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Things to do in Hertfordshire

Get set, sail!

Young people over 5 years of age with disabilities, can now enjoy sailing sessions once a month with the Three Rivers District Council and the CVSS Sailing Club at the Bury Lake Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

Sailing is the perfect way to feel tranquility and freedom on the water. Each boat and katakanu is specially designed to help support those with any disability allowing all to take to the water and learn how to sail. Participants will be given a sailing buddy and a thorough briefing before taking to the water.

The sessions will take place from 11am - 12 noon on the following Saturdays in 2020

Saturday 2 May Saturday 22 August
Saturday 20 June Saturday 12 September
Saturday 18 July Saturday 3 October

Sessions are only £5 a time - more information on their website here

Bury Lake Rickmansworth Aquadrome

CVSS Sailing Club

Rickmansworth

WD3 1NB

Email Leisure@threerivers.gov.uk or phone 01923 776611

Three Rivers Leisure host a range of other Get Set Activities from Sport, Dance to Trampolining and Theatre. All details can be found at https://www.threeriversleisure.co.uk/disability

Residentials for 11 - 17 year olds with vision impairment

Build your confidence and independence, learn new skills, have fun and make new friends at a 6 Nights residential with Vision England. 

Vision England is an exciting residential programme for young people with vision impairment in the UK, in partnership with the Field Studies Council (FSC). Young people are supported to play a leading role in changing their communities and the environment for the better.     

Activities may include conservation activities like coppicing and tree planting, and other activities like wildlife walks, bush craft, hiking and camping.  Also lots of social activities!

Venue: Preston Montford Field Centre, Shrewsbury Shropshire

Cost: £25.00

For more information: 07816 599 260 or visionengland@sense.org.uk

How to apply: online at www.sense.org.uk/visionengland    

Please let us know if you would like an application posted out or support to complete your application.

Legoclub St Albans at Fleetville 2020

Legoclub is a friendly relaxed Saturday club for children on the autistic spectrum and those with special needs. Children and their parents can enjoy a change of scenery whilst really being themselves.

Parents - bring your book, paper, shopping list or friend and take some headspace. If you want to talk or wonder what services might be available please ask the organisers, they are happy to listen and signpost.

Coffee, tea and biscuits are available and packed lunches are welcome.

For many of the children transitions are difficult. We know tidying up and going home can easily cause an upset. Feel free to leave just before tidy-up time, we want parents to have a relaxing time and an easy departure.

Following feedback from the girls attending we now also have some "girly" Lego!

When: 12:00-14:00, once a month

Where: Fleetville Community Centre, Royal Rd, St Albans AL1 4LQ.

Who: Children with SEN and their siblings. Best suited to ages 0-14

What: Free play with Lego and Duplo

Cost: £2 per child £1 per sibling

Queries: 077 350 72 964

Future Saturdays: 1 February, 7 March, 4 April, 9 May and 6 June.

Summer break in July and August. Back Saturday 12 September, 3 October, 7 November and 5 December.

Trinity yoga classes

Looking for gentle exercise?

Try Yoga with Ali!

The Trinity Community Project provides opportunities and activities for adults with mental health issues or learning disabilities - one of these activities is restorative yoga and mindfulness.

Click on the image to see the poster.

Any prospective new Trinity members must first complete a referral form which is downloadable from the Trinity website.

If you have any queries, please call Trinity Activities Co-ordinator Ben Barrell on  01727 838671 or TCP Mobile: 07958 357916

 

 

Libraries supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing

Earlier this month, libraries launched their Reading Well for Children book collection.

These books provide helpful reading to support children’s mental health and wellbeing, joining the other collections already on the shelves including "Reading Well for Mental Health, Reading Well for Young People (Shelf Help) and Reading Well for Long Term Conditions.

The books have been chosen and endorsed by leading health professionals and are targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (age 7-11) A wide range of reading levels are supported and help less confident readers and encourage children to read together with their carers.

Shockingly, 12.8% of 5-19 year olds have had a mental health condition. 34% of parents of children aged 4-11 worry about their child’s mental health and 60% of children aged 8-11 say they regularly feel stressed, sad or worried.

Although 39% of 8-11s say they find it difficult to talk about their emotions, 90% of parents agree that reading together is a useful tool to help open up conversations.

The 33 titles in the collection cover subjects such as maintaining good mental health, understanding and managing feelings, dealing with worries, dealing with tough times personally and navigating the world around you, including at school, online and in the news.

Visit your Library to find out more about the Reading Well for Children book collection and how it can support parents and children.

For the full booklist, visit www.reading-well.org.uk

Spotlight on picture books

Margaret Street, Early Years Librarian writes about "Rhyme and Sign adventure books with British Sign Language"

Picture books containing British Sign language (BSL) are very hard to find so I was really pleased to discover this series called ‘Rhyme and Sign adventure’ books. These fun stories are now available to borrow from every Hertfordshire Library.

They have bright illustrations and cover topics which appeal to young children - farm animals, mini beasts and transport. The BSL is clearly signed at the bottom of each page and the signs relate directly to the pictures so everyone can join in together. The stories are written with lots of repetition to help practise the different words and signs, and to build up your BSL vocabulary throughout the story. You can request the books via www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/libraries

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