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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.

Tips and ideas to look after your mental health during COVID-19

15 February 2021 - 10:45am

Like the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19), infectious disease outbreaks can be unsettling and impact the state of both our physical and mental health. While it is important to stay informed, we can also do things to support and manage our wellbeing during such times.

In the resource below, we have put together a comprehensive wellbeing guide to help you and your family look after their your health during the current pandemic and lockdown.

I want to see more support for young care experienced mothers

12 February 2021 - 4:00pm

Stacey was in our care 11 years ago. We’ve been speaking to her about her experiences after leaving care at 16 and what support she wants to see for young care experienced mothers.

A Bridge College student sat at a table smiling at a member of teaching staff

Manchester Parent Carer Forum Surveys

12 February 2021 - 11:15am

Each year, the Parent Carer Forum carry out a survey of the views of parents/carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Being an apprentice at the Together Trust: You’re never too old to learn

12 February 2021 - 11:00am

It’s National Apprenticeship Week this week. The annual event highlights the work being done by employers and apprentices across the UK. We had a chat with Mandy Conduit, Learning and Development Advisor at the Together Trust to tell us how we future proof our workforce through apprenticeships and the fantastic opportunities we have to upskill, regardless of whether you are at the beginning or more established in your career.

What I want to see from the Children's Social Care Review

5 February 2021 - 3:00pm

Jakeb has been talking to us about what he wants to see from the Independent Children’s Social Care Review. Over the coming weeks we’ll be sharing Jakeb’s reflections on his care experience and his ambitions for the review.

Vaccination visual support materials for people with communication difficulties

2 February 2021 - 4:00pm

With the UK's vaccination programme in full swing and the government aiming to offer the vaccine to 15 million people by mid-February, those most at risk will be shortly, or potentially already be going through the process of getting vaccinated. Further news has now reported that everyone on the GP learning disability register should be prioritised for a Covid vaccine.

Our services going above and beyond to offer full-time support

30 January 2021 - 12:00pm

Over the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, staff members at one of our short breaks home, Meridian, have gone above and beyond to look after our young people and help a family in need of extra support during the lockdown.

Bridge College collaborates with LuxAI to develop QT Robot software

28 January 2021 - 4:00pm

Bridge College is excited to announce they have a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with LuxAI to develop robotic software. QT the Robot is designed to remove barriers to learning for students with autism and provides innovative opportunities for students to learn new skills.

Task planner for autistic young people

26 January 2021 - 9:15am

The ability to organise, sequence and prioritise helps young people to plan their activities and manage their time effectively. However, some autistic people may find this difficult. As many students are learning at home, without the support of their usual school staff and resources, we have found some students asking for help to organise their schoolwork.

Emily Lees: what it is like to be an autistic speech and language therapist

25 January 2021 - 8:00am

Emily Lees is a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) at one of our specialist schools, Inscape House School. However, what makes her stand out is that Emily shares the same diagnosis as the young people she works with. We had a chat with Emily about how being autistic complements her in the workplace, job interviews and her mission to change society's approach to autistic people.

Our commitment to addressing inequality

20 January 2021 - 9:00am

In the UK there has been a strong critique of the voluntary and community sector. Charity So White has highlighted institutional racism and challenged the sector to question whether it can say it is demonstrating best practice.

The evidence is clear that much has yet to be done.