A massive range of activities are available including rock climbing, abseiling, an assault course, caving and canoeing, all in the beautiful countryside situated between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. Why not discover who God is in a relaxed, fun and open environment? There will be main meetings and small group Bible study times including the opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics that matter to you.

Due to the nature of the holiday, all participants should have good health. Shine is being run in partnership with the Christian disability charity, Through The Roof. If you need help registering online and filling in the application form, feel free to ask a friend or carer, or phone Simon or Sarah, the holiday leaders on 0114 266 9062 or Scripture Union on 0500 856789. The site is suitable for wheelchairs but please contact the holiday leader BEFORE booking to discuss specific programme issues.

A shocking new report says that three out of every four families with a disabled child are being left isolated. Contact-a-Family – a charity supporting families with disabled children – found that 72% of these families experience anxiety, depression or breakdown, with almost half (49%) asking their GP for medication or see a counsellor.

The report says that families with disabled children experience isolation through a lack of social interaction, caused by not having the time or money to work and do normal family activities. Families also fear how people might react to them when they go out with their child. The resulting stress leads to 1 in 5 families or marriages breaking up.

Commenting on Premier Radio about the report, Tim Wood, Through the Roof’s CEO said that the government is not doing enough to help, “I know a mum on her own with a severly autistic daughter who can’t even get one night of respite a month because the council cut the number of available places.”  He hopes that Christians and churches will respond positively to the report by showing Jesus’ love and acceptance by reaching out: “It’s not rocket science – just being there for someone, to listen, pray and maybe to offer a meal or to look after siblings can be a great help.”

Through the Roof’s youth programme, Integr8, is planning to help families by offering an ‘Integr8 Encounter’ through churches to bring together young people with and without disabilites to find friendship, learn new skills and do activities together in a supportive environment.

Have you struggled with any of the issues highlighted in the report? Why not comment on our Facebook page?

You can read about the report, and listen to an excerpt from Tim’s comments on Premier news by visiting the Premier website through following this link

Photo taken from Flickr user studiostoer – see their photostream by following this link.

The first clip is a selection of short moments from Integr8’s 2011 trip to Guatemala. During the video, Alan talks about the work of Through the Roof and Integr8, there are inclusive parachute games and stories, Philippa talks a little about her own experiences, and Alice leads workshops on including disabled young people in education.

In the second clip, team member Alice leads a workshop on working with young disabled people in education as part of the 2011 Integr8 mission to Guatemala. This is just a section of the full workshop, but shows a few techniques for involving young people with a range of disabilities.

This next clip features a parachute bible story in Guatemala. Parachute bible stories teach bible stories in fun and memorable ways that are accessible to all. Great for learning stories, and as inclusive games.

The final clip demonstrates an inclusive game for use in classrooms and groups. In the first half, Integr8 team leader Alan teaches the game to teachers at the Vida y Esperanza school in Santa Lucio. In the second part, a group of students and teachers from the America Latina school take part in a game.

I am really excited about this new role as it gives me the opportunity to develop the excellent work that Tim Wood has already developed. I share the same passion as Tim has for ensuring that young disabled people are fully included in Church and Community life and that they are able to fulfil their God-given talents. I work 12 hours a week for Through the Roof — I usually work in the office on Wednesdays.

I am visually impaired and a keen sportsman, I enjoy running and have represented Great Britain in blind athletics. I now enjoy playing visually impaired tennis. I am currently the men’s national visually impaired tennis champion, a title I have held for two years in a row.

I attend St George the Martyr Church in Holborn in central London where I am actively involved in the community work of the church in the local area.

I would really like to hear your views on Integr8 and how we can develop the programme by reaching out to more young disabled people across the UK and abroad. I am currently reviewing the work that we have done so far and exploring ways in which we can take Integr8 on the road around the UK as well as online and social networking opportunities for young disabled Christians to meet and have fellowship. This is an ideal time for you to have your say on shaping the future of the Integr8 programme.

We are organising two short term mission trips to Guatemala and Uganda in July and August. In 2012 we will also be taking a mission team to Moldova. If you want to get involved with any of our mission then please do contact me at Through the Roof. My email address is alan@throughtheroof.org or contact me at our office on 01372 749955. I look forward to hearing from you all.

This is a Christian adventure holiday for young adults in their 20s and 30s, with and without physical disabilities, of any and no faith.

Shine will be a full on adventure holiday offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored to accommodate all levels of ability or disability (special facilities and equipment all provided).

A massive range of activities are available including rock climbing, abseiling, an assault course, caving and canoeing, all in the beautiful countryside situated between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.

Why not discover who God is in a relaxed, fun and open environment? There will be main meetings and small group Bible study times including the opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics that matter to you.

Our values for the holiday are to be a community that is inclusive, accessible, accepting, and where everyone is involved regardless of ability. Push back your boundaries and surprise yourself at what you can achieve with God. Learn more about yourself and others whilst meeting new people and building up confidence.

Due to the nature of the holiday, all participants should have good health.

Shine is being run in partnership with the Christian disability charity, Through The Roof.

If you need help registering online and filling in the application form, feel free to ask a friend or carer, or phone Simon or Sarah, the holiday leaders on 0114 266 9062 or Scripture Union on 0500 856789.

The site is suitable for wheelchairs but please contact the holiday leader BEFORE booking to discuss specific programme issues.

• Leader: Simon and Sarah Nicholson
  Website: Facebook Group: Shine 2011
  For more information
  Contact: Sarah Nicholson
  Tel: 0114 266 9062

Through the Roof is a small charity with a big vision to see every disabled person able to fulfil their God-given potential. Our mission is to make the Christian message accessible to all those affected by disability. One of the charity’s projects is to provide a short holiday for families struggling with the demands of caring for an autistic child. It takes place at Dalesdown, a purpose-built Christian centre based in large spacious grounds in the Sussex countryside, just south of Horsham.

We take 9 families and each is provided with a one-to-one support helper for their autistic child. The helper team is trained in autism and will cope with any challenging behaviour. Dalesdown offers both ‘time together’ as a family (including siblings of the autistic child) and ‘time out’ for the parents to relax, knowing that their children are in good hands. A key feature is the carefully structured programme of activities which includes outings, eg to the seaside and swimming pool, praise parties, adventure trail and puppet show. Families who often find it impossible to take a normal holiday appreciate our understanding and accepting attitude towards their children’s needs and behaviour. They also value the chance for fellowship with other parents in the same situation. Their comments include:

“This holiday has provided me with the most stress-free time I can remember. Our one-to-one helper was absolutely superb. Without this help I would not have considered coming without my husband; with it the whole holiday felt like an extraordinary blessing from God to us.”

“Just to say how overwhelmed I have been this week by people’s kindness and generosity. The helpers’ good attitude made a big difference to how we felt and contributed to us coming home completely rested. We have really felt loved and cared for.”

So what can you do?

• Do you have an autistic child, or do you know someone who does? If so, we are taking bookings for 2011 now and would be pleased to hear from any family with children aged between 4 and 16 who would benefit from this break.

• We need more one-to-one helpers. Their role is to get alongside the disabled young person, learn what makes them tick and facilitate their participation so that parents and siblings may also have a break. The main requirements of helpers (who must be over 18 and CRB checked) are to have a caring heart and willingness to serve, plus (preferably) a Christian faith and an abundance of energy! Experience of autism is an advantage but is not essential – we hold a Helpers’ Training Day beforehand which they would need to attend. Helpers are invited to contribute £55 towards the cost of their food, accommodation and activities. This is a real opportunity to serve God in a practical way and every helper is blessed by the experience.

We are currently looking for more helpers — please contact the office. There are still a few spaces for families on the holiday.

For more information and tariff details please contact: Margaret Bale, Administration Manager, Through the Roof on: 01372 737045 or email Margaret@throughtheroof.org .Websites you can visit: www.dalesdown.org.uk and www.throughtheroof.org .

Trip to Guatemala 2010

The team were able to encourage teachers who had received training last year, to empower them with new strategies – particularly with regard to behavioural issues of some of the children. After putting these strategies in place, one of the children who struggled with information overload (due to their autism) was able to complete a piece of school work — something they’d never been able to do before.

One of our partner organisations, Amor Del Nino, is now keen to adopt the Integr8 model and involve young Christian Guatemalan men and disabled Christians. These volunteers would connect with a group of disabled men in an institution the UK team had visited. The local team would become ‘buddies’ and provide regular activities. Integr8 was able to provide a resource bag (containing a parachute, musical instruments and balls) in to help equip this group.

In total over 300 teachers, pastors and parents were equipped to think and act inclusively and pass on the message to their communities.

Look out for further posts about the trip, complete with photos and feedback from Guatemalan delegates.