Lighthouse Group Blog

One advantage of being a support group is that we have strength in numbers. Recently we have been approached by a couple of Clinical Psychologists in training at local Doctorate courses.  They would like to draw on our expertise around ADHD.  Now we would like to invite you to find out more about their aims and let us know if you would like to contribute. Eventually we should all get sight of the research findings and recommendations.  Hence it promises to be a worthy cause and should benefit others with ADHD.

One such request is from Nicholas Davies, Trainee Clinical Psychologist from the Shropshire & Staffordshire Clinical Psychology Training Programme.   He is planning to conduct some research with young people (aged between 10yrs and 17yrs) with a diagnosis of ADHD, or with parents/carers of young people with a diagnosis of ADHD, to find out about their experiences.

The research involves the young people themselves being interviewed by Nicholas – focusing on their experiences of referral to CAMHS and subsequent diagnosis and treatment.  He also hopes to discover the way they make sense of their difficulties, the understanding they develop of ADHD through their involvement with services, their thoughts about attending places like CAMHS and what they find helpful.

Nicholas has requested whether he could attend one meeting of The Ligthhouse Group, with a view to talking to a sample of parents/carers to ascertain if they, or their children, would be interested in taking part in his research.  It has already been partly approved by an NHS ethics committee.  Final ethical approval depends upon him receiving written permission from us (on behalf of other members) to attend our group to discuss it.

SO, we are seeking the general consensus regarding this request and it would be really helpful if you could let us have your views and whether or not you would be interested in attending such a meeting.

Please contact us either by email:

lighthouse.group.adhd@googlemail.com

or via our Phone Line: 007754 822288

Hi Everyone

Just to let you know that the dates of the next Lighthouse Group get togethers  between 7.30pm and 9.30pm at the Barley Mow, Milford, Stafford, ST17 OUH have now been set.  Please come and join us for a chat with other parents/carers of youngsters with ADHD.  Everyone is welcome including, friends, relatives and anyone else who is interested. 

The dates are:

Monday 1st March 2010

Tuesday 20th April 2010

Monday 10th May 2010

Monday 7th June 2010

If you would like to come along to one of these meetings but find it too daunting to join in with a group of people you don’t know, please ring us on 07754 822288 and we will try and arrange for you to meet up with someone beforehand.

We look forward to seeing you.

Best Wishes

The Lighthouse Group

Hallo everybody, and a flying start to the New Year to you all!

Issue 11 of Parents in the Know, (the newsletter published by Staffordshire Parent Partnership), has just been delivered. There is a full page spread about us and our sister organisation in Lichfield. (See page 4 if you have a copy.).   If you don’t have a copy and would like one, you can contact Parent Partnership on 01785 356921 or via spps@staffordshire.gov.uk.  Alternatively, you can view it on their website:

 http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/health/childrenandfamilycare/spps

The article explains what we do and gives a clear invitation to parents to join us, or Whits-end, for support. Here’s hoping you also take advantage of our support or come to one of our regular meetings. See our December newsletter for our next event i.e. bowling on Feb 13th. Or phone our contact number for details on 07754 822288.

 Every best wish on behalf of the committee of The Lighthouse Group.

4th January 2010 – this is the date of the next Lighthouse Group get together at the Barley Mow, Milford, Stafford, ST17 OUH at 7.30pm.  Please come and join us, chat with like-minded people, share ideas, thoughts, information and problems.  Everyone is welcome including, friends, relatives and anyone who is interested.  If you would like to come along but find it too daunting to join in with a group of people you don’t know, please ring us on 07754 822288 and we will try and arrange for you to meet up with someone beforehand. 

Saturday 13th February 2010  -  we are arranging a bowling outing with the youngsters at Tenpin, Greyfriars Place, Stafford ST16 2SD.  Why not come along and join in the fun.  If you are interested, call Ellen on 07929 953960 as soon as possible.  Again, if you are unsure about meeting up with a group of people you don’t know, please talk to Ellen.  The cost is £3 per person.

Best Wishes

The Lighthouse Group

This information from ADDISS, the large national ADHD organisation has come to our attention and we are posting it on our blog on their behalf for those who may be interested.

We are planning this year’s Christmas cards to raise much needed funds for ADDISS and to help raise awareness of ADHD.

Our cards celebrate the gifts of people who have ADHD and we are therefore inviting anyone with ADHD who has artistic talents to send us designs in for our 2009 Christmas card competition.

Please also pass this invitation on!

The winner will receive 100 cards of their design to send to family and friends.

·            Designs should have a Christmas theme

·            Artwork should be at least A4 size

·            Please avoid shiny colours/objects such as gold, silver and coloured foil in collage work as these are difficult to reproduce

·            Do not fold artwork.

On the back of your design please write your name, age (if under 18), address, title of the design and your school, if applicable.

Please send designs to:

Christmas card competition

ADDISS

2^nd Floor- Premier House

Station Road

Edgware HA8 7BJ

Any enquiries please call: 020 8952 1515 or email CathyM@addiss.co.uk

Entries should reach us by Monday 10 August 2009.

Many thanks!

Cathy Mercer

ADDISS – ADD Information Services

Premier House – 2nd Floor

112 Station Road

Edgware HA8 7BJ

020 8952 1515

www.addiss.co.uk

www.addiss-shop.com

Please note that I work part-time and so may not be able to get back to you immediately. Many thanks for your understanding.

Best Wishes

The Lighthouse Group

Our ‘Comparing Experiences’ meeting on the 28^th January was very well attended.  We were joined by members of the WHITS-END ADHD Support Group from Lichfield and a party from the Wolverhampton ADHD Group which included their ADHD nurse. 

Our thanks to the two members of staff who attended from Staffordshire Parent Partnership.  They were very helpful.  Hilary Mcfadyen, Skillshare Project Co-ordinator, took ideas from those present with a view to setting up a series of workshops deemed to be most helpful to Parents/Carers.  We decided that a Saturday would be the most suitable day and the focus would be mainly on teens and transition after school.  Another workshop focussing on relaxation and skills for parents to help youngsters relax was also discussed.  Excitingly in addition, we considered these workshops to be a potential launch pad for our parents to go out as emissaries to schools, for example, to educate staff, dinner ladies, governors and teaching assistants about ADHD.

The Wolverhampton Group proposed that we meet up in the summer for a social event and it was felt that a therapy and relaxation day for parents could be organised.   The Cannock Chase Rangers may perhaps be used as child minders – they could take the youngsters for a walk while parents were using a hut for therapy on Cannock Chase premises.  The possibility of using mature students for the therapy/ aromatherapy is being followed up.

We were also delighted to have Sara Heath from fellow ‘Pitch Your Project’ winners Autonomy with us. She gave us a lot of good ideas to follow up.   We talked about The Lighthouse Group and Autonomy joining forces in the future to urge The Chief Executive from the local Trust to address the absence of support for those with ADHD and ASD passing into Adult Services.  Concerns about this issue are already being voiced over in Shropshire.

It was thought that The Lighthouse Group could consider putting in a bid for an ADHD Nurse, as the Wolverhampton Group found theirs to be so helpful but the need to be strongly promoting specialist ADHD clinics across the patch as other areas do was of the essence.

The meeting also included a raffle and every one who came went away with at least one prize – so it was a win-win for all

A very Happy New Year to all our website visitors.  Hope it will be a prosperous one.

Our next newsletter will be due out shortly but in the meantime, here is a quick update.

We have now managed to have our new volunteer leaflets printed (In our last newsletter, we mentioned that this was pending.).  These are currently being distributed in a variety of locations likely to attract volunteers.  Plans will be made to encourage and mentor anyone who applies and we have already had our first helper come forward.  If you would like to become a volunteer for our group, we would love to hear from you.  We need help with organising events & activities for the children, help to set up and man display stands, someone to manage our book lending service and assistance with fund-raising.(Ideas especially welcome.)  There is also a need for someone willing to act as a telephone contact link and provide details about the group, people with sporting/coaching skills with time to spare during the day, someone with accountancy skills – willing to give advice, and volunteers with an enthusiasm for craft work or drama, keen to provide help/ideas suitable for the youngsters.  If you live locally and feel that you would like to help – please call Liz on 07731 320 347.

Just a quick reminder about our meeting on Wednesday 28th January at Stafford Rangers Social Club – 12.30pm – 2.00pm, (also mentioned in our last newsletter), if you are able to come, please ring Joanna Francis on 01785 259449 for further details.  This should be a very interesting event.

A survey is being carried out to collect information from parents and guardians of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to assess the level of support available. The information is sought to help:

·         to identify ways to provide better support in the future and

·         to increase awareness of the impact of ADHD on family life.

The information is being collected by Branding Science, an independent Market research company working on behalf of Shire Pharmaceuticals who are sponsoring this market research project. They are grateful to ADDISS, MK ADHD family support group and Add-up for their assistance putting them in touch with people for this study. The data from all participants is amalgamated so all the information you provide is strictly confidential and you as an individual will not be identified as having participated in this survey.This survey is being conducted in accordance with the market research code of conduct.

www.surveywisdom.com/adhd/uk

NB – if you are interested in participating please act quickly as the closing date is next week.

Hello again.

As previously mentioned on our blog, we were successful in winning the West Midlands TIMEBANK ‘Pitch Your Project’ Dragon’s Den style event in September.   On Thursday 23^rd October we were presented with our prize of £2000 by Mike Brereton, Chairman of The University Hospital of North Staffordshire at one of their special drop-in public consultation days on its plans to become a Foundation Trust.

The presentation took place at The Gatehouse Theatre in Stafford.  The media were invited for a photo opportunity and interview opportunities with the Hospital representatives who sponsored the Staffordshire Dragon’s Den event and The Lighthouse Group and an article was published by the Stafford Express and Star. 

Now we have the funding, we are raring to move ahead with our plans to develop and provide a better service.   We have formed a proper committee which will allow participants to share responsibilities, improve the performance of the group and provide a forum for examining issues in greater depth.  One of our main priorities is to attract more volunteers and we have produced a leaflet which we can now afford to have printed and this will circulated to a wide area. 

If a child in your family is affected by ADHD, please think about joining us if you can.  Our parents are very willing to share their own experiences with others in the same situation and give support.  Or, if you simply want to know more about our group please get in touch.  See contact details on our home page.  We would love to hear from you.

We are publishing these details on behalf of Lisa Baldwin who, in conjunction with Coventry University, is conducting research into the perceived benefits of Occupational Therapy for children with ADHD.  If you have a child diagnosed with ADHD aged between 7 and 15 yrs of age and he or she has received Occupational Therapy within the last 2 years please consider sparing simply 30 minutes to chat to her about your views.

Your time will allow you to discuss your child’s needs in a supportive environment and the findings of the research may help further develop services for children with ADHD.  All information is kept confidential and you can withdraw at any point.  As a thank you, a £10 shopping voucher will be given to participants.

All discussions will take place at a local community venue to you.

Refreshments will be provided.

Call Lisa on 07792673181 or email: lisabaldwin452@hotmail.com

Please reply by 15^th November 2008