Louise Tait-Simpson

Louise’s Online Raffle For Ava

Louise is grandma to Ava, who has been attending SNAPS sessions since October. Louise decided to hold an online raffle to support SNAPS, and she and her friends and family raised an incredible £2,775.50 in seven days! We are so grateful to everyone who supported Louise and the raffle – THANK YOU!!!

Ava Rose

Here is Louise’s story:

“I am nannie to Ava, who is 2.5 years old. Ava was diagnosed with cerebral palsy over a year ago when she struggled with her walking. This was a MASSIVE shock. Ava’s parents ,Joe (my son) and Nicola, had no idea her difficult birth had resulted in Ava getting brain damage. They had no support in place at all and found they were asking questions but were not getting answers, advice or information from hospitals and doctors.

“We have a very close family friend who accesses SNAPS at Penny Field with her son and family. She suggested we went to meet the group on a Saturday morning.

“Dean greeted us and from that moment on, we became part of the SNAPS family. That first visit filled us with every emotion: happiness, joy and sadness, as we realised we were now a ‘special’ family’,  but there was something for us and Ava. Nicola was immediately cocooned by the wonderful lady who started the group, and began to offer emotional and practical support.

“As the weeks went by, Ava met new friends, enjoyed new activities, started rebound therapy and had a hydro session. 

Raffle prizes

We felt to fundraise a few ‘quid’ would help with teas and coffees and the Christmas party. We live in Tadcaster, a small brewery town, and when friends heard we were fundraising ONLY eight days ago they started to offer prizes such as a free MOT, free plumbing, beauty/ hair vouchers, champagne, wine, a dog hamper, dog walking sessions, meals, cleaning hampers, hand made wall art, dog training sessions and a signed rugby ball.

“Friends and family started donating and it grew and grew soon over the £500 mark. We decided to have a raffle draw in the local pub and hoped to fill the snaps donation tin up…unfortunately this all stopped due to Covid-19. We soon changed plans and had close family to do the draw at Ava’s house. We did a live Facebook stream so that everyone could watch from their homes.

“We ended up raising £2785 ( inc gift aid and inc cash). This was amazing from our little town. Gifts were delivered and left on doorsteps so it’s been like Christmas in Tadcaster for a number of people!

“The response was amazing during this extraordinary life changing time. It was so easy to fundraise via social media and we were so surprised how easy it was to use the Virgin Money Giving site. It was all done whilst doing my full time job from my phone.

“Everyone is at home at the moment and it’s an ideal time to raise awareness of children with extra special needs and what charities like SNAPS provide. It was great to get the children involved making up the hamper and then bringing a bit of joy to people who are having to stay inside.”

In isolation – Creative therapeutic ideas for families

Helpful advice for our families, with links to websites and apps for art therapy, breathing exercises, meditation and children’s yoga.


Click here for more information

SNAPS Physiotherapy advice during COVID 19 pandemic


During the pandemic whilst you are unable to access the usual SNAPS physiotherapy activities you may find your child is stiffer or more uncomfortable. The following are tips to keep you going over the next few weeks.
Click here for more information.

SNAPS Craft Packs

We have created some craft packs/activities for you all to do as a family during these times of isolation. Keeping the children entertained is important and we hope you enjoy using our downloadable craft ideas with your family.

Blank Lego Template
Blank Rainbow Scene Template
Elmer Colouring Page
Hand & Footprint Template
Pin the Tail on the Bunny
SSKA Certificate

SENDIASS Social Media accounts

Find them on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Search “LeedsSENDIASS”

  • Share information, advice and support (IAS) on a range of SEND topics
  • Promote SEND news and events
  • Provide our new support resources
  • Listen to your feedback about our IAS offer
  • Signpost to other SEND services, groups and organisations You can also click on the link to access the new Leeds SENDIASS website and explore our Information, advice and support online.

Please contact the project team if you need any further information at: sendiassproject@leeds.gov.uk

FREE Dance and Yoga Courses for Children with Special Needs

Synergy Dance Outreach has just launched a diverse programme of 174 online dance and yoga classes, including lessons for those with a disability, long term health conditions, Visually Impaired/Blind, Special Needs and older adults.  Their National platform is in partnership with EMD UK and Sport England and the classes are free as they are funded by The National Lottery for this project using the Tackling Inequalities Fund.

The dance and yoga programmes are for all ages including seated ParaStars Dance™, and ParaStars Yoga®, audio yoga & dance and more, all via an easily accessible national online platform. There is a lot of content for children – and they are also supporting adults and seniors.

You can view their online promo video here: https://youtu.be/JkCI0yaMN2A

The lessons are innovative and fun and tailored to each type of group. The platform includes courses for: children, teens, adults and seniors – who may choose from a wide range of activities and courses to keep fit, social and active:

Special Needs including Autism & Cerebral Palsy
Visually Impaired and Blind
The Disability Community
Long Term Health Conditions
Seniors

Here is the link to the platform of free classes: https://inclusive-dance-yoga.teachable.com/

Debt and Benefits Support Covid-19 Response Service Launches in Leeds

Specialist emergency HM Government funding from The Office for Civil Society, part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund has been approved for Burmantofts Community Projects Charity; The Money Buddies Covid-19 Response Project for six months from October to 31 March 2021.

The aim of the funding is to support the work of Money Buddies and Benefit Buddies at a time when more people are in debt and claiming benefits as a result of COVID-19. The service is free to access and use. Clients can access Money Buddies- Benefit Buddies as often as they need. Jobs are being lost at a high rate and this is likely to accelerate through Autumn, leaving 670,000 households in the UK in poverty according to recent research.

As a result of this funding the Money Buddies -Benefit Buddies team will be supporting clients in a number of ways – including;

Emergency Debt advice and Financial Well-being support and guidance
By providing; legal emergency debt advice, where clients are faced with eviction, home repossession, Bailiff and enforcement action, energy disconnection and court action for non- payment of debts. Advisers will help clients; fill in forms, complete household budgets, complete financial statements for creditors, write letters to creditors, safely report loan sharks and as part of income maximisation support do a benefit entitlement check.

Benefits Support and Guidance
The advisers will support clients with completing ALL Benefit applications, including Universal Credit, Personal Independent Payment forms and Employment Support Allowance applications, managing cases to payment of benefits, liaising with the DWP, attending meetings with work coaches and providing support by attending assessments, appeals and tribunals.

Energy Advice
All clients will be offered an Energy advice appointment with our new sister service Money Buddies Energy PLUS, who will go deeper with clients to find out how their homes can be made more energy efficient, save money on Energy and have free energy saving items fitted where possible.

How to Access Money Buddies- Benefit Buddies
Clients can call NOW for an appointment, have telephone, video meetings and home visits as well as receive support by e-mail and via webchat.

Will the Service Continue Past March 2021?
We hope so, which will be dependent on funding.

For more information please contact Lynda Bailey on 0113 2350276

The William Merritt Centre – Sensory Needs Survey

The William Merritt Centre in Leeds is looking to find out explore how their Centre can support clients and their families who have sensory needs. In order to identify if this is a service that is required and if so what type of support is required they are trying to understand what support is already provided and if there are any gaps.

If any of our families our like to help, please download the questionnaire and send it back to info@wmdlc.org

Link to questionnaire here.

Free Courses – Including Understanding Autism, Behaviour that Challenges, and Mental Health Problems

We would like to update you with the latest FREE courses we have available including Understanding Autism, Behaviour that Challenges, and Mental Health Problems. For those of you that have enrolled onto FREE courses with us in the past, you will know we are a Yorkshire-based organisation that specialises in placing people onto FREE training courses nationally. For those that haven’t enrolled onto a course with us please feel free to find out more about us on our website www.wefindanylearner.co.uk or call our friendly team on 01226 958 888.

With more and more people working from home and self-isolating, it has created an opportunity to further develop skills, enhance CPD, and gain a nationally recognised Level 2 qualification without paying a penny.

Places are limited but thanks to even more government funding we are now able to offer a wider range of FREE courses – Yep, totally free!

To be eligible, you just need to be:

* Over 19
* Living in England
* Not on an Apprenticeship

Simply click on the link below to start your enrolment today or call our friendly team on 01226 958 888.

www.wefindanylearner.com/book-online/

With over 30 courses available there is something for everyone.

Football instructor helping a young boy with his gloves

Volunteer Football Coach Vacancy

SNAPS is on the lookout for a volunteer football coach to join our fantastic team from September 2021!

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