What a brilliant way to kick off summer! Our summer raffle and annual Ware Duck Race were a quacking success, Lending SPACE received a very generous donation and our team travelled to London to participate in the ‘Neurodiversity in Women’ event hosted by Mastercard UK. Stay tuned for more updates as we dive into what took place at SPACE in July…
SPACE Hertfordshire join Mastercard UK event ‘Neurodiversity in Women’
Sophia Christophi from SPACE Hertfordshire, along with Anne Shreiner from Mastercard and Becca McNulty from the Autism Hub, participated in a panel discussion at the beginning of the month. They talked about the misunderstandings surrounding autism in women and girls, sharing personal experiences about growing up and receiving diagnoses later in life.
The panel was hosted and directed by Joval Aubee, Director of Product Development at Mastercard, who shared his own experiences of being a father to an autistic girl. He highlighted the importance of creating a supportive environment in the workplace by engaging with neurodivergent individuals and parent/carers. “It’s important to listen to those with first-hand experiences, take knowledge from them, and make it our duty to adapt to make things better for them.”
Sophia added “It’s great to see that a big company like Mastercard are starting to consider how to best support their neurodivergent employees, particularly autistic women who are likely to be diagnosed later on. The audience listened attentively and asked thoughtful questions and I enjoyed my first experience as a panellist.”
Did you know SPACE Hertfordshire deliver ‘Neurodiversity in the Workplace’ training? To find out more, please email: training@spaceherts.org.uk
Autumn term free workshops and courses now available for booking
We are thrilled to be running over 40 workshops in the Autumn term covering everything from understanding neurodiverse conditions to tools, strategies and practical approaches to further empower you and support your children and young people to thrive.
A quacking success
Good weather, better vibes as families flocked to Ware Lock for SPACE Hertfordshire’s Annual Ware Duck Race. In its 38th Year, this long standing event drew a quacking crowd of spectators from our local community on the day.
Nobody ducked out of the fun family entertainment on offer at the event, with families and children enjoying Hook-a-Duck which is always a big hit with all!
The race kicked off with an extremely enthusiastic (and loud!) countdown from the cheering crowd. Nicky, the SPACE Hertfordshire Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager, then cut the rope – sending the ducks splashing into the lock.
Everyone came together to cheer on the ducks, resulting in one of the fastest races due to the favourable river flow. Some ducks made a break for freedom, attempting to sail down the river with kayaks chasing after them. (Winners have been previously notified and announced on the SPACE social media channels).
Lending SPACE: Fraser Russell makes a special delivery
What a fabulous donation to receive in the run up to the summer holidays! From fidget toys to sensory gadgets – our Lending SPACE were thrilled with the new arrivals.
A huge thank you to Fraser Russell for his wonderful donation to SPACE this month.
We will be able to sell these at the fetes and fayres we attend, use them as raffle prizes and – crucially at this time of year – have them available for our children and young people who visit our Lending SPACE over the summer holidays.
Last summer we had 246 families visit us during the holidays and we know these will be a hit with everyone who comes through our doors this year! Without the support of our champions in the local community so much of what we do wouldn’t be possible. Our Lending SPACE is open as usual this summer and we look forward to seeing you all soon!
New service: Occupational Therapy Assessments
Introducing our Occupational Therapy Assessments, designed to support families through the EHCP process or help them better support their child at home and school.
Our clinical assessments, conducted by Natasha, a qualified OT specialising in paediatrics, identify
any concerns affecting daily activities such as handwriting, play, movement, balance, and self-care. Natasha brings her expertise from the NHS, local authority, and private practice to provide comprehensive 1.5 to 2-hour assessments. You’ll receive a detailed report with recommendations and a chance to discuss any questions.
The start of summer fun at SPACE
Our children and young people made waves in July, soaking up the sun with a splash-tastic day of Paddlesports alongside our friends from Herts Young Mariners. Meanwhile, another group of young sailors cruised down the Grand Union Canal on an exclusive canal boat trip hosted with Waterways Experiences. Where else to be in the summer other than by the water?!
It’s no surprise that we were extremely busy at SPACE in July when reflecting on our activities, there were over 20 events that took place!
July wasn’t just sunny days for us – our incredible young learners didn’t let the lack of sun dampen their enjoyment on the track at SPACE to Drive. We also had an enlightening session with Ranger Stu to discover fascinating facts about animals and some of our youngsters were kept active and entertained by the 17 climbing challenges at Furzefiled Leisure Centre.
The fun continued all month with Online Cooking, Wellbeing Walk in the Woods, Online Art, Parent/Carer Craft Session, Therapeutic Farming, Outdoors at The Patch, Aerial Gymnastics, Introduction to Golf, Online Art, Introduction to Fishing, Graffiti, Introduction to Roller Skating and Lego Club. Woah – that’s one fun month!
Our September events schedule has been released. Secure your tickets early and reserve your spot now...