Vale Dyspraxia Support Group

January meeting

The next meeting will be on Monday 9th January 2012, 7.30 p.m. at the Civic Offices, Holton Road, Barry CF63 4RU, which will be a family get together meeting.

We are planning cinema and 10-pin bowling over the Christmas and new year holidays. At the January meeting, we hoping to organise a writing workshop for young people , "Telling our Story to Help Others".

Recent activities

Since our BBQ in August at Kymin, Penarth we have held the following speakers:

• September - Dyslexia Tutor
• October - Equalities Officer, Vale of Glamorgan Council
• November - Careers Wales
• December - Beechwood College

Also in December, Jayne Vanner, Ellen, Tony, Simon and Laura sold homemade toffee apples, toffee, popcorn, other sweets and cards to raise funds for the Group at the Dickensian Fayre, Dinas Powys (over £35, despite the torrential rain); we were also able to raise awareness of the Group.

Tony had an information stall during disability awareness week at Cardif and the Vale College. In November, Simon wrote to Estyn about the problems experienced by young people with dyspraxia and received a very positive reply. He has also written to the BMA, CAMHS and the Children's Commissioner for Wales. .

Jane Hutt and Leighton Andrews have continued to be very supportive of the Group.

We are awaiting feedback from schools about the DVD "Living with Dyspraxia". A further DVD made by Quakers in Wales featuring the Group showed how the Laptop Project runs and we are very grateful to the Macdonald family, especially Joel, to be involved in the filming.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is running a Sports and Play Extravaganza on 20th, 21st December disabled children and friends aged 6-23. Contact Simon Jones on 01446 704728 or Kirsty McRae on 01446 704816