Choice Wellbeing Service CIC

28/07/2025

The Summer holidays are here… and if you’re a parent carer, you already know it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.

Let’s be real—this time of year can be hard. The routines are out the window, the days are long, and the pressure to “make magical memories” can feel overwhelming.

Just a little reminder for everyone out there trying their best:

You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.
You don’t need a packed schedule or Insta-perfect days.
You are not “less than” if your summer looks different.

Do what works for you and your child. That’s more than enough!

Whether that’s quiet days at home, the same routine on repeat, or just surviving one day at a time—you’re doing amazing.

Team CWS 🫶🏻

24/07/2025

This summer, we’re inviting children to join us to create their own story!

We want to encourage them to speak about their disability and share their experiences of their own beautifully unique world!

We want to capture a wide range of needs, from neurodivergence to physical disabilities, and will be on hand to support in any way we can.

Whether your child is non-speaking or unable to write, we can scribe or support them in creating their very own book. We will also have an illustrator at one of the sessions to support them in telling their story!

All the books will be published, and this October half term we’ll hold a special celebration where each child will receive their printed copy. Their books will also go on display across Sunderland City Libraries!

📍Where?
Rainbow Family Hub, Washington, NE37 3AE

⏰ When?
Every Friday over the six weeks holidays from
Friday 1st August - Tuesday 2nd September, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Please note - families will need to attend the first session to have their books published. Parents are also required to stay with their children at the events.

🔗 Book here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/event-details-registration/outside-the-lines-create-your-own-book-2025-08-01-13-30

Huge thanks to the Washington Area Committee Councillors for supporting this through the Washington Holiday Activities Programme!

23/07/2025

The NHS North East and Cumbria Integrated Care Board have asked used to share that they would like to hear from you if you or your child receives a prescription for any gluten-free products.

If you want to have your say, please follow the link. It’ll take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey and it’s open until 25th August 2025.

No decision has been made yet, they’re still seeking people’s views only at this stage.

Link to survey https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/nencicb/nenc-gluten-free-2025

If you have any questions, please email NENCICB.Involve@nhs.net

22/07/2025

Some amazing things happing over summer at the Youth Hub!

Check out what they’ve got going on!

☀️ Summer at the AutismAble Youth Hub 2025 !

Young people aged 14–25 with SEND are invited to a free, friendly summer of fun — lunch included!

🍳 Cook savoury meals or bake sweet treats in our new kitchen. 🚃 Ride with Travel Tribe to Tynemouth Aquarium or York’s Railway Museum. 🌿 When you need a quiet break, chill in the Sensory Studio.

🎨 Create tie-dye or diamond art, then relax at Movie Night with snacks. Join our weekly Media Marvels, Express Yourself, or Geek Café sessions 🎮. Stay all day and help crown the winning flavour in Crisp Battle 2025!

Dates and times are on the booking form; some sessions need booking while others are drop-in.

Lunch is provided for full-day activities (feel free to bring your own).

Ready to join?

Book online at https://forms.gle/5qP9fttwfEyEPXuZ8

call 07939 433 919 or email youth-hub@autismable.com.

22/07/2025

We know the parent carer life is a busy one, and people have reached out to us around getting to all sessions.

As long as you can attend the first session on the 1st August, we are flexible with the ones after that! We will also have the author from The Adventures of Compost the Cat to help us on the 8th August!

We can’t wait to see what you all create!

This summer, we’re inviting children to join us to create their own story!

We want to encourage them to speak about their disability and share their experiences of their own beautifully unique world!

We want to capture a wide range of needs, from neurodivergence to physical disabilities, and will be on hand to support in any way we can.

Whether your child is non-speaking or unable to write, we can scribe or support them in creating their very own book. We will also have an illustrator at one of the sessions to support them in telling their story!

All the books will be published, and this October half term we’ll hold a special celebration where each child will receive their printed copy. Their books will also go on display across Sunderland City Libraries!

📍Where?
Rainbow Family Hub, Washington, NE37 3AE

⏰ When?
Every Friday over the six weeks holidays from
Friday 1st August - Tuesday 2nd September, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Please note - families will need to attend each session to have their books published. Parents are also required to stay with their children at the events.

🔗 Book here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/event-details-registration/outside-the-lines-create-your-own-book-2025-08-01-13-30

Huge thanks to the Washington Area Committee Councillors for supporting this through the Washington Holiday Activities Programme!

21/07/2025

🥳 Here we go! 🥳

We are hosting our very first event and we want you to come and join us!

We want to create a space where we can come together to inspire each other, help others to navigate and champion change to women in SEND.

Whether you are looking to get back into work, start a business, volunteer, make a change or anything at all - we want to be there to help!

Join us on the 22nd July, 10:30 - 12:30pm, Room 404 in the Reg Vardy Building at the University of Sunderland where we’ll be talking more about what we want to do and how you can get involved.

If you are coming along, drop us an email to -
tracey@choicewellbeingservice.org
hayley@choicewellbeingservice.org

We can’t wait to see you there!

Team WiSinc ✌🏻

Women in SEND inc

21/07/2025

☀️The Summer Holidays are finally here! ☀️

We know the Summer holidays can be tough for parent carers - the change in routine, lack of structure, and trying to keep everyone happy (and regulated!) can feel like a lot.

If you find the holidays hard - you're definitely not alone! Let's face it, for parent carers the holidays aren't really a break for us!

We've put together some links to resources and activities to do with the kids over the Summer that will hopefully help give you a starting point for your hols and take some of the stress of away of finding things to do!

We have our children's book event - we’re inviting children to join us to create their own story! We want to encourage them to speak about their disability and share their experiences of their own beautifully unique world!

Book here - https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/whatson

Here are some organisations that have activities on throughout the summer:

The Sensory Place OPEN PAGE
Click here to book -https://www.thesensoryplace.net/book-online

Little SENDsations
Click here to book - https://www.littlesendsations.org/book-now/

Grace House North East
Click here to book - https://gracehouse.co.uk/book-activities/

Foundation of Light
Click here to book - https://foundationoflight.co.uk/news/summer-2025-programme-available-to-book/

Tailored Leisure
Click here to book - https://www.tailoredleisure.co.uk/events-1

Here are some summer activities guides that have been put together by other organisations in the North East -

Raring2go UK
Click to view their summer guide - https://raring2go.co.uk/2025/07/send-friendly-events-and-activities-summer-2025/

North East Autism Society
Click to view their summer guide -https://www.ne-as.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/sendsummeractivityguide.pdf

For help with funding and discounts, check these links out -

MAX Card - https://mymaxcard.co.uk

CEA Card - https://www.ceacard.co.uk

Kids Pass - https://www.kidspass.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18507988017&gbraid=0AAAAADuFf3L18ka6cf8ulvUo53gJvXria&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhO3DBhDkARIsANxrhTphw8px8TQOPMnpBi8uhPPl9_Rq5xtklj76g_Kt3-LOa9PGEUN2yRUaAk2SEALw_wcB

Merlin's Magic Wand - https://www.merlinsmagicwand.org

There are so many more activities out there and we know we will have missed someone! If you know of any SEND activities going on over the summer or any guides out there that you think will benefit other parent carers, please tag them below so we can share them!

We hope what we've put together can help you through the holidays and we'll still be around if you need someone to talk to.

Team CWS 🫶

19/07/2025

Everyone Active have some new sensory swim sessions coming up in the Summer Holidays!

Give them a call on 0191 526 9980 to book in and try one of these sessions for free!

16/07/2025

This summer, we’re inviting children to join us to create their own story!

We want to encourage them to speak about their disability and share their experiences of their own beautifully unique world!

We want to capture a wide range of needs, from neurodivergence to physical disabilities, and will be on hand to support in any way we can.

Whether your child is non-speaking or unable to write, we can scribe or support them in creating their very own book. We will also have an illustrator at one of the sessions to support them in telling their story!

All the books will be published, and this October half term we’ll hold a special celebration where each child will receive their printed copy. Their books will also go on display across Sunderland City Libraries!

📍Where?
Rainbow Family Hub, Washington, NE37 3AE

⏰ When?
Every Friday over the six weeks holidays from
Friday 1st August - Tuesday 2nd September, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Please note - families will need to attend each session to have their books published. Parents are also required to stay with their children at the events.

🔗 Book here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/event-details-registration/outside-the-lines-create-your-own-book-2025-08-01-13-30

Huge thanks to the Washington Area Committee Councillors for supporting this through the Washington Holiday Activities Programme!

11/07/2025

This summer, we’re inviting children to join us in creating their own children's book so they can share their experiences of their disability or additional needs by telling their story in their own words or pictures.

We want to capture a wide range of needs, from neurodivergence to physical disabilities, and will be on hand to support in any way we can. Whether your child is non-speaking or unable to write, we can scribe or support them in creating their very own book. We will also have an illustrator at one of the sessions to support them in telling their story!

All the books will be published, and this October half term we’ll hold a special celebration where each child will receive their printed copy. Their books will also go on display across Sunderland City Libraries!

📍Where ? Rainbow Family Hub, Washington, NE37 3AE
⏰ When? Every Friday over the six weeks holidays from Friday 1st August - Friday 5th September, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Please note - families will need to attend each session to have their books published. Parents are also required to stay with their children at the events.

🔗 Book here: https://www.choicewellbeingservice.org/event-details-registration/outside-the-lines-create-your-own-book-2025-08-01-13-30

Huge thanks to the Washington Area Committee Councillors for supporting this through the Washington Holiday Activities Programme!

10/07/2025

Another busy one!

Today we visited Richard Avenue Primary school for the first time, after being invited by the amazing Healthy Heads team!

It was so nice to see some faces we hadn't seen before and give our more of our SEND in Sunderland packs!

Thank you to the staff for having us along and to the parent carers who dropped by visit us!

Team CWS 🫶

09/07/2025

Today, alongside South Tyneside Parent Carer Forum, we hosted our very first SEND in South Tyneside Networking event.

It was so nice to see so many people come along to see what it was all about and how we can support each other in the SEND community.

If you’d like to sign up for the next one, please contact the South Tyneside Forum at info@stpcf.org