The annual ASNA family respite weekend will take place at on the 20th – 22nd April 2012 at the  Wokefield Park hotel , near Reading. This annual short break brings carers and people living with disabilities together for mutual and spiritual support. the weekend also provides  an opportunity for carers share experiences and gain refreshing ideas from each other and from the workshops provided. Trained volunteer carers are provided to enable access to  ASNA programs for children, young people and adults with disabilities and special needs. Watch this space for more details.

ASNA is 10 years old this year! We will continue to celebrate this milestone during our Carers weekend planned for 7th – 9th October 2011. Plan to be there, it will be special. We will be blessed by the Music and worship ministry of Marilyn Baker , Kelly and Jennifer Philips,  at the  10 year black tie dinner and silent auction on the 8th October so please put the date in your diary. Bookings now closed

10 years  - ‘Connecting People, Changing Lives’

7^th – 9^th October 2011

The Oxford Belfry,

Milton Common,

Oxon, OX9 2JW

ASNA is 10 years old this year. We have a number of events planned to celebrate this milestone and we will be undertaking a numbers of research projects to establish the difference ASNA has made over the last 10 years and what still needs to be done. Events so far have included an exciting and informative training day for 40 volunteers with Act 4 and our annual family respite weekend  during the month of April. This year over 130 people attended the weekend. Great weather, company and presentations. Read the comments and feedback from delegates from this event. We are also working on the production of training resources to support volunteers and professionals supporting disabled people and their families. The week at the Christian Resource Exhibition (CRE) brought a number of new contacts for ASNA, many wanting to know more about our work and how we can provide support.

Future events  include a fundraising cycle on the 28th August 2011, SYCAF – Young carers week in Swindon 8th – 12th August and a celebratory Black Tie banquet during the Carers Weekend  7th – 9th October 2011.

Other events include disability awareness training programs around the country and the joint annual training conference for disability coordinators and those supporting people with disabilities and special needs.

On October 7th this year Premier hosted the Enabling Church Conference. A selection of top quality speakers shared their insight for disability through their own experience or that of their families, and offered their Biblical reflections on the subject. The idea was to stimulate a conversation concerning a truly Christian response to disability and disabled people, their inclusion and involvement in every aspect of Church life. Whether you missed the event, or just wanted a reminder of some of the key points, you can listen to all the brilliant talks by following this link. Enabling church resources. You will find a wealth of knowledge and information to help support your ministry in your church and community

Do you work with children and young people with disabilities?

Do you need ideas to help with your projects and programs?

ASNA will be hosting a training session from 10.45 – 3.30pm on the 20th Feb.2011 Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire.

The session will be presented in partnership with Act 4:  an educational charity working to equip adults to engage with all children. Act 4 also works to equip children to make a difference. The training day is completely free of charge to all ASNA volunteers and will cost £15.00 for non-ASNA attendees. Lunch and resources will be provided. As usual, we are able to reimburse all reasonable travelling expenses for ASNA volunteers to enable as many as possible to attend. If you would like to attend, please send an email, text or call 07768298297 no later than 6th February.

Click on the following link for the Training day programme.

For further details call ASNA training coordinator on 01491 821104. Follow this link for ASNA training 2011 booking form. Download and send to ASNA to secure a place.

ASNA in partnership with

On the 7 th October 2010, at the Friends Meeting House in Euston, London, Churches for All in partnership with Premier Radio organised its first Enabling Church Conference. Over 400 people attended this unique and inspirational event.  Speakers included Roy McCloughry author on disability issues, Malcolm Duncan inspirational conference presenter , a recorded DVD of Joni Erackson Tarda and many more presentations provided a day of learning, sharing and empowerment. Major themes coming from this event included the understanding that we are all created in the image of God and that non disabled and disabled people need to work together towards inclusive worship. Sophia Nicholls (ASNA trustee and trainer) co- presented a seminar addressing the issues experienced by Parent Carers. Recordings of seminars and key note lectures will be posted on the Churches for all website soon so keep an eye out for this resource. 

A Major conference from Churches for All & Premier Christian Radio.

ASNA is working with other disability ministries in the Church for All partnership to organise a unique conference. In the UK , there are more than 10 million adults and over 700,000 children with disabilities. Churches need to be able to involve people with disabilites in the life of the church community.

This event will broaden and deepen your thinking about disability and the engagement of disabled people with church life and equip you to make a difference in your own church situation.

The conference will take place on the 7th October 2010, at Friends meeting House, 173, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ. Standard Booking is £25 per person. Enablers accompanying disabled delegates – free. To register, follow this link  http://www.premier.org.uk/events/premierevents/enabling%20church.aspx or call 0207 316 1313

To view conference brochure and for further details about workshops, seminars and speakers click this link – Enabling Church conference program

ASNA annual Carers wekend will take place at the Oxford Belfry hotel in Thame. The weekend promises to be a relaxing, social and supportive weekend for carers undertaking daily challenges. Activities include workshops on respite and rest, access to the hotel spa and free treatments for carers!  Cost – Double occupancy £85 per person /£75 for ASNA members, Single occupancy £ 85 per person /£75 per person for ASNA members. For more information contact ASNA office or download booking form, fill it in and send to ASNA office Suite W05, Howbery Park, Benson Lane, OXON OX10 8AB.

ASNA will be presenting a disability awareness training day at the High Wycombe Adventist Church on the 19th June 2010.

Contact ASNA office for further details.

I often get phone calls from church members around disability and access. I recently received a call from a member….’I am a newly appointed disability coordinator in my church. Do you have any ideas and suggestions to get me started?’ I was able to give a number of suggestions to help get her started. I was particularly pleased to hear that she had the ‘Disability coordinators Manual’ launched in 2008 at the annual disability cocoordinators conference and that she was using it as a reference and training tool. She was finding the manual very useful as an introduction to disability issues and was even quoting references to support her passion and ideas.

This manual was developed by ASNA in partnership with the BUC as a training tool to enable and empower volunteers who support the involvement of disabled members in the life of the church. Disability coordinators also determine and address access issues and raise the awareness of the needs of disabled people with in the church. The manual was  designed in a A4 ringbinders as a resource that could be easily updated.

You can now download the Disability Coordinators Training Manual by following this link on this website! Send us an email once you have downloaded a copy and let us know how useful you find the document. If you would like a ring bound copy of the manual, please email us on info@asna.info.