News and stories | Together Trust

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Marie's story: I faced pressure to move

15 April 2021 - 2:00pm

Marie spoke to us about her time in unregulated accommodation before moving to the Together Trust and her experience of moving to independence.

I was in and out of emergency placements because they couldn’t find anywhere to place me, so my social worker took me to a caravan in Preston, which called a crisis placement. She said I would be there for 28 days, but I was there for 12 weeks and 3 days. The whole time I didn’t see any of my friends, I didn’t go to school, I didn’t see anyone.

Johnny's story: the staff are like my family

13 April 2021 - 5:30pm

Johnny was in our care 15 years ago. We spoke to him about his relationships with staff and how they have made an impact on his life.

I was in several different care homes before I came to the Together Trust, once there I met a lot of amazing staff who took great pride in their work and certain staff members made a difference for me. They didn’t know it at the time, and nor did I, but they were influencing my future.

Meet Coco – our pupils’ best friend

1 April 2021 - 4:15pm

To help celebrate World Autism Awareness Day 2021, 2 April, and raise awareness, we would like to introduce one of our pupils’ favourite staff members at our specialist school, Inscape House School - Coco. A gorgeous Shih Tzu support dog who has been an invaluable member of the transitions team since 2019.

At Inscape House School, we break down barriers to learning for children with autism, and we support young people from Year 1 to Year 14.

Autism awareness: ableism, language and misconceptions

29 March 2021 - 12:00pm

World Autism Awareness Week this year starts today, Monday, 29 March and runs through to Sunday, 4 April. It is a global campaign to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance of autism. Emily Lees, an autistic Speech and Language Therapist at Inscape House School, is helping us understand autism and pro-neurodiversity approaches better.

A group of animated characters doing an Easter egg hunt

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Easter appeal

24 March 2021 - 3:30pm

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our Virtual Easter appeal this year.

We were overwhelmed with the generous donations from our supporters and local community for our Easter appeal. Your support has ensured that the young people and adults we support will receive a chocolate treat or gift over the Easter holidays.

Disbelief after Lords debate on unregulated accommodation

24 March 2021 - 12:30pm

We like Article 39, Become, the Care Leavers Association and many others are in disbelief that the clear evidence on the isolation and risk that young people face in unregulated accommodation is being ignored.

Living as an atypical in a typical world with Katy Bartzis

19 March 2021 - 9:00am

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is recognised between 15 - 21 March this year and it aims to celebrate and raise awareness around neurological variations such as autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and others.

Bridge College Parent/Carer Forum - Mental Wellness and Wellbeing

15 March 2021 - 4:45pm

At Bridge College we love to catch up with the parents/carers of our students. During this unprecedented time, we understand that sometimes we need to take some time out to focus on our mental wellness and wellbeing. Parents/carers were invited to come along to our virtual forum on 3rd March to do just that and to also use the opportunity to meet each other.

A woman sat in wheelchair talking to a man sat on a sofa

Share your memories of the Together Trust

15 March 2021 - 11:00am

Are you interested in local history? Would you enjoy learning a new skill and helping to preserve people’s stories and experiences?

As part of the Together Trust’s 150th anniversary celebrations, we are looking for volunteers to take part in an Oral Histories Project.

A dressed table with easter decorations and cakes

Bridge students' Easter themed cakes and decorations for competition

3 March 2021 - 5:15pm

Students across Bridge College took part in a hospitality skills competition last week. The task was to set up a table for an Easter-themed afternoon tea for two. The competition tested the competitor's knowledge and skills in health and safety, accountability for events and creativity in designing a themed event.

A branded banner image with the text "Virtual Easter appeal" and an illustration of people easter egg hunting

Launching our Virtual Easter Appeal

1 March 2021 - 12:00pm

Each year we run our annual easter appeal, where we ask people from our local community to donate chocolate eggs to the people we support. This year, due to the impact of Covid-19 and local restrictions, we need your help to raise money to ensure we can provide treats for the people we support this Easter.

Not all of the young people we support are able to have chocolates or edible treats, so we want to ensure we have alternative gifts available as well as the traditional chocolate eggs.

Census support materials for adults with special educational needs and disabilities

26 February 2021 - 9:30am

The next Census is taking place on 21 March 2021 but what is different about it is that the Census will be digital for the first time, and people will be encouraged to fill it out online. The Census is required by law, and in early March, households will receive a letter with a unique online access code, allowing them to take part in the Census.

Because of this, we have put together a bunch of support materials to support young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities and prepare them for the upcoming Census on 21 March:

Bridge College celebrates Chinese New Year

24 February 2021 - 2:45pm

2021 is a year of the Ox, starting from 12 February 2021 (Chinese Lunar New Year Day) and lasts until 31 January 2022. The new year, also known in China as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. This means the date changes from year to year.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Bridge College students spent the week finding out about Chinese culture, traditions and Pangu (a being in mythology).

£4000s worth of IT equipment donated by The Federation of School Lodges

23 February 2021 - 3:30pm

We were delighted to receive a very generous donation of laptops, worth £4,000, from The Federation of School Lodges to aid students from our educational settings with their remote learning.

Government lets down thousands of children

20 February 2021 - 12:45pm

On Friday 19 February, the government announced that there will be new legislation to ban placements in unregulated homes for under 16s from September 2021 and Ofsted will have new powers to enforce action against illegal unregister providers. However, it will not regulate independent and semi-independent accommodation for children in care and care leavers aged 16 and 17 years-old.

Quote from the open Statement from Disabled People’s Organisations and Allies - February 2021

COVID-19 and the Rights of Disabled People

19 February 2021 - 11:00am

Open Statement from Disabled People’s Organisations and Allies

Coronavirus has hit disabled people hard. 60% of deaths from coronavirus have been those of Disabled People.

Letter to Gavin Williamson

18 February 2021 - 11:00am

We have written to Gavin Williamson to raise our concerns about the consultation process of the children's social care review

Phil and Callum* - fostering with the Together Trust

16 February 2021 - 5:30pm

Phil and Cullum have been fostering with us for over seven years ago and have cared for about 20 children. They spoke to us about celebrating diversity and the joys of fostering.

Tara: Surviving the care system

16 February 2021 - 4:30pm

Tara* is in our care and has written a piece about her experiences and what she has learnt in the hope it will help other young people in care.

Mark Lee chief executive of the Together Trust

Statement in response to DNR orders for people with learning disabilities

16 February 2021 - 1:30pm

People with learning disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the news at the weekend about DNR orders has highlighted just how far this goes. We, like Mencap, would like to see this group prioritised for the vaccine rollout.