Activities, News & Events
Views expressed on this website are not necessarily those of The National Autistic Society and reference to specific services or approaches to autism does not
imply endorsement, nor does the absence of any services or approaches imply that NAS Richmond does not support them.
Images in this website credited to Allan Sears, Alison Sears, and the Microsoft Office plus Bing Clip Art image library.
All material © The National Autistic Society (Richmond Branch) 2021 and cannot be reproduced without permission.
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KNOTS ARTS DRAMA SESSIONS AND YOUTH CLUB
Knots Arts continues to successfully support youngsters with social and communication difficulties. Drama sessions for children aged 4 to 16, and a youth group for for teenagers run every Saturday in term-time in East Sheen/Mortlake. They have a limited number of funded and assisted places for the clubs.
Please note that the drama sessions have been running online via Zoom during the coronavirus outbreak. For further information about the Knots Arts youth group, please
email hello@knotsarts.com.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Cassie Yates on 07947 212485, email hello@knotsarts.com or visit Knots Art's website http://knotsarts.com.
THE CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR FOUNDATION
Would you like to chat with other family carers in a similar situation? Have you ever wanted the opportunity to get some support from someone who's been in your shoes? The Challenging Behaviour Foundation's Family Carers' Email Network could be for you!
The network is open to any family member caring for a relative with severe learning disabilities whose behaviour is described as challenging. So whether you are a parent, sibling, grandparent or even an aunt or uncle, you will be very welcome to join.
All the messages are anonymous and you can ask for advice on any issue you'd like. There have been questions about challenging behaviour, iPad apps, strong furniture, how to become a deputy, renovating your house...the possibilities are endless.
To join the network, just visit the Family Carers' Email Network webpage where you'll find a link to the Email Network application form. For more information about the Challenging Behaviour Foundation and what it can offer you, please visit their website: https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk.
ACTIVITIES, NEWS & EVENTS
RISE MULTI-SPORTS CLUB ACTIVITIES
Richmond Inclusive Sports and Exercise (RISE) provides a varied programme of activities for children and young people who have a disability.
These activities include football, Fusion junior dance, golf, rugby, swimming, tennis trampolining and wheelchair basket ball. RISE also offers its Saturday Multi-Sport Club plus Rise to Shine. Rise to Shine is a project to get young people who live or go to school in Richmond Borough involved in the London Youth Games.
For more details, please visit RISE Activities for young people. If you would like any further information about RISE, inclusive and disability specific sport or exercise activities, call RISE on 020 8831 6134 or email rise@richmond.gov.uk from Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm.
RISE also offers sporting opportunities to adults, the details of which can be found on the Young People and Adults page.
THE CURLY HAIR PROJECT WEBINARS
The Curly Hair Project aims to help women and girls who have an autism spectrum condition and their loved ones who don't have this condition to communicate and understand each other better.
Should you have a daughter who has a diagnosis of an autism spectrum condition, if you have this diagnosis yourself or think you could be 'on the spectrum', why not book a place on a Curly Hair Project webinar?
Details of forthcoming webinars can be found on the Young People and Adults page and if you would like to learn more about the Curly Hair Project, its services and resources, do visit https://thegirlwiththecurlyhair.co.uk.
ACTIVITY STATION
Activity Station organises fun and exciting activities for people with disabilities in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and beyond. They also work with other organisations to bring accessible and inclusive events to people across different age groups, covering a wide range of interests.
Please go to the Young People and Adults page to find out more about the latest Activity Station events. Do visit www.activitystation.org.uk to learn more about Activity Station has to offer.
OUR COFFEE MORNINGS / EVENINGS
Our branch has hosted regular online evening get togethers for those on the spectrum and parents of children and young people with autism or who are awaiting a diagnosis, via Zoom and before covid we held regular morning meetings.
All Richmond NAS meetings are held in association with Skylarks and are an open forum. There will be parent members of the Richmond NAS present to listen to any concerns you have around supporting children and young adults with autism spectrum conditions. NAS Richmond will be there to ensure people feel included and are able to support one another. All are welcome wherever you live.
Please visit Skylarks website for details of the next group meeting, where you can register to be sent the zoom link or Just click the link below for our next event.
RICHMOND MENCAP: CHILDREN'S & YOUNG PEOPLE'S ACTIVITIES
While Richmond Mencap face-to-face services are closed due to the coronavirus, they are offering some exciting services to both current and new users, all of which are delivered by Richmond Mencap's staff team. These include:
Telephone Befriending Service
Richmond Mencap's telephone befriending scheme is for anyone who would like to have a chat and a laugh over the coming weeks.
Funmail
The Richmond Mencap emails children and families with regular roundups of fun straight from the staff team
Power Hour
Richmond Mencap's group activities via a video call. Join in for drama, quizzes, dancing and all sorts of fun.
Please do contact Richmond Mencap for more information on 020 8744 1923 or at office@richmondmencap.org.uk.
DIMENSIONS AUTISM FRIENDLY FILMS
Dimensions are thrilled to announce that after a challenging year, autism friendly screenings are back.
There will be some covid adjustments in place, and these will be dependent on the cinema. But Dimensions are working with all their partners to help autism friendly screenings get back into cinemas. We ask that you don’t move around the cinema while social distancing is in place.
A list of the cinema chains that show special screenings each month
are given below:
Cineworld -
Showcase -
Picturehouse -
Odeon -
Everyman -
Vue -
To find your nearest participating cinema and to make an online booking, please visit Dimension's Autism Friendly Screenings webpage.
RiCHMOND PARENT CARER FOURM (PCF)
Are launching the consultation on the SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) in Richmond. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SENDIASS2022Richmond
The service was last commissioned in 2015 and is well overdue a review. Richmond PCF have been asked to work with Local Authority commissioners to shape what the new service will look like and we can’t do that without your help.
It’s really important that we hear from as many parents as possible, even if you’ve never used the SENDIAS Service before. Never needed advice or support? Or does the way the service is currently commissioned not meet the needs of your family? The reasons why you haven’t used the service are as important as sharing your experiences if you have. You can contribute in whatever way you feel most comfortable. You can complete the anonymous survey here, email us telling us what your experience has been, arrange a 1:1 telephone consultation or take part in a drop in event. Want to share your views in a different way? Please let us know what works for you and we’ll do our best to make it happen.
Drop in events will be taking place as follows:
Friday 25th March, 9.30am - 11.30am, My Veggie Plate, Whitton High Street (near the train station)
Monday 28th March, 12.30pm - 2.00pm, The Park, 19 Park Road, Teddington
Wednesday 30th March, 10.30am – 12.00pm, Harris and Hoole, King Street, Twickenham
ONLINE Friday 25th March, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
ONLINE Tuesday 29th March, 7.30pm - 9.30pm
ONLINE Thursday 31st March 10.00am – 12.00pm
Please let us know at information@richmondpcf.org.uk if you would like to attend one of these events or would like to arrange a 1:1 consultation.
Please share details of this consultation with other parent carers.
You’ll find details of the minimum standards of the SENDIAS Service the Local Authority have a statutory duty to provide here