South West CANN for Parent/Carers

31/05/2026

🧁 JIGSAW ThornburyJune Café for the Community! ☕

Looking for a lovely spot to grab a cuppa and a sweet treat? Come along and support some brilliant young people at our special JIGSAW June Café for the Community!

This month, you can meet some of our dedicated team of staff and volunteers to find out more about the impact JIGSAW has for our members and the wider community.

Best of all, our wonderful Youth Volunteers will be on hand to serve you with a smile! 🥰

What’s on offer:
☕ Tea, coffee, herbal teas, and comforting hot chocolate
🥤 Refreshing cold soft drinks
🍰 A delicious selection of cakes and sweet treats

Everything is available for a small donation, with all proceeds going directly towards supporting JIGSAW Thornbury’s vital events and services.

We would absolutely love to see you there! 💙

✨ Learn more about our work: www.jigsawthornbury.org.uk

30/05/2026

Welcome to new members The Movement Centre

At The Movement Centre, they provide specialist paediatric physiotherapy for children with movement difficulties. They are proud to specialise in Targeted Training, an evidence-based and life-changing therapy designed to help children and young people with movement disorders including Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, acquired brain injuries and genetic disorders.

Through a structured course of therapy, children can develop new physical skills, develop strength, and improve postural control, leading to improved independence and confidence; changes that can have a profound and lasting impact on daily life.

They offer a fully-funded 12 month course of physiotherapy, with check-ins in person with our expert team and ongoing support and guidance so that therapy can be carried out safely and effectively at home.

30/05/2026

🌟 Upcoming Online Events with Changing Faces 🌟

We are delighted to share two upcoming online sessions designed to offer support, practical advice, and a space to connect with others. Whether you are looking for practical guidance or a supportive community discussion, we would love for you to join us.

Here is what is coming up:

1️⃣ Skin Camouflage, Vitiligo and You Webinar
📅 Date: Thursday 2nd July

⏰ Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm

In partnership with our friends at The Vitiligo Society, we are running a dedicated webinar exploring skin camouflage options for people living with vitiligo, alongside the wider support available.

You will receive expert, practical advice on:

How to find the best skin camouflage products for your individual needs.

Tips and techniques on how to apply them.

Where to access further resources, information, and guidance.

👉 Register for the webinar here: https://us.list-manage.com/OYwOx0W8z8w?e=b55a8b2d12&c2id=7a5938db938a0420a8ae0c8cc11fd184

2️⃣ Finding Belonging as an LGBTQIA+ Person with a Visible Difference (18+)
📅 Date: Thursday 25th June

⏰ Time: 12.00pm – 1.00pm

Finding genuine belonging as an LGBTQIA+ person with a visible difference can sometimes feel incredibly tough. To celebrate Pride month, we are hosting an online discussion group to bring together individuals who may feel isolated or face challenges with acceptance.

By connecting and talking with others who truly understand the intersection of both communities, we hope to empower you and ensure your voice is heard.

⚠️ Please note: Places for this discussion group are strictly limited to ensure a safe, supportive environment.

👉 Register for the discussion group here: https://us.list-manage.com/10chwab_r3L?e=b55a8b2d12&c2id=7a5938db938a0420a8ae0c8cc11fd184

Both events are completely free to attend, but registration is essential. Click the links above to secure your spot today! 💙

28/05/2026

🦸 Calling all Budding Legends! Join Team WheelPower 🦸

Are you ready to find your inner superhero? We are looking for "budding legends" to join Team WheelPower at Dorney Lake for the Superhero Tri Series powered by MARVEL!

This is a fantastic, high-energy triathlon-style challenge that focuses entirely on fun, participation, and building confidence. Whether you want to fly solo or grab your friends and family for a team relay, it is all about getting active and having a "super" day out.

The Details:
📅 Date: Saturday 15 August 2026
📍 Location: Dorney Lake, Windsor
🏁 The Challenge: A mix of swimming, cycling, and pushing/running.

Why join Team WheelPower?
WheelPower has 6 charity places up for grabs! This is the perfect goal to keep you motivated and moving this summer. The course at Eton Dorney is ideal for wheelchair users as it is all on a flat, tarmac surface.

Who can join?
Everyone is welcome! All we ask is that solo entrants, or at least one person in every team, considers themselves to have a disability of any kind. You can walk, wheel, run, or anything in between.

🔗 Find out more and sign up for one of our charity places here: https://www.wheelpower.org.uk/events/superhero-tri-powered-by-marvel/

28/05/2026

Last chance to book: Caring Matters – Carers Week event

There’s still time to join us for Caring Matters, our free Carers Week event—but not for long. If you’ve been thinking about coming along, this is your final chance to secure your place.

📍 Greenway Centre, Doncaster Rd, Bristol BS10 5PY
📅 Thursday 11 June
⏰ 9:00am – 2:30pm

This special event brings carers together in a welcoming space to focus on health and wellbeing. This year’s programme features a range of sessions designed to support you in looking after yourself as well as the person you care for—from practical advice and expert insights to ideas for managing the everyday challenges of caring.

You’ll be able to choose from a variety of sessions, explore local support, and take some valuable time out for yourself. It’s also a chance to connect with other carers, share experiences if you’d like to, and feel part of a wider community that understands.

Spaces are limited and booking is closing soon, so don’t miss your chance to be part of it.

👉 Book your free place now

Join Carers Support Bristol & South Glos for a free event with practical info & support on health and wellbeing for carers.

28/05/2026

🚴‍♂️ Get Ready for the Tour De Sense 2026! 🚴‍♀️

Our friends at the charity are bringing back their incredible, inclusive celebration of the iconic Tour de France! Tour De Sense is designed specifically for disabled people with complex needs, their families, and supporters to team up and cycle as far as possible.

Last year was amazing—75 people collectively cycled for 35 hours, covering over 350 miles (the equivalent of cycling all the way from Birmingham to the Tour de France finish line in Paris!).

This year, with brand new sponsors Decathlon on board, they want to go even further. Whether you want to join in-person, virtually, or remotely, everyone can play a part!

🗓️ When
4 July – 26 July 2026

🚲 How you can get involved:
Attend a local adapted cycling event (more details coming soon!)

Use hand or foot pedals at home or in your local service (if you need equipment, get in touch with them!)

Hop on a gym bike * Go for a spin out in your local community

✨ Need some inspiration? Meet Jack!
Jack, from Sense Hub Caerphilly, absolutely loved taking part last year. Because of his medication, Jack can often feel very sleepy during the day and disengage from activities. But the moment he got onto the bike, he completely lit up—smiling, laughing, and cycling for over 90 minutes across the month!

📝 How to Sign Up
Ready to clock up some miles? Complete the short registration form here to get your tracking info and full support:
🔗 https://www.sense.org.uk/our-services/activities-for-disabled-people/sport/tour-de-sense-cycling-challenge

📞 Questions?
If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out directly to the Sense team at [email protected].

Let’s get behind this brilliant event and see how far we can go this July! 🙌

An inclusive celebration of the iconic Tour De France, for disabled people with complex needs and supporters.

26/05/2026

DSUK/PADS Toilet Training Programme

Tuesday 30th June | 12.00 pm

June Rogers MBE worked as a Specialist Children’s Bladder & Bowel Nurse for over 35 years. With a special interest in children with Down syndrome, June has presented and published widely as well as winning several Awards for her work, including an MBE in 1997. More recently she won the 2024 BJN Continence Nurse of the Year. Working at a National level June was involved in several NHRI studies, NHS working groups and NICE Guidelines and Quality Standards, including Childhood Constipation. June is currently working with DSUK Positive About Down syndrome (PADS) developing resources and supporting families to manage continence problems more effectively.

In this session June will introduce DSUK/PADS Toilet Training Programme designed for children with Down syndrome.

Note: To sign up, please ensure you tick the box of the upcoming webinar before completing and submitting your details.

Register for the June Webinar here:

We are delighted to advise that PADS offers free informal monthly lunchtime webinars, aimed at supporting and training all healthcare professionals around best practices to improve the maternity experience of parents of a baby with Down syndrome.  

26/05/2026

🎓 STEP into Further and Higher Education Interactive Online Series

Thomas Pocklington Trust is hosting monthly peer sessions specifically for blind and partially sighted students to help them navigate the transition into further or higher education. If you know any students who may be interested, please share the details below:

🗓️ Upcoming Online Sessions
Sessions take place via Microsoft Teams from 6pm – 7pm.

STEP into Further Education: Wednesday 1st July 2026 – Getting Organised and Preparing for Your Next Chapter.

STEP into Higher Education: Thursday 2nd July 2026 – Preparing for Your Next Chapter.

📝 How to Register
Event links will be sent out closer to the session dates after registration.

Register here: https://www.pocklington.org.uk/education/engage-with-us/student-transitions/

Discover our programme of events to support your transitions through education as a blind or partially sighted student, the topics of these sessions, and how to register.

22/05/2026