FIS Newsletter - Summer 2024

Welcome to our newsletter for Summer 2024, combining MyFIS and MyFIS+ which we hope you'll find interesting and helpful.

In this edition we’ve got lots of interesting news about:

• Where to go for Children's Centre Services during the Avenues' Improvement Works
• Family Hub update
• What's on this Summer
• Family Hubs
• Family Learning - Free courses for parents, carers and grandparents
• Free National Play Day celebration
• School uniform support
• New Back to School Savings Account from Community First Credit Union
• Childcare
• Have your say about Maternity Care in your area
• Free local Saturday clubs for 13 to 16-year-olds
• York Talk Money
• NHS 111 Select Mental Health Option
• North Yorkshire Police Community Messaging
• York City FC and the Wilf Ward Family Trust: Inclusive Access on Match Days
• Max Cards
• Parent Carer Forum

Don’t forget, if you'd like more information about anything in this newsletter, or anything to do with family life, then you can get in touch with the York Family Information Service; telephone: 01904 554444, or email: [email protected].

Recent FIS newsletters

Read our other newsletters covering useful information on family life, and being a parent or carer in York.

Where to go for Children's Centre Services during the Avenues' Improvement Works

Please note that services usually run at The Avenues Children’s Centre will move to different locations from Monday 5 August until mid-October.

What is happening?

As part of our work to develop a network of Family Hubs in York, we are investing in essential building works at The Avenues Children’s Centre, based at Tang Hall Primary School.

When completed, the Children’s Centre will operate as a standalone service in a separate building, providing support for families and an important community venue.

Work to the Children’s Centre is ahead of Tang Hall Primary School being rebuilt from 2025-26 through a Department for Education programme of work.

When will the work begin and finish?

The centre will close on 5 August ahead of construction work starting on 12 August, and which will continue until mid-October. The centre is likely to reopen in late October.

Will the services, activities, and groups take place elsewhere?

Services operating from the building have made alternative arrangements to deliver from other sites as follows:

The Healthy Child Clinic:

This clinic will run every Monday from 29 July 2024, 1.00pm to 3.00pm at Tang Hall Library, The Centre at Burnholme, Mossdale Avenue, Tang Hall, York YO31 0HA.

Self-weigh:

From week commencing Monday 29 July, please use the self-weigh at:

Clifton Children’s Centre, Kingsway North, Clifton, York, YO30 6JA on Thursdays 1.00pm to 4.00pm.

Hob Moor Children’s Centre, Green Lane, Acomb, York, YO24 4PS on Tuesdays from 9.00am to 12.00pm and 1.00pm to 4.00pm.

The Avenues’ self-weigh service will restart when the building reopens around the end of October 2024.

Meanwhile, you can contact the Healthy Child Service on 01904 555475 or email [email protected].

Midwifery:

From Monday 5 August, Midwifery clinics will move to Clementhorpe Health Centre, Cherry Street, York YO23 1AP until The Avenues reopens around the end of October 2024.

Contact the Midwifery team:

• East of the city, 01904 551778
• West of the city, 01904 555045

Family Hub Drop-In:

From Wednesday 31 July until the end of the school summer holidays (last session Wednesday 28 August), the Family Hub Drop-in sessions will move, to St Aelred’s Community Centre, 216 Fifth Avenue, York YO31 0PN.

Sessions will run from 9.00am to 11.00am every Wednesday. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

I have further questions:

If you have any questions about how to get in touch with or access services during this building work, please contact the service directly or call the York Family Information Service 01904 554444 or email [email protected].

Family Hub update

As we move through the summer, we are nearing the end of the Family Hub pilot. With the end of the pilot comes opportunities, and we are looking for parents/carers to join our York Parent Champion volunteer scheme.

York Parent Champions make a real difference by shaping services, signposting parents and by helping families around you get the support they need to improve their families’ lives and outcomes for children.

We are particularly seeking parents/carers who would be interested to deliver our family drop ins. These are currently held weekly, 9.00am to 12.00pm, but we are looking at these running for a max of two hours, and this could be weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on availability.

You will receive training and support and duties would include meeting and greeting families, providing a warm welcome, setting up the toys and tidying away. You wouldn’t be doing this on your own, as we are seeking several parents and carers to work together to make this happen.

For further information and an informal chat please contact [email protected].

What's on this Summer

A range of free and paid activities are available in York for families this summer.

Free activities include Explore’s summer reading challenge, the Family Learning Festival, York RLFC school holiday programme, our Family hub drop-ins, inclusive activities and more. Visit Raise York what’s on.

Family Hubs

 

Our family hub drop-in information sessions will be running over the summer holidays.

For an up to date timetable of free activities at our family hub drop ins, visit our Warm Welcome page.

Hob Moor Children’s Centre on Tuesdays 9.00am to 11.00am.

Clifton Children’s Centre on Wednesdays 9.00am to 11.00am.

• Please note due to building works taking place over the summer at The Avenues Children’s Centre, we have moved our drop in to St Aelred’s Community Centre which will run at the slightly different time of 9.00am to 11.00am on Wednesdays.

Please do pop by for more of the same, a warm welcome, activities, a free drink, and an outside space to play!

Family Learning - Free courses for parents, carers and grandparents

We offer free courses and workshops for parents, grandparents and carers to give them the confidence to support their child’s development at home. Our tutors love engaging adults with education in a safe and welcoming environment. There is always an opportunity to ask questions and be honest about challenges.

Our sessions are fun and interactive, with lots of laughter and creativity. This approach inspires our learners to help their children to thrive during their Early Years and throughout Primary School. 

We also give our learners the opportunity to achieve a Functional Skills qualification in Maths or English and can support them with Information, Advice and Guidance on future learning and work. 

We would love to welcome you to one of our local courses soon!

For more information visit www.yorklearning.org.uk, or contact Family Learning by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 01904 554277.

Free National Play Day celebration

Join Door 84, Lowther Street, York, YO31 7LX to celebrate national play day on Wednesday 7 August, 12.00pm – 4.00pm. There will be:

• BBQ,
• free play,
• live music/Queer Arts Choir,
• raffle,
• café,
• free lunch for under 16s
• face painting

School uniform support

Looking at ways to help with the cost of school uniform?

We’re delivering free drop in community events this summer called Hem and Button. This is a school uniform mend and swap.

Uniform swap: bring uniform that your child has outgrown to donate or swap.

Uniform mend: Learn how to fix hems and buttons

Our drop in sessions will be held at the following venues:

• Friday 9 August Tang Hall Community Centre, YO31 0UG 3.00pm to 5.00pm
• Friday 16 August Majorie Waite Court, YO30 6DX 3.00pm to 5.00pm
• Tuesday 20 August The Place, YO26 5AR 1.00pm to 4.00pm

If you are still struggling with school uniform please contact us and we will try and help you.

New Back to School Savings Account from Community First Credit Union

Be prepared for those back to school expenses; such as uniforms, stationary, bags etc. Making life that little bit easier.

How it works

• Join Community First Credit Union
• Open a Back to School Saving Account
• Save through the year
• Safe and secure savings
• Savings can be accessed between July and September*

*Administration fee may apply where the account is accessed at other times

Visit www.communityfirstcu.co.uk for more information or contact Community First Credit Union by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 0303 030 0010.

York residents who open a new account with Community First Credit Union may be eligible for £25 bonus.

Childcare

Feeling frazzled searching for Ofsted registered childcare?

Do you need before and after school childcare from September?

Are you seeking Ofsted registered holiday clubs or looking for a childminder, nursery, pre-school playgroup or Ofsted registered nanny? 

We can help! We can provide you with a tailored list of childcare in the area you are looking and if you are struggling to find childcare that meets your needs we offer a free brokerage service too.

Contact the Family Information Service by email: [email protected] or by telephone: 01904 554444.

Visit Raise York Childcare.

Have your say about Maternity Care in your area

The MNVP is an independent group who work with the people who provide & fund maternity and neonatal care, such as doctors midwives and commissioners. Our aim is to make maternity care better for the people who use the services, by listening to the people who use the services. We anonymise feedback and take it to the trust, to ensure your voices are heard and used to shape the services of the future.

For more information about maternity voices, visit their website.

Free local Saturday clubs for 13 to 16-year-olds

The National Saturday Club programme is free, has no exams and offers 13 to 16-year-olds a unique opportunity to build their creative and communication skills, develop their confidence, and discover pathways to further study and future careers.

Club members have the chance to take part in national events including Masterclasses with leading industry professionals and the Summer Show, where all Club members exhibit their work in a public showcase – all for free!

York Talk Money

To be ready for financial support with the cost of living ending in September 2024, residents are urged to make sure they are claiming all the benefits that they are eligible for.

To help you feel comfortable and in control of your finances, we are sharing tips and hints to make the most of your money. Whether it’s for your day-to-day spending, or to see you through planned and unplanned events, there are some easy steps to take:

• boost your income and get all you’re entitled to - Find the financial support and benefits you need to maximise your income. First use an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculator to check what financial support you could be entitled to. This could include help with Council Tax, food and utility bills, help for families, older people and disabled residents. Find out more at www.york.gov.uk/benefits
• reduce your outgoings - To make savings on your household bills and get help if you are struggling, contact your gas, electric, water, broadband and mobile phone suppliers who all offer lower rates for customers. Find out more at visit www.livewellyork.co.uk/talkmoney
• get benefits and money advice - Don’t struggle alone. If you need help with benefits or money, help is at hand. Drop into your local community venue to find out more about local advice services. For more money advice and information, visit www.livewellyork.co.uk/talkmoney

NHS 111 Select Mental Health Option

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

Available 24/7, you will speak to a mental health professional who can listen to you and help you find the right support.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss please use NHS 111 - SignVideo or the 18001 111 Relay UK app

North Yorkshire Police Community Messaging

North Yorkshire Community Messaging provides lots of free advice around keeping safe and making you aware of what is happening around your community. They have top tips about posting on social media whilst on holiday and information on a new government website that helps us all to prepare for emergencies.

Posting on social media whilst on holiday: Did you know that many insurers now have an exclusion stating that if you post photos advertising the fact that you are on holiday, you may not be covered if your house gets burgled. To help NY Community Messaging have these tips: not to post photos until you return from your holiday and don’t check in on Facebook as soon as you get to the airport or hotel; update your tagging preferences; check your insurance policy. Find out more at North Yorkshire Community Messaging's article about Posting on Social Media whilst on holiday.

Prepare for emergencies: The Government’s  Prepare campaign provides simple and effective steps people can take to be more prepared including finding out if you are eligible to sign up to your gas, electricity and water supplier’s Priority Service; set a reminder on your phone or calendar to check your smoke alarm once a month; keep a note of important phone numbers on paper, for example, the number to report a power cut. Find out more at prepare.campaign.gov.uk.

York City FC and the Wilf Ward Family Trust: Inclusive Access on Match Days

York City Football Club and the Wilf Ward Family Trust have partnered up to provide inclusive access to the stadium. Inclusive access includes:

• Quiet Zone
• Sensory Packs
• Ear Defenders
• Audio Devices
• Makaton

For further information, visit York City Football Club's website at www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk. You can also contact them by email: [email protected], by telephone: 01904 624447, or by post:

Max Cards

The Max card application process has recently been under review and has now completed. The online form is now open for new applications, renewals, and replacements to eligible families who live within the City of York Council local authority. To apply for a Max card please visit the York SEND Local Offer website

There is a charge of £5 per card (one card to be issued per child with additional needs/disabilities). Families will also need to provide supporting documents regarding their child’s disability/additional need to complete the application. This could be proof of their benefits, their Education, Health and Care Plan, or a letter from your child’s pediatrician, GP, or social worker.

If you have any queries about the Max card please contact [email protected]

Parent Carer Forum

Have you heard about Parent Carer Forum in York? We are looking for more parents and carers to join our growing community and share experiences to enable the forum to represent these in education, health and social care plans, policy and practice. You can take part in a variety of ways, including groups, meetings, events and training.

To join you must have a city of York postcode and be a parent / carer of a child with additional; needs (diagnosis not necessary ) You will then receive our fortnightly newsletter and local and regional updates, consultations, and support offers. You can join us via our website www.parentcarerforum.org or by emailing [email protected]

Don't keep us a secret!

Don't forget to tell your friends and family about York Family Information Service! If you use Twitter or Facebook you can follow York Family Information Service online:

• Follow us on Instagram: @YorkFIS
• Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): www.twitter.com/yorkfis
• Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/YorkFamilyInformationService (help other parents and carers by writing a brief review in the reviews section on our page, to let them know what you think about our service)

Register with the Information Service

Is your child under 3? By registering with our Information Service you'll receive tailored information (on an adhoc basis) about:

• groups and activities
• 2 year-old funding
• opportunities to take part in research specific to the age of your child

Register with the Information Service.

Feedback on the service you've received

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