Read the  ASNA 10 year celebration newletter and annual report here.

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.

Due to the current weather warnings the Challenging Behaviour training on 5th February at the Oxford Barcelo Hotel, has been postponed till 25th March. Further details to follow.

On the 5th February, the SEC Disability Ministry department will host a one day training day at the Oxford Barcelo Hotel, starting at 10.00am. Reaching out to people with challenging behaviour will be the topic of discussion and training. For more information, contact ASNA.

The 5th Annual National Disability Conference took place on the 19th November at the Oxford Spires Hotel. Great day for training. Workshops included understanding mental illness, Supporting people with disabilities in the life of the church, Creative Ministries, The Bible and Disability. What did delegates say about the training?

“It was good having the ribbon session.  It reminded me and highlighted that these ideas are transferable into different areas.”

Watch the creative ministries workshop here.

ASNA and the BUC will host the 5th Disability Conference for Disability Coordinators, volunteers, church leaders and anyone interested in supporting people with disabilities in the life of the church. The conference will take place on the 13th November 2011 at the Oxford Four Pillars hotel, Abingdon Road, Oxford. Registration at 10.00am for an 11am start. Cost £30.00per person. For further details call  Dawn Tompkins at the  BUC office 01923 672251. Please call for booking form.

Great sunshine, fun, water fights and new friendships formed at the annual ASNA young Carers week. Twelve young people attended this event held at PGL Swindon. Activities ranged from Quad biking, zip wire, canoeing, mountain biking, Aeroball, Archery and much much more. Four volunteer youth workers attended to support the event. PGL staff provided the onsite activities while the volunteers, provided pastoral & emotional supports and discussion workshops. The young people found the week ‘enjoyable’, ‘gets better every year’, ‘made new friends’ ‘ learnt a lot about myself during my time here’.

Continue to pray for the many young carers in the UK. There are an estimated 175,000 young carers in the UK (Census 2001). ASNA Young Carers project – Bright Futures – aims to provide a place where young carers and siblings of disabled children can came away from their caring and have some time for themselves with other young carers. We have found this project provides young carers and siblings with emotional and spiritual support. If you would like to make a donation towards this or other ASNA project, please follow this link and give through our Big Give site.

https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/donate/donate.php?charity_id=6657%22

For more photo, check out the ASNA facebook page. Follow this link.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.155460067873662.41201.139643056122030&type=1

We did it! 12 cyclists braved the inclement weather on the 28th August 2011 to cycled a total of 119 miles through the challenging but beautiful deer spotted  terrain of Richmond park in Surrey. This event saw the launch of ‘CYCLE 4 ASNA’ – a fundraising and family fun day project organised to raise awareness of and funds for ASNA in celebration of our 10th year anniversary. Thanks to all our supporters we are hoping to raise over £1000 for the charity from this event. Thanks to Tony Clairmont, (father of two young children with disabilities) and his team for organizing this event. You can send your donations to the ASNA office – Windrush Innovation Centre, Howbery Park, Benson Lane, OX10 8BA by cheque made payable to ASNA or online donations can be made by following this link below.

https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/donate/donate.php?charity_id=6657%22

Like father Like son

Over 10,000 people attended the Christian Resource Exhibition (CRE) 2011. ASNA attended again this year as an associate partner of the churches for all Zone. Seven christian disability charities provided advice, resources and workshops all based around the theme of More than Gold in line with the coming olympics. Sophia Nicholls presented  workshops on supporting carers as well as manning the ASNA stand along with Caroline Kamara and Trudy Young. We were pleased to meet so many new contacts who were interested in reaching to people living with disabilities and special needs. Follow this link to see CRE photos. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150255209574051.337978.627004050&type=1

Supporting people living with disabilities and special needs involves enabling volunteers to feel empowered to provide effective services  for disabled people. This was the aim of the ASNA volunteer training day held at the Oxford Belfry Hotel in Oxfordshire in March 2011. 43 volunteers attended this interactive and unique training day each learning new skills which will enable them to support disabled children and their families. ACT 4 an educational charity provided the training. Its great to hear that since the training, volunteers based in the north of the country have implemented ideas and programs to support people with disabilities in their community.

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