Past Events in 2022
Nov 22-PCT Coffee Morning, Delfino Lounge, Poole
We were joined by Amy Mellor, Coproduction Officer at BCP Council and Lucy from WEA (Worker's Educational Association) who are a charity that offers adult education- online and face to face courses to adults from all walks of life. Lucy came along to speak to our members and find out want bespoke training would benefit local parents and carers.
Nov 17- PCT Coffee Morning, Christchurch
Nov-PCT Recruitment Events
In November, we held a series of events to recruit fellow parents and carers to come join our team:
-1st November-Tesco, Tower Park, Poole
-2nd November-An evening virtual session was held over TEAMS.
-3rd November-Somerford Youth and Community Centre, Christchurch
Oct 18-PCT Recruitment Coffee Morning, Tesco Community Room, Poole
Informal chat was held with parents and carers who wanted to know more about volunteering with us
Oct 13- PCT Coffee Morning, Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Christchurch
We discussed the various work streams the forum are actively part of and how parents and carers could get involved!
Sept 20- PCT Coffee Morning, Tesco Community Room, Tower Park, Poole
We were joined by Guest Speaker Alexia Tough, the Parent Champion Coordinator for the Parent Champion in Schools Project.
Sept 15- PCT Coffee Morning, Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Christchurch,
This was our first session after the summer hols.
July 19- PCT Coffee Morning, Tesco Community Room, Poole
Session focussed on how parents were feeling as the summer holidays were drawing near.
July 16- Winchelsea School Summer Fair, Poole, BH12 4LL
The forum held an information stall there and were able to connect face to face with parents of children with additional needs.
(Poster two was designed by a pupil from Winchelsea School)
July 14- PCT Coffee Morning- Somerford Youth and Community Centre, Christchurch
This was our last coffee morning in Christchurch before the summer holidays.
July 5- Short Breaks Consultation, Tesco, Tower Park, Poole
July 3-Broadstone Community Fun Day, Poole
The forum shared an information stall with Time Out Dorset
June 16 - PCT Coffee Morning, Christchurch
Was held at Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Christchurch
June 6-12- We held free events held over national Carers Week
This year’s theme was VISIBLE, VALUED & SUPPORTED.
May 24- PCT Coffee Morning, Poole
It was a special session to discuss the SEND Review
Held at Tesco, Tower Park, Poole,
May 19- PCT Coffee Morning, Christchurch
It was a special session to discuss the SEND Review
Held at the Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Christchurch
Apr 26th- PCT Coffee Morning, Poole
Held at Tesco, Tower Park, Poole
Apr 14th- PCT Coffee Morning, Christchurch
Held at the Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Bingham Road, Christchurch, BH23 3AH
APR 21- Prejudice Free Dorset Day -Falklands Square, Poole
MAR 29-PCT Coffee Morning-Poole
Held at the Community Room, Tesco, Tower Park, Poole, BH12 4NX
Mar 17- PCT Coffee Morning, Christchurch
Held at the Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Bingham Road, Christchurch, BH23 3AH
MAR 11-CAN 100 Volunteer Fair
We held a stall at the volunteers fair held by CAN 100 at Footprints Community Hub, Winton, BH3 7AT
Feb 4- PCT & SENDiass Coffee Morning
The Forum and SENDiass4BCP hosted this event at the Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Bingham Road, Christchurch, BH23 3AH.
Jan 20- Parent and carer coffee morning
Parent Carers Together hosted this event at the Somerford Youth & Community Centre, Bingham Road, Christchurch, BH23 3AH
Past Events in 2021
NOV 8- Coffee and Cake - parents and carers were invited to come along and share their experiences of BCP & CCG SEND Services with us
Parent Carers Together hosted this event at the Somerford Family Hub, Draper Road, Christchurch, BH23 3AS
JUNE 24- Bournemouth & Poole College Open Day
Our stand at the Lansdowne site
Nikki, one of our co-chairs at the North Site.
April 1- Parent Carers Together Second Birthday!
Jan 20th-March 30th- SENDiass4BCP and Parent Carers Together virtual drop in sessions.
5 sessions held between January and March. They were to all BCP parents and carers whose child/young person has SEND.
Past Events in 2020
OCT 5- Parent Carers Together Virtual Coffee and Chat Session
Session was for those parents and carers who were interested in becoming a volunteer representative
MARCH 1- Parent Carers Together First Birthday!
FEB 18- Diverse Abilities Information and Advice Day, Wimborne.
Parent Carers Together had an information table at this event and were joined by other organisations including: CRISP, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, Remap, Prama Life and Wessex Drive Ability.
Past Events in 2019
NOV 28 - Preparing for Adulthood Workshop, Wimborne.
A jointly organised workshop with Parent Carers Together and Dorset Parent Carer Council for the benefit of local parent and carers.
NOV 26 & 27 - Expert Parent Programme - Wimborne and Dorchester.
A one day programme rolled delivered over two separate days. This programme was jointly organised with Parent Carers Together and Dorset Parent Carer Council and delivered by the Council for Disabled Children to parents and carers to build resilience and confidence when engaging with health professionals and to gain a better understanding how the health system works.
Parent feedback:
"I really enjoyed this course thank you"
"Interactive session.. really interesting!"
"Brilliant talk by passionate informed people"
The pictures below show a post-it note exercise we did, and the poster explaining a bit more about the day.
NOV 27 - Christmas Shopping Event, Haskins.
Parent Carers Together had the pleasure in joining Autism Wessex and Haskins Ferndown for a Special Christmas Event for children and young people with additional needs. The evening was quiet and relaxing and there was a coloring station, a balloon entertainer and Santa himself.
Parents and carers were invited to write a gift tag for our tree with anything good or bad about local sen services or their wish for sen services in the future.
People's views of the evening:
“Was wonderful!”
“Looks very lovely and Christmassy!”
“It was incredible seeing *** be herself and having fun instead of usual anxious ridden frightened girl”
OCT 3, 4, 7 & 11 - Transition into Adulthood Workshop
This workshop was delivered over four separate days in four locations- Ferndown, Littledown, Blandford and Dorchester. The workshops were jointly organised with Parent Carers Together and Dorset Parent Carer Council and delivered by Disability Rights Uk and Ansbury Guidance.
The workshop was aimed primarily at parent carers with young people ages 13-25 to give a greater understanding of post 16 education, training and work options.
Parent Views:
"Feel empowered"
"I have loved..this course. We need more of this as carers/parents".
"I found it very helpful that others are going through the same things"
JULY 13 - Time To Talk
We said that parents and carers wanted more opportunities to talk and share experiences with the Local Authority SEND leadership team, and as a result, BCP now offers 'Time to Talk' events for parents, carers and young people.