Latest updates from the learning disability and autism information hub

Book now for Managing My Health event 20 June 2025

Surrey People Group are working together with Proactive Community and Include on an event during learning disability week. It is taking place on 20 June at Woodhatch Place, Reigate.

The event is for people with learning disabilities and will include workshops, a marketplace, and refreshments.

The event is supported by Aviva.

Date: 20 June 2025

Time: 10am to 3.30pm

Where: Woodhatch Place, Reigate, RH2 8EF

The event is to provide accessible information and skills for adults with learning disabilities focused on managing your health.

Free entry, food and refreshments provided.

Places are limited, so please Book Now.


Wheel of Engagement podcast

Campaign 4 Change is an online podcast series where people with learning disabilities and autistic people talk about different topics.

Campaign 4 Change is a self advocacy and peer advocacy group where members campaign and stand up for their rights. On their most recent episode of the podcast series they spoke to Gary Bourlet from Learning Disability England about the Good Lives Manifesto.


Family and carers NHS survey

The Learning Disability Improvement Standards were introduced by NHS England in 2018.

To meet the standards, hospitals need to make sure the rights of people with a learning disability, autistic and their families are respected and they are meaningfully involved in their own care.

The NHS have put together a survey to see if hospitals are meeting the right standards for people. This survey is for family and carers. They want to hear from relatives and family carers of people who have used a hospital service in the last year.

See NHS England Learning Disability Improvement Standards family and carer survey.

When: Thursday 15 May 9.30am to 4pm

Where: Horley Baptist Church, 289 Court Lodge Road, Horley, RH6 8RG

Cost: £15 per person


Get more active update

New strength and balance classes in Horley and Merstham on Fridays. These are gentle exercise classes to help you feel stronger and steadier, improve your balance and increase your confidence for everyday activities.

They are run by the YMCA and only cost £2 (card payments only). There's a chance to socialise over a cuppa afterwards!

Horley

Where: Tesco Extra (Community Room), Reigate Road, Hookwood, Horley, RH6 0AT

Time: 9.45am to 10.30am

Merstham

Where: Merstham Community Hub, 2b Portland Drive, Merstham RH1 3HY

Time: 12pm to 12.45pm

To find out more:

Email: paris.breedan-west@ymcaeastssurrey.org.uk

Telephone: 01737 779 979


Repeat prescriptions only order what you need

Pharmacists and GPs across Surrey Heartlands are asking people to only order the medicines they need from their repeat prescriptions. Unused medicines cost the NHS around £300 million every year and a large amount of medicine items are wasted.

When medicines are wasted, they cannot be reused or recycled, and this adds to pollution and harms wildlife.

Here's how you can help:

Before you order medicines:

check what you already have at home

medicines on repeat prescriptions stay on your list, you do not need to order everything every time

Only order the medicines you need right now:

  • keep your medicines in one safe place
  • stay organised
  • about 7 to 10 days before your prescription is due, check what you need to reorder

When you collect medicines:

  • check the bag before you leave the pharmacy
  • if there's something in there that you do not need, give it back

If you go to hospital:

  • take your medicines with you
  • ask about changes
  • when you leave, check if your medicines are different and take home only what you need

Remember if you have any questions, you can always speak to your local pharmacist. To find out more about medicines waste on the NHS Surrey Heartlands website.


Breast screening saves lives

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in England, the chance of getting breast cancer increases as you get older.

Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to spot a cancer that is too small to feel or see yourself – it saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK.

Anyone registered with a GP as female aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years. You will automatically get your first invite for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53. You will get a letter in the post inviting you.

Finding cancer early can make it more likely that treatment will be successful. Breast screening can detect cancer long before you can even feel it. Or more likely, put your mind at rest.

So when you are invited, save the date, it could save your life.

Search 'NHS breast screening' to find out more.

Easy read resources and videos are available on the learning disability and autism hub.


Moving and handling training for direct payment and personal health budget holders

Surrey Independent Living Charity (SILC) has a limited number of fully funded face-to-face Moving and Handling training sessions available to book for people who get direct payment or personal health budget to train their personal Assistants (PA). It is an opportunity for people to have a trainer visit their home and train their PAs on the correct procedures for safe moving and handling, bespoke to the individual and using the equipment in their home.

In these sessions, PA's will learn about safe moving and handling techniques at the individual's home and using their own equipment. Practitioners and social care teams can also refer clients for this training.

All enquiries must be made before the end of March 2025 to get this fully funded training and is available to book with SILC by:

Email: training@surreyilc.org.uk

Telephone: 01483 458 111


Supported Loving toolkit update

Supported Loving's toolkit for staff and carers has been updated. It contains all you need to support people around sex, relationships and sexuality including new pages and resources.


Relaxed Cinema in Godalming

The Film Society has established Relaxed Cinema in Godalming to show films in the Wilfrid Noyce Centre in Godalming.

This is for film lovers that can't access cinema in the local multiplex to see films on a large screen in an environment that suits them. The screenings are run entirely by volunteers and free to enter. Voluntary donations to help cover the costs are


Surrey Choices Community Meals and Community Fridge

Surrey Choices are supporting anyone struggling with food insecurity in Redhill. They are launching a monthly Community Meal on the last Wednesday of the month. Everyone from the local community is welcome to attend. Booking is essential to make sure there is enough hot food!

Time: 1:30pm to 3:00pm

Where: 49 Holland Close, Redhill, RH1 1HT

To book your place:

Phone: 07709 100 324

The Community Fridge is open on Wednesday and Thursday each week from 10:00am to 12:00pm.


Calling all voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in Surrey

We are building an asset network to bring together local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations. This is all about connecting, collaborating and making a bigger impact for Surrey residents.

Why sign up?

  • meet like-minded groups working on similar goals
  • stay in the loop with council-led updates on grants, funding and training
  • discover opportunities to partner up, learn and grow

Recently, we have shared information about employment and adult social care grants and sustainable business training—and more is on the way! It only takes 10 minutes to sign up to the asset network.

If you are not sure if you've already joined, you can email communitiesandpreventionprojects@surreycc.gov.uk to check.


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