Do you know (or are you) a young person who would like to do practical work overseas? More than 2500 young people have the chance to spend 10 weeks overseas following a successful bid by Christian Aid.

The charity has won government support to give a taste of practical development work to young people. The scheme begins in April 08 and lasts for three years. Applicants must be between 18 and 25 on the date of departure. The initial target countries are South Africa, Ghana, Cambodia and possibly Peru. India and Malawi will be added as the project progresses. Young people will attend a one-day pre-trip briefing and a three-day post-trip debriefing. Afterwards they will be encouraged to share their experiences in their local community.

Application packs should be ready from March 08. In the meantime, please contact Eldred Willey at the Norwich Christian Aid office, email: ewilley@christian-aid.org, tel:01603 620051.

Any young person interested and needing support with the application can contact Gordon Keable at the AEA offices. Tel: 01603 598941.

Asperger East Anglia Thursday, 3rd April 2008 between 3.00 - 6.00pm

As you will be aware Asperger East Anglia has recently moved to new offices at the Charing Cross Centre in central Norwich.

Staff at the office warmly invite AEA members to ‘drop in' to see the new facilities and meet some of the staff team. Come along anytime between 3.00 and 6.00pm on the 3rd April – tea/coffee and biscuits available. This is an ideal opportunity to ‘catch-up' on developments or ask any questions on an individual or organisational basis.

We look forward to seeing you on the 3rd April. To help with organisation needs please contact Gordon at the office if you intend to come along or if you have any queries. Tel: 01603 598941 or email: gordon@asperger.org.uk

Smart Kids OK

7 Enterprise Court, Gapton Hall Rd, Gt Yarmouth. Email: autisticway@smartkids-ok.org Tel: 01493 442123.
Smart Kids OK offers play sessions to give respite to families who have a child on the Autistic Spectrum. They support the whole family.

Olympic Aspirations

Joseph Kirton is 14 yrs old and has Asperger syndrome and ADHD. He attends the Thetford support group. He started Thetford athletics club last May and is doing really well with his running. He took part in the 5k road race in December at the Norfolk showground and came 24th. He has qualified to run for Norfolk in March at the Intercounties and World trials. He has just won the Suffolk League winter Cross Country series where you have to run at least 5 out of 6 races to qualify. Joseph ran all 6. A couple of weeks ago he ran at Parliament Hill in London and came 203rd out of 497 starters. He will be running at Alton towers at the end of February at the Nationals and in Edinburgh at the end of March in the 5k Welcome the World road race before the World cross country championships.

Joseph started at the New Eccles Hall School in September and with the help and support from school and the athletics club he is doing really well. This has really boosted his confidence and self esteem which was extremely low before. It also helps use any excess energy. This week he ran for his school at the Independent schools cross country and just missed out on going to the Nationals (he came 11th and needed to be in the top 10 - he was beaten on the line).

I just wanted to let other people know that children like Joseph can succeed if they try hard enough and with the right support and encouragement.
His aim is to run a marathon and to be in the 2012 Olympics - it's great to have a dream and ambition!!!!!

Ann Kirton

SEN and the Law Workshop
The National Autistic Society on 9th April at The William Burt Centre, West Winch from 7.00pm to 9.30pm

Sinclairs Solicitors of Panarth who are leading experts in educational law, are providing a workshop in West Norfolk for parents of children with Special Educational Needs. The purpose of the workshop is to help raise parental awareness of their rights in this very difficult area of the law. There will be a question and answer session and information will be provided to help parents through the statementing process. Parents are encouraged to bring any papers and statements with them so that they can seek advice. Bullying, home tuition, exclusion and disability issues will also be discussed. The workshop is free to all parents.

To book a place please contact Leanne Richardson, Tel: 01553 660224, email: nas.wnorfolk@googlemail.com

We are missing a large number of Library Books. If you have borrowed any books from our library, could you please check that you have returned them if you no longer need them so that other members can take advantage of our excellent Library.