To find the location and opening times of your nearest centre,
call 0161 217 2009.
Protect yourself from rising energy prices and call today before
it’s too late!
Page 3
Coping with the emotional impact after the break-up of
a relationship
es
Has your relationship recently ended? Are you the parent left holding the babies?
When we have children in a relationship, married or not, we probably believe that we will spend the rest of our
lives with our partner, grow old together and one day become grandparents together. However if your
relationship ends, whether you left your partner or they left you, you can be left feeling a multitude of
emotions including grief, wretchedness, dejection, loneliness and despair and feel unable to see or make
sense of your future.
There is no magic wand that will get you through these early days of separation; however there are things you can do to
help yourself.
1. Recognise that you are not a failure – You are not the only single parent in the world. In the UK statistics show that 1 in
4 parents are parenting alone. (The average age of a single parent is 36, 55% previously married, 75% of children will
experience a non-nuclear family while growing up and only 36% of families are traditional/nuclear)
2. Take responsibility for your role in the break – It takes two people to really work at a healthy relationship. Recognise
that divorce/separation was maybe the only and the best solution to a failing relationship. You will learn something new
about yourself and face the future with a new found knowledge.
3. Forgive yourself – Nobody is perfect, it is a complete waste of time spending every hour of every day pondering,
questioning and obsessing over the demise of your relationship, you did your best in the given situation and today is a
new day.
4. Forgive your ex – Eek, might feel like a tricky one, however you don’t want to be wasting time in your life being angry
about someone else’s shortfalls. By forgiving your ex partner you can find peace within yourself, (however difficult the
breakup).
5. Take care of yourself – Find something new that interests you, get in touch with some old friends, listen to music that
you loved when you were a teenager, do something that you have always considered but never got round to doing, find
laughter again.
6. Create family time - Your family unit will be going through a time of restructuring, spend time with the children and
share how you are all feeling with the changes that are going on. Single parents say that their relationship with their
children has benefitted immensely once they are parenting alone. So find that space where you can have a family meal,
DVD night and during this time you can share what is going for everyone.
7. Move forward – Get informed with any benefits you are entitled to, bring laughter back into your life, feel empowered
with your new future and get connected. Join us at www.onespace.org.uk and share your experiences and support
others who are at the beginning of their journey.
If you are finding it very hard to move forward with
your life, it is important to find some external help,
contact your doctor or seek out some counselling.
Below are quotes from parents that have
visited www.onespace.org.uk
“Thank you for your support, been feeling really alone
since the divorce”
“After spending a night on this site the next day my
mum told me that I was like a different person and it
was like having her cheerful daughter back”

Easy to use, packed with information

Chat with other single parents everyday

Online support from parenting specialists

Low cost local events and support services

FREE online self development courses
www.onespace.org.uk
● informing ● empowering ● connecting
Page 4
One Space is delivered by Single Parent Action Network
Tell the Stockport LINk about any
issues you have with services
Stockport LINk members will be taking part in a series of surgeries at
Stockport Central Library, giving anybody in the community the
opportunity to pop in and have a chat.
LINk Surgeries are taking place on the first Tuesday of every month
and give residents the opportunity to speak to a LINk representative
about any issues they have with health or social care services.
You do not need an appointment, just pop into Central Library
between 12-2pm on the first Tuesday of the month to speak to a
LINk representative.
The Stockport LINk is made up of members of the public interested
in influencing and improving health and social care. They ask people
what they think about local health & social care services and provide
a chance to suggest and improve them.
A LINk member will be at Stockport Central Library on the following dates:
• Tuesday 2nd August 2011
• Tuesday 6th September 2011
• Tuesday 4th October 2011
• Tuesday 1st November 2011
• Tuesday 6th December 2011
If you cannot attend the LINk Surgery, you can get in contact with Stockport LINk by calling them on
0161 477 8479 or emailing [email protected]
For more information about Stockport LINk visit their website www.stockportlink.co.uk
“Let’s Play”
GreaterSport’s Let’s Play project is now live
online. It was launched during ‘National Family
Week’ and aims to provide resources and useful
links to guide parents and carers to be more
active with their children.
The web pages have actions you can do with your
children, videos of these actions and free
downloadable instructions of how to do these as
well as useful links.
Take a look at www.greatersport.co.uk/letsplay
If you have any comments on the web pages
please contact Louise Shelly on
[email protected]
she would love to hear from you.
Page 5
PARENTLINE PLUS RELAUNCHED AS FAMILY LIVES
Parentline Plus, the UK’s leading parent and family support organisation has reverted to its registered
charity name of Family Lives.
The charity offers support over the phone, internet, and face to face for individual families and groups. While it will
continue to retain a core focus on parenting support, it has expanded its work across all adult family members,
including grandparents. As well as helping parents who are struggling with parenting, the charity provides
relationship support to help parents work out better co-parenting and shared parenting arrangements.
The charity will retain and continue to promote Parentline, the 24 hour free and confidential helpline for parents and
all adult family members.
Deidre Sanders, Family Lives Patron and agony aunt of The Sun says: “I regularly refer readers to Parentline and
the other support that Family Lives provides. With so many families facing a difficult year ahead, I am sure I will be
sending even more their way. Families need to be supported, now more than ever, to ensure that we are raising our
children, the next generation of parents, in the most caring and effective way possible.”
Jeremy Todd, Family Lives (formerly Parentline Plus), Chief Executive said: “We believe that our registered name of
Family Lives is a much closer reflection of the full range of our support services and it is right that we go back to it
at this time. We believe that under the banner of Family Lives we will be in a better position to evolve and develop
relevant services to meet the growing and future needs of vulnerable families across the country.”
The name change coincided with a report from the charity titled ‘Families Matter: The realities of family life in Britain
today’, which found that:
Parents today – unprepared and pressurised
76% of respondents said that they found being a parent harder, or much harder than they were expecting with
78.3% of grandparent respondents agreeing, saying that it is harder to be a parent now than when they were raising
their children.
69.6% of respondents to the Family Lives survey felt that it is harder to be a parent now than it was when they were
a child.
17.5% felt pressure to be the “perfect” parent with 46.8% of respondents feeling under pressure from the media
with 52.1% of Mums felt pressure from that source, compared to 32.8% of Dads.
The second biggest source of pressure after the media was the government (29.6%).
Services offered include:
• Parentline, free 24 hour confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222
• Extended support for complex difficult issues
• Personalised email service at [email protected]
• Online advice, peer support and information on all aspects of family life at www.familylives.org.uk
• Face to face support groups and workshops
Article supplied by Simon Walsh, Press & PR Manager, Family Lives
Page 6
Dates for your Diary
Lyme Park Activities and Events
Japanese Kites in the Garden
Create a beautiful kite using traditional techniques. Children of all ages welcome. Garden admission applies.
National Trust members free.
Date: 2nd August 2011 Times: 1.00pm – 3.00pm Ages: All
Butterflies at Lyme
Which butterflies visit Lyme? Find out and create your own beautiful butterfly to take home.
Garden admission applies. National Trust members free.
Date: 9th August 2011 Times: 1.00pm – 3.00pm Ages: All
Mary Mary
Dress up, make a crown and learn all about Mary Queen of Scots.
House admission applies. National Trust members free. Normal admission charges apply.
Date: 12th August 2011 Times: 12 noon - 4:30 pm Ages: All
Summer Stories
Fantastical stories told by a professional storyteller.
Garden admission applies. National Trust members free. Normal admission charges apply.
Date: 16th August 2011 Times: 1.00pm – 3.00pm Ages: All
Jammy Dodgers
Make your own raspberry jam in the Still Room, just as they would have done 100 years ago. Children can prepare fruit and
design their jam jar. Collect your jam 30 mins later.
Date: 26th August 2011 Times: 1.00pm – 3.00pm Price: Child £5.00
Summer Stories
Fantastical stories told by a professional storyteller. Children of all ages welcome.
Garden admission applies. National Trust members free. Normal admission charges apply.
Date: 30th August 2011 Times: 1.00pm – 3.00pm
For more information on any of these events contact Lyme park, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire SK12 2NR, Tel: 01663 762023,
email: [email protected]
A Day in the Life - at the Mill
Experience life as an apprentice child and find out what life was like for the Mill Owner’s lucky children.
Normal admission charges apply
Date: 22nd – 26th August 2011
Venue: Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, SK9 4LA Contact: 01625 445896 (Infoline)
Draw Attention - Caricature Workshop with Peter Richardson
Learn the techniques of how to draw your own caricature. Bring along your own photos for inspiration.
All materials provided.
Date: Tuesday 2nd August 2011. Ages: Suitable for children 8 – 13year olds.
Times: 2.00pm – 3.30pm. Price: £3.00
Venue: Bramall Hall. Booking essential - Contact Bramall Hall on 0161 485 3708
Page 7
Dates for your Diary (cont).
Hat Works Children’s Activities and Events
Drop in Hat Making
Visit Hat Works and get the chance to decorate your very own hat. Pick up your pack of craft materials from reception, then
make & decorate your hat on the gallery floor!
Dates: Every weekend throughout August. Ages: All. Times: 10.30am – 4.00pm Price: Free
Fridge Magnets
Come and use your imagination and design a fridge magnet to make and stick on your fridge at home!
Dates: 2nd & 4th August 2011. Times: 10.30am - 12 noon and 1.00pm - 2.30pm. Ages: 5-11 year olds
Price: £3.00 or Leisure Key £2.50 Booking essential Tel: 0161 355 7770
Creative Puppet Making
Come along to this popular craft session and see if it pulls your strings!
Dates: 16th &18th August 2011. Times: 10.30am - 12 noon and 1.00pm - 2.30pm. Ages: 5-11 year olds
Price: £3.00 or Leisure Key £2.50 (limited places) Booking essential Tel: 0161 355 7770
Rag Rugs & Looms
Discover the art of hooking and progging! Whilst making a rug from rags. Learn how to weave on your own cardboard loom. Two
very different traditional crafts explored in one workshop.
Date: 18th August 2011
Times: 2.00pm - 3.30pm. Ages: 8-13 year olds
Price: £3.00 Booking essential Tel: 0161 485 3708
Eat My Hat
Can you make a hat that is good enough to eat? This is a hat with a difference; it will taste as good as it looks. Come and join
the fun and take home your exciting hat which you can wear and see how long you can wait to eat it!
Date: 23rd August 2011 for Ages 5 - 7 year olds. 25th August 2011 for 8 - 11 year olds.
Times: 10.30am - 12 noon morning session only.
Price: £4.00 or Leisure Key £3.50 Booking essential Tel: 0161 355 7770
Stockport Air raid Shelters Children’s Explorer Tours
Exciting children’s version of the ever popular Explorer Tours. Brave the darkened tunnels as you go back in time and
experience life of a child during the war.
Date: Wednesday 10th August 2011. Ages: Suitable for age’s 7years+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Times: 6.45pm - 8pm. Price: £3.95 per child, accompanying adults £2.00
Booking essential - Call 0161 474 1940
Play Day – Torkington Park
Wednesday 3rd August 2011 is Playday - the annual celebration of children’s right to play.
In Stockport the Play Development Team and local partners organise an annual Play Day event in Torkington Park, Hazel Grove.
This popular day offers a range of play opportunities suitable for all ages of children. This year the event will run from 11am to
4pm on 3rd August 2011 . Look out for more information nearer the time.
Feedback: We welcome your feedback on this edition of Family News Stockport. Please contact us with any comments or
suggestions for future editions on 0808 800 0606 or Email: [email protected]
If you would like this publication in large print, Braille, on audio tape or disk, please Tel: 0808 800 0606 or
Email: [email protected]
Although every effort is made to ensure information in Family News Stockport is accurate, Family info Link cannot accept responsibility for errors arising from
information we have been given. Views expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of Family info Link staff and parents and carers are advised to
carry out their own checks of services.
Family info Link is a service of Family Link Stockport
Registered Charity No. 1079948
Registered Company No. 3896754
Page 8
FAMILY INFORMATION SERVICE