SANDWELL ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE

Chief Executive Parpinder K Dhatt is participating in the YMCA Sleep Easy and sleeping rough for one night.

If you would like to support Poppy please log onto her donation site at:

http://my.artezglobal.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=343470&langPref=en-CA

The event takes place on the weekend of the 2nd March 2012 and we will let you know how Poppy gets on! Keep warm Poppy!

SAFSS have signed up to Just Text Giving with vodafone, please support our charity by donating via text message. All donations will be gratefully received and will help us to provide the best service possible to our families.

Text:   SAFS10 and the amount you wish to donate to 70070

A big `thank you` goes  out to the Sandwell Community Payback team who were supervised by  Andy Mitchell  for supporting SAFSS with the decorating of  our new activity rooms. 

 The team have done a wonderful job and this could not have been achieved without the help of `Wickes` DIY stores for their donation of decorating materials. We would like to extend a further big `thank you` to Wickes in Handsworth and Lichfield.

 The decoration of the activity rooms has created a warm and inviting environment for all of SAFSS children, young people and adults.  A member of the adults group, Jaspreet said` I like this room, it`s nice I like to play football and games on the computer`

Santa Dave kindly made a visit to the Out of School Club during their Christmas  party. The children had a fantastic time and were very happy to see Santa who gave them some lovley presents. We would like to say a special `thank you` to Santa Dave for the visit and hope to see him again next year!  Thank you also to Irwin Mitchell Solicitors who donated the presents.

 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year  from everyone at SAFSS.

SAFSS in partnership with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors are hosting a Health Awareness Day on Sunday 22nd Janaury 2012, please come and support us at Guru Har Rai Gurdwara in West Bromwich,  for further information see attached flyer  PI2049-P-SAFSS Health Awareness Day

It was party time at SAFSS when Paul, one of our adult service users celebrated his 26th birthday with his friends at SAFSS!

A big birthday cake, party food and drinks were generously donated by Paul’s mum and the whole group got ready to party.  Dancing shoes and party outfits were put on and the group danced the day away to all their favourite party music.

An enjoyable day was had by all. Happy birthday Paul from everyone at SAFSS.

 For further information about our services for adults with disabilities please contact Arathi Nahar on (0121) 558 2198 or email adults.safss@btconnect.com

One of our adults took part in the Special Olympics Athletics competition at the Alexander Stadium .

Cheered on by his friends from the SAFSS adults group, Jagdeep won an amazing two medals.  He won a Silver medal for second place in the 50 kilometer sprint and a fantastic Gold medal for winning the Soft Ball competition! 

 This was a memorable experience for Jagdeep and  his friends at SAFSS. The event was a great opportunity to experience and feel the atmosphere within the stadium and to  get involved with future competitions run by the Special Olympics.

The event also supported the groups interest in having fun, playing sports,  learning life long skills and  maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Congratulations to Jagdeep!

 For further information about our services for adults with disabilities, please contact Arathi Nahar at SAFSS on 0121 558 2198 or email adults.safss@btconnect.com

Fantasic news that our volunteer, Sanjiv Verma, has made it through to the second round of nominations to carry the Olympic Flame during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.

Nominated for his commitment and contribution to SAFSS and to the local voluntary sector, Sanjiv has a 1 in 14 chance of being successful. Sanjiv is committed to his volunteering and to the difference he makes to the lives of people with disabilities in Sandwell. We have our fingers crossed that he has his “moment to shine” and is recognised for the enormous contribution he has made to Sandwell.

The results are announced in December 2011. Good Luck Sanjiv, from everyone at SAFSS!

Our Chief Executive Parpinder K Dhatt was interviewd on RaajFM today. Parpinder talked about our range of services for children, young people and adults who have a disability, life limiting or life threatening condition.

If you have heard Parpinder’s interview and would like to find out more about our services, and how we could support your family please contact us on (0121) 558 2198 or pop in to our centre in Smethwick. We are located on the first floor ASRA Building, Fenton Street, Smethwick.

SAFSS have recently supported the work of Birmingham Sands by providing volunteers and free transport.

Birmingham Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, donates Precious Memory Boxes to 7 hospitals in Birmingham and the Black Country. The boxes are given to bereaved parents to enable them to start creating memories of their babies life. Each box contains two teddies, a hand knitted blanket,cards,  poems, information leaflets and a disposable camera. Birmingham Sands relies on volunteers to distribute these boxes and to provide transport.

SAFSS Chief Executive Parpinder Dhatt donated the use of our minibus and a driver to enable Birmingham Sands to move the important keepsake boxes. She said:

 ”As a charity SAFSS is committed to working in partnership with, and supporting other local organisations. All organisations who work with families know the impact that losing a child can have. I am pleased that SAFSS were able to support Birmingham Sands in this way. “

Ritu Sharma  from Birmingham Sands said “Voluntary organsiations working together is really important and SAFSS moving our Precious Memory Boxes really helped us. We are all in the same boat and we are very grateful to SAFSS for supporting us.

Birmingham Sands offers support to families whenever a baby dies. The organisation also works with professionals to improve the quality of care and services offered to bereaved parents and to promote research and changes in practice that could help reduce the loss of babies’ lives.

For further information about Birmingham Sands please email  birminghamsands@btinternet.com or contact the helpline on (07709) 425001