We will be in Bamburgh on Wednesday 13 March with our annual survey. Come and meet us at Bamburgh Pavilion between 10.00am and 12.00pm and share your experiences of health and social care over the last 12 months.

You can share your thoughts and experiences as a patient or as a carer. Your feedback will help us set our work priorities for the coming year. Knowing what is important to you helps us to work more effectively on your behalf. We can also look at trends and themes year on year, seeing what has changed and what remains important to people.

You could also be in with a chance of winning one of three prizes when you take the time to tell us about your experiences.

Thank you for your support and we hope you can call in to see us.

We will be in Belford on Wednesday 13 March with our annual survey. Come and meet us at The Bell View Centre between 1.30pm and 3.00pm and share your experiences of health and social care over the last 12 months.

You can share your thoughts and experiences as a patient or as a carer. Your feedback will help us set our work priorities for the coming year. Knowing what is important to you helps us to work more effectively on your behalf. We can also look at trends and themes year on year, seeing what has changed and what remains important to people.

You could also be in with a chance of winning one of three prizes when you take the time to tell us about your experiences.

Thank you for your support and we hope you can call in to see us.

What is Disabled Access Day?

Disabled Access Day is all about trying something or somewhere new, whether that’s a local museum or gallery.  This year the event will take place on Saturday 16 March and we’d love you to get involved and visit somewhere new with your friends or family.  There are lots of exciting events, activities and offers going on across Tyne & Wear, from British Sign Language (BSL) tours to discounted entrance fees to facilitated activities.

What is Happening and Where?

The Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle

A guided tour for visually impaired people, people with physical or learning disabilities, their friends and families.  The tour will take place between 12.00pm and 1.00pm and is called Newcastle Story, which depicts the city’s history from Roman times right through to the Victorian age.

A BSL interpreted tour will take place for people with hearing loss, their friends and families between 2.00pm and 3.00pm around the Destination Tyneside Exhibition which looks at the insightful stories of people who have made Tyneside their home.

Free places for these events can be booked by calling: 0191 277 2313 or via email: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk. Places must be booked by Wednesday 13 March,

There is also a drop-in Circus themed craft session for families with children with disabilities from 11.00am to 1.00pm in the Play + Invent space.  This will include clown hats, balancing clowns, circus lights and squirting flowers. Just turn up, no booking required!

GNM:Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle

A BSL interpreted guided tour of The Natural Northumbria Gallery will take place between 11.00am and 12.00pm where you can discover what makes the North East region special in terms of the animals and plants.

A guided tour for visually impaired people, people with physical or learning disabilities, their friends and families will take place between 1.00pm and 2.00pm around The Natural Northumbria Gallery where you can discover what makes the North East region special in terms of the animals and plants.

Free places for these events can be booked by calling: 0191 277 2313 or via email: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk. Places must be booked by no later than Wednesday 13 March.

There will also be some drop-in sessions for family activities for children with disabilities.

The first session is ‘Story Time’ between 10:45am and 11.00am where you will meet the Great North Mouse and Georgina.

The second session is ‘Fishing for Clues’ between 11.00am and 12.00pm.  Using our magnetic fishing rods fish clues from our ‘pond’ to help you discover objects around the gallery.

The third session is ‘Scribbles & Sketches’ between 1.00pm and 3.00pm. This is a drawing challenge for all ages.  Pop along to Natural Northumbria Gallery to meet some of the handling collection, then have a go at drawing, tracing or colouring some of them.

This year’s In It Together Parent Carer Forum annual conference is entitled ‘Getting it Right.’ The theme is preparing for adulthood from the earliest years. The event will be of interest to all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) in Northumberland, but particularly those in Year 6 and above.

This year there will be two events in the county. You can book for the Alnwick event here.

There is also an event in Hexham at the Mart on 20 March. More details and bookings here.

For further information about the conference please contact In It Together Parent Carer Forum: info@in-it-together.org.uk or call: 07729192909.

This year’s In It Together Parent Carer Forum annual conference is entitled ‘Getting it Right.’ The theme is preparing for adulthood from the earliest years. The event will be of interest to all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) in Northumberland, but particularly those in Year 6 and above.

This year there will be two events in the county. You can book for the Hexham event here.

There is also an event in Alnwick at the Rugby Club on 19 March. More details and bookings here.

For further information about the conference please contact In It Together Parent Carer Forum: info@in-it-together.org.uk or call: 07729192909.

The first of this year’s Stepping into Spring Roadshows from Ageing Well in Northumberland kicks off in Ponteland. This is a free event for older people, packed with local organisations offering advice and information on staying well and keeping active. Call in for a cup of tea or coffee and have a chat about local events and activities, volunteering opportunities and keeping fit and healthy. The Healthwatch Northumberland team will be at this event so come and say hello and pick up a giveaway or two!

For more details about this event please email: veronica.jones@northumberland.gov.uk.