Chat Away Coffee Club celebrate their 1st Birthday

On 16 September 2011 Donna James and Claire Williamson met each other for the 1st time, who would have guessed that 12 months on they would be celebrating the 1st birthday of their support group, Chat Away Coffee Club!  Chat Away Coffee Club is a support group for carers of children living with Autism, ADHD or behavioural problems, whether they have been diagnosed or are being assessed.

Funkystars, Abergele, gave an amazing display of their morris dancing talents on the day and Angela Bayliss very kindly donated her time to do face painting for all the children. Everyone that attended the party had a great time. 

Donna James said "In the past 12 months we have met so many wonderful families and have enjoyed lots of different activities with all the children, as well as raising awareness of these amazing Abilities, we are hoping that the next 12 months will see us achieving Charity status as well as expanding further and starting a new Chat Away Coffee Club in Colwyn Bay :)

Currently, Chat Away Coffee Club hold weekly sessions, during term time, each Wednesday at Eirianfa, Factory Place, Denbigh from 9.30am until 12.00pm and each Friday at The Oak Tree Centre, Rhyl from 12.30pm until 2.30pm. 

Monthly family sessions also take place at both Eirianfa, Denbigh and The Oak Tree Centre, Rhyl which the whole family is invited to, for further details please contact Chat Away Coffee Club via our website: www.chatawaycoffeeclub.org, email: cacc@live.co.uk or by phone: 07799 848270.

Chat Away Coffee Club Events 2012

On Sunday 30th September 2012 we are taking part in our final stage of our 'How FAR will you go for Autism and ADHD Snowdon walk'.  T Shirts are available for collection from our Denbigh and Rhyl group meetings this week or will be available from 10.00am on the morning of 30th September at the meeting point. If anyone has problems with transport please contact Donna on the details below.

Mr Hugh Rowlands, of Hue Photography, has kindly donated a framed photograph of Snowdon peak; this is to be awarded to the person who has collected the most sponsorship monies for this event.

If anyone would like to make a donation to our group you can do so either by visiting our website: www.chatawaycoffeeclub.org or via our email address: cacc@live.co.uk using Paypal.

Weekly groups

Friday 28th October

Louise Davies, Education Advisor, NAS, will be attending our Rhyl group as a guest speaker.

Wednesday 3rd October

Winnie Lawson, Benefits Advisor with CAB, will be attending our Denbigh group as a guest speaker.

Friday 5th October

Pauline, from NAS will be attending our Rhyl group as a guest speaker.

Friday 12th October

Winnie Lawson, Benefits Advisor with CAB, will be attending our Rhyl group as a guest speaker.

Wednesday 17th October

Iona, NEWCIS, will be attending our Denbigh group as a guest speaker to discuss life skills available via NEWCIS.

Friday 19th October

We are very happy that Mr Geoff Evans will be attending our Rhyl group as a guest speaker.

Wednesday 24 October

Yvonne Brookes, Afasic Cymru, will be attending our Denbigh group as a guest speaker.

Please note there will be no Rhyl group on Friday 26 October as Andrew's school is closed for a staff training day.

School opens again on Monday 5 November 2012 so sessions will re-commence then.

As always during term time weekly sessions take place each Wednesday at Eirianfa, Factory Place, Denbigh from 9.30am until 12.30pm and each Friday at The Oak Tree Centre, Ffordd Las, Rhyl from 12.30pm until 2.30pm.

Family sessions

Saturday 6 October from 1.00pm until 3.00pm we have organised for our children to go wall climbing at Prestatyn Leisure Centre.  If you would like to attend this event please contact Donna urgently.

Saturday 3 November family sessions will commence at Eirianfa, Factory Place, Denbigh from 10.00am until 12.00pm, we will be doing Arts & Crafts :)

Rhyl's family session venue is to be confirmed but we are hoping this will also be on the 3 November from 1.00pm until 3.00pm.

Courses

Friday 26 October 2012 - 9.30am until 12.00pm - The Beaches Hotel, Prestatyn, Sex, Relationships and Learning Disabilities, organised by MENCAP we have provisionally booked 5 places for this, Cerys, Ceri and Heather have booked places therefore there are 2 places left.  If anyone would like to attend please contact Donna urgently.

Friday 26 October 2012 - 9.30am until 3.00pm - Faenol Fawr Hotel, Bodelwyddan, Afasic Cymru have organised a seminar with Maggie Johnson, there is a cost for this seminar of £15.00 per person, however, both Claire and I have booked places but are unable to attend due to childcare, if anyone would like to attend in our places, lunch is included, please contact Donna urgently.

Day trips

We are organising a trip to Crocky Trails on Monday 29 October 2012, if anyone would like to attend please contact Donna.  Please note that places are being allocated firstly to families who attend our weekly and/or monthly sessions regularly, emails will be sent to the people who have been allocated a place on this trip by 22 October.

For more information please contact Donna James on 07799 848270, or by email on cacc@live.co.uk.

Free Textile and Craft Taster Course

Location: Capel Seion, Denbigh

Date: Thurs, 27th September

Time: 12.30 am – 2.30 pm

For more information please contact;

Eirwyn Jones on 01492 546666 ext 537, or on 07545926921.

Tidy Wales Week Events 2012

The following is a link to all of Tidy Wales' events throughout Wales this year (2012).

Tidy Wales Week Events 2012

For more information please contact the organisers directly for more information about time, date, location and meeting place.

Employment and Support Allowance claims by telephone

Jobcentre Plus is looking at ways to encourage Employment and Support Allowance claimants, who are able to use the telephone, to make claims using this method instead of completing paper-based forms. This is part of DWP’s aim to give people a modern and efficient service.

The results of a recent survey showed that claimants are happy to make a phone call to request a form. However, in many cases, they do not want to continue the call and make a claim at the same time.

Yet there are many advantages for people making a claim over the telephone:

• Can call the claim line (0800 055 6688) for free from BT landlines. Some mobile phone operators also do not charge for the calls.
• Will speak to someone at DWP who will go through the application, fill out the claim form, give advice and answer questions.
• Are given advice when extra evidence is needed to process the claim. This helps to reduce delays.
• Are sent a copy of the completed form, so they can check that the information is accurate.
• Have their expectations managed, including being told about what will happen next with their claim.

Universal Jobmatch

A new service will give access to job opportunities

In late autumn 2012, DWP will launch Universal Jobmatch, a new online job posting and matching service. This new, streamlined service aims to become one of the largest job websites in the UK and will be available to everyone.

New technology will help speed-up the recruitment process for both employers and jobseekers, by automatically matching jobseekers’ skills in their CVs to employers’ jobs.

Employers will be able to:

• Self-serve and post their jobs online anytime.
• Receive a list of suitable jobseekers for the jobs they are advertising.
• Invite jobseekers to apply for their jobs online.

Jobseekers will be able to:

• Look for jobs anytime, anywhere, using a PC or smartphone.
• Create a CV that attracts employers.
• Be automatically matched to suitable jobs.

Jobcentre Plus advisers will provide support to benefit claimants to help improve their CVs, to help them better represent their skills and ensure good matches with jobs, so they can compete effectively.

DWP aims to provide an intuitive, engaging and easy to use service to increase the number of users and jobs posted.

The new service is available in both English and Welsh.

Employers will access Universal Jobmatch via Business Link, Business Gateway or Business Wales.