newsletter: may 2012 newsletter: may 2012 do you know what benefits you are eligible to receive?...
TRANSCRIPT
Newsletter: May 2012
www.parentviewscount.org
Do you know what benefits you are eligible to receive? Come and find out!
PVC is hosting a ‘Marketplace’ event for parents/carers of children and young people with disabilities. There will be information stands on equipment and holiday grants, benefits advice, legal information, short breaks and much more.This is an excellent opportunity to gather information on a range of services in one place. Contact a Family, Cerebra, Parks for Play, Newlife, Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Family Footings, Action for Children, and many others will be on hand to share information about services, grants, benefits and more.
Date: 20th June 2012Time: 9:30am – 2:00pm
Venue: Carrs Lane Church HallCarrs Lane
B4 7SX
There is also an opportunity to speak individually with an advisor about benefits that you may be entitled to and take away a printed list of these benefits. You must call to book an appointment and spaces are limited so don’t delay!
Call us today on:
0121 236 9215 or 07795121281 to book.
Parent Views Count
New Resources
SENAR and PVC have developed two leaflets for parents. One to help with the annual review process; to ensure children and young people are making progress in school. A second to help parents when choosing secondary schools. These are great resources. Contact SENAR or PVC if you would like a copy of either leaflet.
SENAR: 0121 303 3525
PVC: 0121 236 9215
Benefit Changes From April 2012
Working Tax Credit
In the recent budget the government agreed to exempt carers from their plans to withdraw Working Tax Credits from families working between 16 and 23 hours. A couple can be eligible for Working Tax Credit as long as one parent works 16 hours and their partner is entitled to Carers Allowance.
Tax Credits Backdating Reduction
Following a new claim or a change or circumstances the tax credits office will only backdate the payment to 1 month. Also the timescale for notifying the Tax Credit Office about a Disability Living Allowance award for the purpose of getting full backdating of disability elements will also be reduced to 1 month.
Scrapping ESA
The government is scrapping Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) ‘in youth’ for new claimants on the 30th April. Most young people will be able to claim income related ESA instead but some may lose out. The government also intends to time limit payments of contributory ESA to 12 months for less severely disabled claimants.
An organisation who are there to help you if you are concerned about any of these changes is:
Contact a FamilyFreephone Helpline 0808 808 3555
New Addresses:
Parent Views Count:St Georges Community HubGreat Hampton RowBirminghamB19 3JG0121 236 9215
Parent Partnership:SEN Parent PartnershipNew Heights,108 Warren Farm RoadKingstandingBirminghamB44 0QN0121 303 5004
PVC Notice Board
PVC would like to take the opportunity to thank you for attending Parent Forum meetings and any other events or activities in 2011. Your views are helping to shape services for children, young people and families in Birmingham. It is important that we continue to put our views forward to ensure that our children, young people and our families continue to receive quality services. You can do this by sharing your views at Parent Forum meetings and local focus groups and by keeping informed and up to date on issues that may affect your child and family and responding to any proposed changes in services. If you have any concerns or issues and you are not sure how to respond or who to respond to, please contact Parent Views Count and we will do our best to assist you.
Have Your Say!
Home to School Transport
Have you had your say?Many of you will have responded to the first phase of the Home to School Transport consultation which
ended on January 19, 2012.
The Council has now published proposed policies which can be found on the BBC website:
www.birmingham.gov.uk/transportconsultation
As parents of children with disabilities and special educational needs, PVC parent representatives will be
collectively and individually responding and we encourage you to read through the proposed policies, ensure
that your views have been considered, consider how the proposed changes will affect your child and family
and respond by June 18, 2012.
You can complete the consultation in three ways:
1. Follow the link above to the consultation web page and download the response form which can be e-mailed back to [email protected]
2.Complete the online consultation response form by visiting: www.surveymonkey.com/s/hometoschool
3. Request a paper copy of the documents and consultation response form by contacting:
Home to School Transport Team Completed paper copies can be posted to:
Council House Extension Home to School Transport Consultation
Margaret Street Education Transport Service
Birmingham B3 3BU FREEPOST
0121 303 4425/2450/4955 MID2259
Birmingham
B4 7BR
Some expenses incurred attending PVC Parent Forum meetings and events can be reimbursed. If you have any questions about claiming expenses please contact PVC. To claim back expenses on the day of the Parent Forum meeting please ask for a member of staff at the front desk before you leave. If you are experiencing difficulties attending the Parent Forum meetings please contact us.
Who are we?
We are parents and carers of children and young
people with disabilities and SEN’s who are active
participants in the development and evaluation of
services across Birmingham.
Parent Views Count was developed by parents
and is run by parents. We influence positive change
by hearing parents views at regular forum meetings
and using these views to influence decisions and
service design at a strategic level.
Why should you get involved?
Because Parent Views Count has been successfully
influencing and shaping service design and delivery
since 2006. Our aim is to make improve the lives of
children and young people with disabilities and
SEN’s and their families across Birmingham
by representing the views of parents and carers
at a strategic level.
Are there different levels of involvement?
Yes! You can sign up to receive our newsletter, share
your views at Parent Forum Meetings and local
events, volunteer with PVC or become a Parent
Representative. Together we are making a difference.
By joining PVC you can help make a difference too!
Want to know more about PVC?
If you are interested in receiving our
newsletter, becoming involved in
Parent Views Count or you would like more information please contact us on:
0121 236 9215
07795 121 281
e-mail us
Or visit our website:
www.parentviewscount.org
Your Views Count!
Short Breaks Playground Development Last September Parent Views Count facilitated two focus groups for parents of children and young people to give their views on how to allocate £240,000 of Short Breaks capital funding with the aim of
improving access to parks and play areas. The unanimous decision of the parents involved was to invest the money
on fitting inclusive playground equipment on a number of Birmingham City managed playgrounds in parks across the city, rather than inviting community-based bids. Parents expressed the importance of playgrounds having wheelchair accessible surfacing, being fenced,
for seating to be placed next to the gates, and for car parking nearby. There was also discussion about the potential to employ Playworkers to spend time on the sites promoting positive use of the play equipment
to ensure that disabled children do not get excluded. Funding opportunities for this are being explored. Cabinet approval to proceed with the investment to play areas was given on 5th April 2012 so over the next 2-3 months, the BCC Landscape Practice Group will select suppliers to install the new inclusive playground equipment in the following sites – Victoria Common in Northfield WardHenry Barber Recreation Ground in Bordesley Green WardGlebe Farm Recreation Ground in Shard End WardSwanshurst Park in Springfield WardGarrison Lane Park in Nechells WardWheeldon Recreation Ground in Kingstanding WardSmall Heath Park in South Yardley Ward The sites were chosen to ensure a reasonable spread across the city, factoring in the number of disabled children in each ward and similar works being carried out at other sites by the Play Portfolio Capital Programme. A few of the selected playgrounds have already had some equipment installed recently so the Short
Breaksmoney will be used to buy smaller sensory pieces to enhance what is already there, the other sites will have larger inclusive equipment, such as swings and roundabouts, fitted. We will, where possible, consult via PVC, to find out what children and parents would like to see on the sites. Once the work is completed the refurbished sites will be included in the Family Information Service’s Disabled Children’s Directory. We are grateful to PVC for facilitating the focus groups which have shaped and influenced this project
and believe the investment will deliver benefits to many families across the City, enabling disabled children to experience positive and inclusive play opportunities in their local communities, alongside their siblings
and peers. - John Freeman, Directorate for Children, Young People & Families Children's Commissioning &
Strategy If you have any questions contact John Freeman on 0121 675 7564 or [email protected]
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