27th May

Families with Disabled Children Feel Unaccepted
Six out of 10 families with disabled children feel ignored by care and health professionals, according to a survey by Contact a Family.

The survey of 615 families also found that seven out of 10 families felt they are not understood or accepted by their community and six out of 10 feel that society fails to recognise their role as a carer.

Also highlighted by the families were problems getting access to services and support, such as short breaks, a key worker and childcare. Half of all families said these basic services were unavailable to them.

Contact a Family chief executive Srabani Sen said: "It is shocking that in the UK today attitudes towards disabled children, from professionals and members of the public, are among the barriers preventing families from leading ordinary lives.

"Families with disabled children have enough challenges to overcome to secure the support they need without also having to cope with prejudice and ignorance."

The charity is calling for a government campaign to raise awareness of the needs of families with disabled children. It also wants to see mandatory disability equality training for all professionals that deal with the public and schools to do more to promote disability awareness.

source: Joe Lepper, Children & Young People Now

11th May

Play Day 2009
Playday is the biggest annual play celebration in the country. On Playday each year, thousands of children take part in free play celebrations across the UK.  Playday is partly about giving children and families a great day out, but it also aims to get across some serious messages about play and children.

This year's Playday will take place on Wednesday 5th August 2009, 10.00am to 4.00pm at Thornes Park, Wakefield.  The theme is "Make Time for Play" and will involve various play opportunities and a wide range of FREE activities for children and young people.

These include: bouncy castles, DJ mixing, arts and crafts, archery, mobile roller-skate rink, straw bales, baby ballet, giant inflatable slide, climbing wall, a magician, face painting and many more!

There will also be other Playday events being held at other satellite sites on the day and during that week.

If you would like to be involved in any way or would like further information, please contact T. 01924 305506 or email information@wakefield.gov.uk.