Warm Seasons Greetings and a Heartfelt Welcome to ASD Helping Hands’ Christmas Newsletter!
As we bid farewell to 2023, we’re excited to provide you with a roundup of our endeavors this year and a sneak peek into the exciting plans we have in store for the upcoming year. Inside, you’ll find valuable tips for navigating the festive season and essential contact information should you need support.
This past year has been monumental for ASD Helping Hands. As we remain dedicated to providing direct support to autistic individuals and their families, we’ve also been working collaboratively behind the scenes with the Norfolk Autism Partnership and the Norfolk Learning Disability Partnership. Together, we’re striving to implement positive changes that will profoundly impact the lives of those with a learning disability and/or autism.
While some of our signature activities, such as our conference and family residential holiday, had to take a back seat this year, we’re optimistic about their return in 2024. Additionally, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new E-Learning Platform, with more details set to unfold early next year.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who has supported our projects throughout the year. Here’s to a fantastic 2024 filled with growth, success, and continued collaboration.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours!
Best regards,
Lee Gibbons
Operations Manager at ASD Helping Hands
Certainly, 2023 has proven to be an exceptionally bustling year for us! We’ve embarked on new initiatives with Cup-O Tea Therapy Services, extending Mental Health Occupational Therapy support to numerous young individuals, and partaken in extraordinary events like SENDFEST.
Here’s a glimpse of the diverse projects we’ve engaged in throughout the year:
- Conducted Mental Health Occupational Therapy sessions in collaboration with Cup-O Tea, generously funded by the Norman Lamb Coalition for Young People.
- Orchestrated the Norfolk Lakes Residential Holiday,where 15 young people got to expirence many new activities and make lasting friendships, made possible through the support of the Norfolk Community Foundation.
- Facilitated Teen Support Groups, with assistance from the Breckland Youth Advisory Board.
- Established a Community Hot Spot with the backing of the Norfolk Community Foundation.
- Hosted Mental Health Wellbeing Art workshops, offering a creative outlet for individuals seeking support.
- Fostered Adult Social groups in partnership with Norfolk Libraries, creating inclusive and supportive spaces.
- Continued to manage the Norfolk Learning Disability Partnership and the Norfolk All Age Autism Partnership, both who are well on their way to publishing their new refreshed plans in mid 2024.
We’re proud of the strides we’ve made in these ventures, and none of it would be possible without the collaborative spirit and support we’ve received. As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2023, we eagerly anticipate the opportunities that the coming year holds.
Our Community hotspot is back for 2023/2024.
With the continually rising costs in energy prices, working with Norfolk Community Foundation, we are delighted to announce that our Hotspot is returning for 2023/2024. It will be open between December 19th, 2023, and March 28th, 2024, on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:30 and 14:00.
Please note that the Hotspot will be closed between December 23rd, 2023, and January 1st, 2024.
Christmas can be a very stressful time for all of us, and with the addition of extra plans, breaks in routine, and social expectations, autistic people can find this time extremely difficult. Check out our tips below to help support them during the Christmas period:
Looking for a new challenge in 2024?
Why not think about volunteering some of your time to support autistic people in Norfolk?
We have many opportunities open. If you are interested please email contact@asdhelpinghands.org.uk
Christmas Closing times
Our offices will be closed from 15:00 Thursday 22nd December 2023 and we will reopen on Tuesday 2nd January 2023 at 9:30am.
Support over the Christmas Period
The Christmas period can be a very difficult time for many of us, and many of our usual support mechanisms and services are not open or have limited availability. But even over Christmas, there are still places that you can go if you are feeling low or need some support. Below is a list of some of these services available over the Christmas period.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
0800 58 58 58
thecalmzone.net
Provides listening services, information and support for anyone who needs to talk, including a web chat.
CALM’s helpline and webchat are open from 5pm to midnight, every day of the year.
Combat Stress
0800 1381 619
combatstress.org.uk
Treatment and support for armed forces veterans who have mental health problems.
Combat Stress’s helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
The Compassionate Friends
0345 123 2304
tcf.org.uk
Provides support to bereaved families after the death of a child.
The Compassionate Friends helpline is open from 10am to 4pm, and 7pm to 10pm, every day of the year.
LGBT Foundation
0345 3 30 30 30
lgbt.foundation
Advice, support and information for people identifying as LGBTQ+.
The LGBT Foundation helpline is open on weekdays 9am to 9pm and weekends 10am to 5:30pm.
Men’s Advice Line
0808 801 0327
mensadviceline.org.uk
Confidential advice and support for men who have experienced domestic violence and abuse by a current or ex-partner or family member.
The Men’s Advice Line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.
MoneyHelper
0800 138 7777 (English)
0800 138 0555 (Welsh)
18001 0800 915 4622 (text relay)
moneyhelper.org.uk
Provides free and impartial money advice.
The MoneyHelper helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The helpline is closed on bank holidays.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
0808 801 0331
support@napac.org.uk
napac.org.uk
Supports adult survivors of any form of childhood abuse. Offers a helpline, email support and local services.
The NAPAC helpline is open 10am to 9pm, Monday to Thursday. And 10am to 6pm on Fridays.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline
0808 2000 247
nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Free 24-hour helpline for women who have experienced domestic abuse and violence, with all female advisors. Also offers a live chat and can help to find refuge accommodation. Run by the domestic violence charity Refuge.
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. They also have a BSL helpline available Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. And a live webchat open Monday to Friday, 3pm to 10pm.
NHS 111 (England)
111
18001 111 (text relay)
NHS 111 BSL service
111.nhs.uk
Non-emergency medical help and advice for people in England.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone)
jo@samaritans.org
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person. Samaritans also have a Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7pm–11pm every day).
Samaritans’ helplines are open every day of the year.
Shout
85258 (text SHOUT)
giveusashout.org
Confidential 24/7 text service offering support if you’re in crisis and need immediate help.
Shout are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Tommy’s
tommys.org
Information and support for people affected by stillbirth, miscarriage and premature birth.
The Trussell Trust
0808 208 2138 (Help through Hardship helpline)
trusselltrust.org
Emergency food and support for people in need. Includes a searchable list of local foodbanks.
The Help through Hardship line is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The helpline is closed on public holidays.
A massive thank you to all our supporters this year.
We couldn’t continue to do what we do without your ongoing support.
If you could help support our work, please consider donating to our cause.
All that is left for me to do for 2023 is to thank each and every one of you once again for your support, and finally, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a fruitful New Year.
Season’s Greetings,
Lee Gibbons
Operations Manager
ASD Helping Hands
