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W hat is Family P.A.C.C? Family PACC sessions are currently held at First Step on Tuesday mornings and funded by Children in Need. Learning through play at First Step Developed to support children with social communication delays and their parents/carers, the sessions incorporate learning techniques which can be used at home. Debbie Bennet, Playroom Leader; “Family PACC provides a welcoming and non judgmental environment for parents and their children. The children are encouraged to learn through play, socially interact with their peers and participate in activities to increase their concentration. Parents can meet those experiencing similar situations and provide peer support”. First Step’s team provide advice, information and guidance to help empower parents to utilise strategies and mirror techniques which can help away from the session. “There are currently 28 children registered to attend Family PACC. It is our largest group and continues to grow. Some of the children attending Family PACC will transition into full PACC sessions. These are regulated by Ofsted and provide a very targeted environment for the children to continue their development”, NEWS….NEWS…..NEWS…. Until late January, First Step is the Bader Grant Recipient of the Month. The Douglas Bader Foundation has generously supported First Step and we are very grateful for their commitment. Learn more by visiting their website at www.douglasbaderfoundation.com. _____________________________________ We are delighted to announce our friends at The Mercury Mall Shopping Centre Romford and Romford McDonald’s will be continuing their support of First Step in 2019. THANK YOU! _____________________________________ We would like to thank our partners at Grove & Dean Insurance and everyone who voted for First Step in the Aviva Community Fund. We can confirm First Step is a FINALIST ! The winner to be announced in January 2019.
Our friends at the Romford Recorder featured this story in their 16th November <strong>2018</strong> edition (April Roach) The mother of a three-year-old with a rare genetic condition described a Hornchurch charity that supports youngsters with disabilities and special needs as “their shoulder to cry on”. We spoke with the Crampton family whose son Carter, has been attending sessions and events at the charity for more than three years. Emma Crampton, found out about First Step through a support worker who was helping the family after her son began having seizures two days after his birth. Carter with Father Christmas at First Step “Carter was in and out of Queen’s Hospital and the Great Ormond Street Hospital for the first two years of his life,” said Emma. “We had lots of support from the hospital, but we needed to be able to go out and socialise with other people. With Carter it can sometimes be quite awkward going to regular children groups.” Carter has a condition known as KCNQ2. It’s a rare condition linked to epilepsy and children who have the condition often have some degree of developmental impairment after their diagnosis. Emma told the Recorder: “Carter used to go to a family session at First Step. I was able to also take his brother along to play with him which was really nice. It was also good to meet other families and children that are in a similar situation to us. “In the holidays they provide activities for children and siblings to take part in activities like biscuit making and arts and crafts. First Step used to offer massages and counselling sessions. There is no other place in the borough like them and they’re always really helpful if we need advice.” Since discovering First Step, Carter has enjoyed spending time in their special sensory room and their preschool activities which have been preparing him to start school next year in September. Speaking about starting school, Emma said: “I’m quite worried, because we’ve always had First Step’s support. “They’ve been so wonderful that we go to a new school, we’re definitely going to miss them.” The mother-of-three added: “I feel like as they have got to know Carter so well, they know what his strengths are and are able to anticipate his needs. “When we pull up in the car park, Carter always recognises that we’re at First Step and he starts smiling. “They are just so understanding and they really are a shoulder to cry on. They will help you in anyway they can. “He knows all of the ladies there, especially Debbie Bennett.” Emma noted that more needs to be done in Havering in terms of accessibility for families and children with special needs and disabilities. She said: “I have major issues when I’m taking Carter out for the day. Some places still don’t have disabled toilets big enough for me and him to use. Whereas everything at First Step is so well thought-out to meet our needs. Before we went [to the charity] I was quite apprehensive, but when we arrived it was such a happy place to be. The other parents were all in the same position as us and I’ve got a really good friendship group from there. I don’t know what we would have done without First Step.” Mark, Carter, Ollie, Finley and mum Emma Baby Carter Cater with his brothers Finley and Ollie
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Winter_2018_FINAL.02

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