Those of you who have received copies of the latest edition of our branch newsletter will already know all about this great opportunity, but for those of you who aren't registered with our branch, take a look!
We have kindly been offered the chance to use the Games Workshop Store in Norwich on Monday evenings throughout August for all things Warhammer!
The dates are as follows: August 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd, from 6.30 to 8.30 pm
Participants will have the chance to paint some figures, either fantasy figures such as elves, dwarfs, etc, or sci-fi figures such as space marines and also learn the basics of the game through playing a few short battles.
This opportunity is for children with an ASD and their siblings, aged 12+ and is completely free of charge.
Transport is not provided but we may be able to sort out a lift with other people that are attending.
To confirm your place or for further information please contact us on the branch mobile 07798882583 or email us at lowestoftnorthsuffolk@nas.org.uk
And hurry! We have to have final numbers by 25th July!!!
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Thursday, 26 May 2011
The Autism Show
"The Autism Show is the first national event dedicated to autism for parents, carers, professionals and individuals on the spectrum.
The Autism Show has been launched for the estimated two million people in the UK who live and work with autism on a daily basis but all too often don’t know where to turn for answers. As we enter an era of austerity in public services, this need has never been greater.
Once inside the event, all content is free to access. Highlights include:
1-2-1 Clinics hosted by specialist professionals including Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Behaviour Analysts and Legal Advisors
Over 50 suppliers of products and services including learning tools, visual aids, sensory equipment, specialist furniture, residential care and education, specialist schools, and holiday providers
An in depth CPD certified conference programme including sessions on Transitions in Education, The Transition to Adolescence, Skills and Strategies when Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Demystifying ABA, Navigating the Statementing Process, Working with Autism and Autism in Higher Education
Practical based seminars offering a range of ideas and strategies which can be immediately implemented at home or in the work place
Insightful presentations from individuals on the autism spectrum
The Autism Show has also been specifically designed around the needs of visitors on the autism spectrum with fast track entry, extra wide aisles, high ceilings, dimmed lighting, clear signage, a sensory room and quiet room created by Mike Ayres Design.
At The Autism Show you can access more face to face advice, support and information on autism than anywhere else in the UK.
Book your tickets today and get connected at The Autism Show 2011!"
For tickets, please click here to visit the Autism Show website.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Our Summer Coffee Morning
This past Saturday was our Summer-themed Coffee Morning at the United Reformed Church!
We had a great time!
Here's our Branch Officer, Jayne, with our Autism information display:
Here we are, ready to open the coffee morning:
One of our volunteers, helping to run the tombola:
A beautiful cake baked and decorated by Joshua, one of our branch members' son, who has ASD:
Our incredibly yummy cake stall, including a delicious-looking coffee and walnut cake donated by Heils Bakery:
Our Summer-themed raffle prize table, including a beautiful hanging basket donated by Lound Garden Centre:
Our bric-a-brac stall:
Fundraising Officer Rachel was all ready to serve the refreshments:
And we're open!
Selling cakes ...
Guests having a cuppa and a chat:
We had a very enjoyable day, raising awareness of ASDs with our visitors, and we raised over £90 for our branch!
We had some cakes left over when the coffee morning closed at 2 pm, and so we packed up all the leftover cakes and cupcakes and donated them to the Fyffe Centre. They were very pleased with their treats!
We had a great time!
Here's our Branch Officer, Jayne, with our Autism information display:
Here we are, ready to open the coffee morning:
One of our volunteers, helping to run the tombola:
A beautiful cake baked and decorated by Joshua, one of our branch members' son, who has ASD:
Our incredibly yummy cake stall, including a delicious-looking coffee and walnut cake donated by Heils Bakery:
Our Summer-themed raffle prize table, including a beautiful hanging basket donated by Lound Garden Centre:
Our bric-a-brac stall:
Fundraising Officer Rachel was all ready to serve the refreshments:
And we're open!
Selling cakes ...
Guests having a cuppa and a chat:
We had a very enjoyable day, raising awareness of ASDs with our visitors, and we raised over £90 for our branch!
We had some cakes left over when the coffee morning closed at 2 pm, and so we packed up all the leftover cakes and cupcakes and donated them to the Fyffe Centre. They were very pleased with their treats!
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Invitation to Annual General Meeting
Dear Branch Member,
You are warmly invited to our Annual General Meeting
In the Community Lounge at Benjamin Britten High School, Lowestoft
On Wednesday 29th June 2011 From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
It has now been twelve months since our branch was re-launched with our new Branch Officer, and therefore it is time for our Annual General Meeting. At the AGM, we elect our Branch Officer, Treasurer and Secretary for the coming year. In addition to this, the AGM is also a useful forum for members to give their feedback on the social groups and autism-friendly events hosted by the branch, and to offer their ideas for improvements and new groups and events.
During the session, we will be presenting an overview of the groups and events that the Lowestoft & North Suffolk Branch has run over the past 12 months, and what we hope to continue with and add in the future. If you would like to be more involved with the branch activities, the AGM is a good opportunity to chat to the current committee members about what is involved. Any member is very welcome to join the committee and to attend our monthly committee meetings. It is not an onerous commitment – it may be that you would just like to contribute your ideas at the meetings, or perhaps help out at some of our events. If any member is interested in joining our committee in any capacity, please contact us, preferably by e-mail, as soon as possible for further information.
Although the AGM will have a formal agenda, in accordance with National Autistic Society guidelines, we hope that it will be an informative and enjoyable day, and hope that lots of you will be able to attend. After the formal business is finished, we would like to invite you to stay for a free hot buffet lunch, to chat to each other and to the committee members for half an hour or so.
We would be very grateful if you could let us know if you will be attending by the 22nd June so that we are able to arrange catering for the AGM. Please either email us on lowestoftnorthsuffolk@nas.org or by telephoning the branch mobile on 07798882583.
Any current committee members who are unable to make it to the AGM, please either write to the Branch Officer, or email on the above address to indicate whether or not you would like to remain on the committee, then your wishes can be noted at the meeting.
Yours faithfully
Jayne Page
Branch Officer
You are warmly invited to our Annual General Meeting
In the Community Lounge at Benjamin Britten High School, Lowestoft
On Wednesday 29th June 2011 From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
It has now been twelve months since our branch was re-launched with our new Branch Officer, and therefore it is time for our Annual General Meeting. At the AGM, we elect our Branch Officer, Treasurer and Secretary for the coming year. In addition to this, the AGM is also a useful forum for members to give their feedback on the social groups and autism-friendly events hosted by the branch, and to offer their ideas for improvements and new groups and events.
During the session, we will be presenting an overview of the groups and events that the Lowestoft & North Suffolk Branch has run over the past 12 months, and what we hope to continue with and add in the future. If you would like to be more involved with the branch activities, the AGM is a good opportunity to chat to the current committee members about what is involved. Any member is very welcome to join the committee and to attend our monthly committee meetings. It is not an onerous commitment – it may be that you would just like to contribute your ideas at the meetings, or perhaps help out at some of our events. If any member is interested in joining our committee in any capacity, please contact us, preferably by e-mail, as soon as possible for further information.
Although the AGM will have a formal agenda, in accordance with National Autistic Society guidelines, we hope that it will be an informative and enjoyable day, and hope that lots of you will be able to attend. After the formal business is finished, we would like to invite you to stay for a free hot buffet lunch, to chat to each other and to the committee members for half an hour or so.
We would be very grateful if you could let us know if you will be attending by the 22nd June so that we are able to arrange catering for the AGM. Please either email us on lowestoftnorthsuffolk@nas.org or by telephoning the branch mobile on 07798882583.
Any current committee members who are unable to make it to the AGM, please either write to the Branch Officer, or email on the above address to indicate whether or not you would like to remain on the committee, then your wishes can be noted at the meeting.
Yours faithfully
Jayne Page
Branch Officer
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
An Easy Way of Helping Your Local Branch ...
Want to find out more about a really simple and free way of raising money for the Lowestoft & North Suffolk Branch of the NAS?
Well then, read on!
Our branch committee has recently discovered http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ and if you are someone who shops online at places such as Amazon, Ebay or John Lewis, then it's a really easy way of raising vital funds for our branch without having to spend an extra penny!
All you have to do is register with the site (and I'll show you just how to do that, step by step, below ...) and then when you're ready to shop online, you log into easyfundraising, go through their website to the place you wanted to shop at (for example, Amazon) and then when you pay through the site (as you normally would), then Amazon (or whoever you are shopping with) donates a percentage of the cost of the item to our branch!
It costs you nothing, and it is incredibly easy to register and to use, so why not read about how to do it and give it a try!
Step by Step instructions on how to register: Type the address http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ into your browser, and it will take you to this page ...
Can you see that 'Not registered' link?
There it is. Click that link, and you'll be taken to this page ...
Your first task is to choose which charity you'd like to support, so can you see the box which says 'Charity/Organisation'? ...
There it is. In order to find our local branch, I recommend that you type in 'National Autistic Society Lowestoft', and then click the green 'Search' button, as I've shown in the photo below ...
Once you've clicked 'Search', your browser will bring up a list of charities which have those words in the title ...
As I've pointed out below, our branch is the second charity on the list, so click to select it ...
Then you'll see our full branch name pop up in the 'Charity/Organisation' box on your page ...
Then it's time for you to fill in your details in the pink arrowed boxes below ...
I've filled in some sample details below, just to show you, and given you a sample of what to write in the 'How did you hear about us?' box ...
Next, you need to scroll down and make sure you're happy with the tick boxes ...
And then scroll down again to find the green 'Register' button ...
Click to say that you've read and agree to the terms, and then click 'Register' ...
And then you're registered! The site will now welcome you by name ...
And on the left hand side, you can see that it displays the charity you are supporting ...
And now you're ready to shop! And your next step is to find a retailer ...
As indicated by the pink arrows below, when you want to find a retailer (for example, Amazon.co.uk) you need to type the name of the retailer in the space indicated, and then click the green 'Search' button ...
Amazon then pops up in the search results ...
And so if it is the website you want, you click 'Visit Amazon' (or whichever shop you want to visit!)
Then a separate window will pop up, with your choice of website (in this case, Amazon) ...
And you shop there as normal! Then, once you have paid, Amazon (or whichever retailer) gives a portion of the cost of your purchases to our branch! Without you having to pay an extra penny!
And now you're registered, you can use the easyfundraising website as often as you like! Every time you shop online, if you like!
When you want to use easyfundraising again, you type in the address, http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/ ...
And enter your login details in the boxes indicated by the pink arrows, then click Login ...
You will then be greeted by the welcome page ...
To find the website you want to shop on, type the name of it in the box indicated by the pink arrow, and click 'Search' ...
And then when it pops up, you follow the same instructions as before, clicking to visit the website, and then shopping as normal in the window which pops up!
What an easy way to support our branch!
World Autism Awareness Day - Our Street Collection
On Saturday, to mark World Autism Awareness Day, the Lowestoft & North Suffolk Branch held a street collection in Lowestoft town centre, outside Bhs.
The weather was beautifully sunny and dry, and our display table was well stocked with sweets and biscuits, as well as lots of information on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and both local and national support for those with ASDs and their carers.
Our events board with some of our information displayed
Juliet, Julie, Jayne, Emma and Rachel took it in turns to stroll up and down the high street with their collecting tins and a tray of sweets to hand out, along with NAS flags, balloons and stickers, which were incredibly popular with all the children in town that day!
Juliet and her collecting tin
While other branch committee members stayed behind to talk to members of the public who came to look at the information we had on display and chat about ASDs.
Most of our team (Jayne, Rachel, Amber, Julie, Juliet & Rebecca)
We met quite a few families who had family members with ASDs, and who were previously unaware of our branch or of the support that we can offer, and so it was lovely to be able to meet with them and offer them our services.
Jayne (our Branch Officer) and Emma
And not only was our street collection an awareness-raising and people-reaching success, it was a financial success too, as the generous people of Lowestoft donated £91.03 in just five hours!
Fantastic!
Friday, 1 April 2011
World Autism Awareness Day
Tomorrow (April 2nd) is World Autism Awareness Day ...
In order to mark the occasion, our branch will be holding a street collection:
Where? Outside Bhs in Lowestoft Town Centre
When? 2nd April 2011
What time? From 10 am to 3 pm
We would love it if you could come along and join us, we will have lots of information available on Autism Spectrum Disorders, and plenty of collecting tins waiting for your coins (or notes!) in case you feel like donating!
We have got some great plans in the pipeline for this coming year, and in order to bring those plans to fruition and support those individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families/carers, we need vital support from you guys!
So why not come along and support your local branch, so that we can support you!
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