1) CHUMS Emotional Wellbeing Support Service

CHUMS Emotional Wellbeing Support Service is a new community based service in Bedfordshire, delivered on behalf of the NHS and offers support to children, young people and their parent/carers as well as professionals, helping to improve and promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in children and young people from birth up until their 18th birthday. This service is part of the wider organisation CHUMS which provides bereavement support and a trauma service to children and young people and their parent/carers. Click here for more information about the service. The service offers support in a variety of ways including direct interventions with a child/young person at home or in school, group support for children/young people and/or their parent/carers and telephone advice and support for parents/carers, children/young people and professionals.

If you think CHUMS may be able to help you, please contact CHUMS on 01525 863924 or email info@chums.uk.com. You can also refer via their website.

2) Ofsted Inspection Announcement

Bedford Borough Council has been advised that Ofsted inspectors will start this inspection on Monday 23 January 2012. It is important that staff from all agencies working with children, young people and their families are aware that the inspection will start on 23 January 2012  and what the inspectors will be looking for.  

• The inspection will involve at least 4 inspectors being on site for up to 10 working days
• The inspectors will come from Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission and possibly Her Majesty's Inspectorate
• A set-up meeting will be held between the lead inspector and representative(s) of the Council and its partners on 13 January 2012, to discuss the scope of the inspection, indicative lines of enquiry, the indicative timetable and any issues or concerns which have arisen from the pre-inspection reading
• Once they arrive, inspectors will spend a lot of time reviewing case files which will assist them in making judgements in relation to the quality of practice, recording, multi-agency working and performance management. They will also conduct meetings and focus groups and hold discussions with users, service officers and managers from the Local Authority as well as partners representing early years settings, schools, health, police and the voluntary sector and stakeholders (in fact, guidance indicates that inspectors could conduct as many as 100 plus meetings overall!) (20.1)

Sika Smith is the Directorate’s inspection lead and her details appear below:

Sika Smith - Inspection Lead
Head of Quality Assurance, Vulnerable Children & Children’s Social Care
T: 01234 276751
E: sika.smith@bedford.gov.uk

3) Home-Start Bedford Borough wins pride of Bedford award

Home-Start Bedford Borough were the winners of the 2011 Pride in Bedford Award for Services to the Community. Wendie Lovatt, Scheme Manager, has spoken about how pleased they are as they felt that this category best described their service and the work that they do with families who are in need of support. For more information on Home-Start Bedford Borough and the services that they provide, please contact Wendie on 01234 270601 or email wendie@homestartbb.co.uk.

4) Grove Corner - Rooms for hire

Various rooms are available to hire at Grove Corner, High Street, North Dunstable. £15.00 per hour for commercial bookings and £7.50 for community bookings. Kitchen facilities are available, pool and football table and computers with internet access. For more information, please contact Jan Tonge on 07595067708 or email janet.tonge@ dunstable.gov.uk. (23.12)

5) Central Bedfordshire Economic Development Plan

Central Bedfordshire Economic Development Plan has been approved by council members and is now available to download here.

The Economic Development Plan highlights nine key workstreams to support economic growth over the coming years and the key priorities for support in 2012/13 are:

• Continuing to set the direction and deliver the infrastructure to support growth
• Focusing on employer engagement – implementing a new employer engagement framework, a single point of contact for business and proactively gathering intelligence to determine how best to help local businesses
• Targeting youth unemployment – including securing external funding to deliver targeted support to those not in employment education or training, and introducing job and enterprise club (9.12)

6) Bedford Borough Consultation

The Bedford Borough Consultation closed on 21 November. Comments have now been summarised for the Executive papers. The papers can be found on their website. (See: agenda items 6 and 7). (9.12)

7) Drop in sessions at Pine Cones Children's Centre

Come and find out about Individual Education Plans, and anything else you need to know. Drop in sessions for parents of children with special educational needs are
being held at Pine Cones Children's Centre on the dates below. These sessions will be in partnership with the Parent Partnership.

• Date: Thursday 19 January and Thursday 1 March 2012
• Time: 2.00pm-3.00pm
• Venue: Pine Cones Children's Centre, Bedford

If you have any queries, please email Jennie Howie at jennifer.howie@christianfamilycare.org.uk.

8) Youth Matters 'becoming Mum'

Youth Matters has been working with teen parents for over ten years. Recently they have developed a new project called ‘Becoming MUM’. Becoming Mum is all about supporting and enabling new teen parents to understand how to become a parent and how best to look after themselves and their new baby.

Training in basic skills, healthy living for both parent and child, counselling support if required ensures that they know how to look after themselves and their future. Youth Matters welcome young women who are pregnant to Youth Matters ‘becoming MUM’. They will meet others who can share their experiences with them and find a place that is welcoming and supportive to their personal needs.

For an informal chat about ‘becoming MUM’, please contact Youth Matters on the following:-

• A: 3 Duke Street, Bedford, MK40 3HR
• T: 01234 311811
• E: support@youthmatters.info

Youth Matters also provide a FREE counselling service for young people. Youth Matters Counselling is open on Mondays from 4.00pm to 8.00pm at the above address.

9) Designated and Named Professionals for Safeguarding Children and Young People Contact List

Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board have produced an updated structure chart for Designated and Named Professionals for Safeguarding Children and Young People within Health. Click here to download. (24.11)

10) Family Poverty in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire has commissioned a number of projects to help alleviate the impact of poverty on families.For a list of projects and referral information please see below:

• CP Projects Mapping
• Referral letter
• referral form

For the strategic documents underpinning this work see the :

• Family Poverty Strategy
• Family Poverty Needs Assessment

11) Antenatal Classes: For women, by women

Bedford Hospital Midwifery Parent Education Team would like to invite you to attend
antenatal classes, held specifically for women only. The classes consist of three sessions covering:

• Labour, birth and coping at home
• Pain relief, modes of delivery and optimal positioning for baby
• Infant feeding, postnatal care and practical parenting skills

The sessions will be held at Pine Cones Children’s Centre, Slade Walk, Bedford.
Sessions will be on Friday mornings from 10.00am to 12.00pm. Click here for 2012 dates.

12) The Freedom Programme

Details of current Freedom Programmes running in Central Bedfordshire can be found below:-

• Date: Wednesday for 12 weeks until 22nd February 2012 (term time only)
• Time: 1.00pm-3.00pm
• Venue: Tithe Farm Neighbourhood Centre, Houghton Regis

• Date: Wednesday for 12 weeks until 22nd February 2012 (term time only)
• Time: 1.30pm-3.00pm
• Venue: The Homestart building, Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard
  (There is creche provision for this programme)

For any enquiries please e-mail cpeiadmin@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or telephone 0300 300 6431. For enquiries for the group in leighton Buzzard, please contact Linda Johnson at Homestart directly on 01525 374656. They are currently looking to start groups in Flitwick and Sandy in the New Year.

The Freedom Programme online course

The Freedom Programme is now available as an on-line course for FREE. It is funded by the Department of Education and hosted by the Single Parent Action Network UK. To enrol click here. Every UK resident who enrols receives a FREE copy of 'Living with the Dominator' and 'The Freedom Programme Home Study Course'.

13) Short Breaks Services - User Engagement Report

The Executive Summary of Short Breaks in Bedford Borough – User Engagement report is now available to download here. The report was commissioned to inform Bedford Borough Council of the views of children and young people with disabilities, their parents and carers, other family members including siblings and professionals with regard to the provision of Short Breaks Services.

The User Engagement report has informed the development of Bedford Borough Council’s Short Breaks Services Statement which is available to view here. The report will also assist the Children’s Services Commissioning team in the development of Short Breaks Services within Bedford Borough.

If you have any questions about Short Break Services, or would like to be involved in the design and development of Short Breaks Services in Bedford Borough please contact the Short Breaks Manager on 01234 267422. Bedford Borough Council is currently undertaking a mapping exercise of existing Short Breaks Services within Bedford Borough. Visit our consultation page for more information. (18.11)

14) YMCA Bedfordshire Sleep Easy

Bedfordshire YMCA are pleased to announce that they will be doing a 12 hour Sleep Easy event on Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th March 2012 in the grounds of Bedford High School for Girls, Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2BS. Sleep Easy is a sleep out which is aimed at raising awareness of homelessness within our local community. YMCA Sleep Easy challenges people to think about the issues affecting young homeless people by asking them to give up one night to sleep out in their local community. This will be held over a 48 hour period giving people the opportunity to take part for a period of time that best suits them.

On Saturday between 11.00am and 5.00pm, they will be hosting a fundraising event with entertainment, art and craft stalls, games and activities for all the family.  This will be followed by individuals taking part in a 12 hour Sleep Easy - sleeping rough so others don’t have to- from 7.00pm to raise money for the YMCA Bedfordshire.

What they need from you? There are lots of ways individuals, groups and companies can get involved with this great event. We need people who want to challenge themselves by sleeping rough for a night and raising money through sponsorship; donations from local companies to ‘opt out of sleeping out’ as well as prizes for our raffle and top fundraiser prize; however if you can’t sleep out you can still come and join us in the daytime event and take part in the fun and games!

Funds raised through sleeping out will enable YMCA Bedfordshire to carry out vital work with young people and vulnerable adults in our local community. This will raise awareness and much needed funding to aid people who find themselves without the necessities for living. In the past two years over 1600 people have braved sub-zero temperatures raising a staggering £250,000 to help young people across the UK supporting various YMCA’s. For further information contact the Youth Participation Co-ordinator, Dele Johnson on 01234 264107/ 07508 807440 or email dele@ymcabedfordshire.org.uk. (11.11)

15) An update on Autism Provision and Pupil Referral Units in Central Bedfordshire

Specialist provision for Autism provided by:

St Swithun's Lower, Sandy
Holmemead Middle, Biggleswade
Samuel Whitbread, Shefford

Ramsey Manor Lower, Barton
Arnold Middle, Barton

Streetfield Middle, Dunstable
Manshead Upper, Dunstable

Places at Samuel Whitbread have been doubled and the provision has been split into Key Stage 3/4 and 6th Form. Special Schools Ivel Valley, Glenwood and Hillcrest continue to provide specialist expertise and provision in Autism and run the TEACCH training. The special schools outreach providers are running the training to mainstream schools on Autism Awareness, Structuring the Unstructured, Social Stories, Autism and Behaviour.

Pupil Referral Unit provision

The primary aged aspect of what was the PRU and the Behaviour Support Service have been commissioned out to schools, and the Jigsaw Centre opened in Houghton Regis Lower to run this service as an alternative provision and outreach support, managed by Hawthorn Park Lower, Beecroft Lower and Lancot Lower schools, all of whom have significant expertise in this area.

The secondary PRU, including Medical Needs, is now all based on the Kingsland site in Houghton Regis and is currently retained as a Local Authority PRU. For more information, please contact Helen Redding, Head of School Support, Children's Services on 0300 300 6057 or email Helen.Redding@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. (11.11)

16) Young Minds: The voice for young people's mental health and wellbeing

VIK is a four year Lottery funded project which involves thousands of children and young people campaigning to improve mental health service, to raise awareness about the importance of children and young people’s mental health and
wellbeing and to increase young people’s participation in service design and delivery. VIK provides advice and training on how to actively involve
young people in service design and delivery and training for young people that equips them with campaigning skills and the ability to deliver
participation training to professionals and to young people.

If you would like to know more about the services and how they can help you, go to their website to find your regional worker and more details or email vikinfo@youngminds.org.uk. Click here for a promotional leaflet which provides more details on the project and which can be used to promote the project within your organisation.

17) Undercover C-Card Scheme

NHS Bedfordshire has launched a new Condom Card (C-Card) scheme and as part of this launch, NHS Bedfordshire have decided to use a new condom supplier; Pasante. Pasante offer an innovative range of condoms and lubes. The C-Card will provide young people aged under 25 in Bedfordshire with:

• easier access to obtaining free condoms
• confidential information and advice to help them make informed decisions about their sexual health and wellbeing
• A Chlamydia Screening test

Click here to view al list of all sites participating in the new Undercover Condom Card Scheme in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire or click here to visit the Undercover website.

18) YMCA Bedfordshire Needs You!

Do you have a spare bedroom?

Could you offer support to a young person aged 16-20 to gain independence skills?

If so you can become part of their new joint Supported Lodging and Crash Pad Scheme!

This is a new scheme across Bedford Borough that will recruit and match individuals, couples or families to become a ‘Host’ for a young person who needs a home, but is not quite ready to live independently. As a host, you would provide a safe and supportive environment, passing on practical skills such as cooking, cleaning and budgeting. You will receive thorough training, together with on-going support and financial compensation; being a host is a rewarding experience as you support a young person to grow in confidence and move on to enjoy a successful and independent adult life. Click here for more information or contact Amy Elliott on 01234 307040 / 07508807441 or email amy@ymcabedfordshire.org.uk.

19) Police recording process for Hate Crime

The following email address below is the new address to use when reporting all Hate crime and Hate incidents:

CrimeBureau@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk

20) BRCC launches new Products and Services Guide

BRCC is launching a brand new ‘Guide to our Services’. In response to customer feedback that it is difficult to know about all of the services BRCC can provide, they have produced a comprehensive guide that, for the first time, describes the range of services that are offered. BRCC have a limited number of hard copies available which they will be distributing shortly, but they encourage you to read the guide on their website.

21) The Bedfordshire and Luton Compact

The Bedfordshire and Luton Compact is the agreement between local statutory organisations and the voluntary and community sector to improve and develop their relationships for the benefit of the communities they serve.

This new Compact is more concise and is based on The Compact on Relations between the Government and the Third Sector in England (December 2009) and the revised Compact published by the Coalition Government (December 2010).

Has your organisation signed up? Every organisation that signs up to the Bedfordshire and Luton Compact, is making a public pledge to conduct themselves within the guidelines and principles set out in the document. The more organisations that sign up, the stronger the Compact will be.

You can download the Bedfordshire and Luton COMPACT and a signup form from:  www.bedsandlutoncompact.org.uk.

22) ReachOut Plus - The Chellington Centre

The Chellington Centre is an inspirational residential and conference centre surrounded by stunning Bedfordshire countryside. As a school, charity, voluntary organisation or corporation you will find Chellington ideal for hosting:

• educational programmes
• development courses
• special needs events and courses
• inspirational residential retreats
• training and inset days
• corporate seminars and conferences
• private events

Click here to visit the website or contact Iain Mackilligan, Education and Development Manager on 08452160089 for more information.

23) New Service and New Website for www.4ypuk.com

The website includes the professionals who are part of 4YP including qualified and experienced Careers Guidance and SEN Advisers, Socialcare worker with family and youthwork experience. Working with young people through school and community settings, pre-NEET, NEET and running universal services. As 4YP we would like to build upon the experience and successful programmes we can offer to Pre-NEET and NEET but widen our offering geographically, and working with a wider range of services in collaboration. The success of the Group Mentoring Project, eg, was largely down to the facilitation of the programme by a multi-professional team - Connexions PA's, Social workers and Youth workers. We have also worked closely with a range of organisations such as Relate, Plan B and Sorted, through TACTIC and The Place. There are a number of projects like Crossroads and Crazy Paving projects -visit the website for more information. 4YP could be offering this from April 11 onwards if we had the partners on board to work with, and of course funding. We would welcome contact from any organisation to work collaboratively. For more information please contact Dee Thomas at deethomas@4ypuk.com.

24) R.A.V.E Bus

The RAVE bus is a mobile venue which can be used as a youth or community meeting place, a focal point of contact or a mobile office. The vehicle boasts:

• A comfy seating area
• Small area for making drinks
• Widescreen TV with freeview and DVD player
• A CD player
• Separate gazebo with an outdoor table and chairs

Cost:

• Voluntary or community group (no paid staff): £30 per hour
• Organisation with 1-10 employees: £40 per hour
• Organisation 11-50 employees: £50 per hour