There was a prompt conference start at 1000 the next morning, with various speakers and lectures, one of whom was Jackie Waters from the PWSA UK, until lunchtime.  After lunch everyone was allocated to a group for workgroups.  These were invaluable; Gayle chose Social Skills and Empathy whilst David was in Nutrition, Weight and Exercise.  These continued until 6pm at which time there was a break until the whole group went out for a meal to a large restaurant which was also a brewery.  This was in a great location by the side of a lake.

The next morning there was another prompt start, this time at 0900, back to the workgroups until coffee break.  After this there was a lecture before and directly after lunch, with the second workgroup starting at 1415.  This time David was on Development of a PWS Curricula for Staff, and Gayle on Sensory Integration.  At 1800, the groups finished and everyone was treated to a cultural evening with good food and local music and young dancers giving a wonderful display.

The next morning the start was 0900 (it is believed that there may have been a few people with headaches!) where workshops were completed and then two further lectures prior to lunch.

Due to flight times, Gayle and David had to leave directly after lunch to get back to Munich airport for their flight, but it is true to say that the conference was a great success, with many new ideas for New Directions to discuss and implement as and where appropriate.

The next IPWSO conference will, of course, be in Cambridge, so we hope to send a much larger contingent to this event, including some of the people with PWS living in our services.

It was the only good day weather wise of the week, with the sun shining down on a large group of people who had been invited, plus the staff and service users from Friary.

It is indeed a wonderful new facility that they now have, and it was a pleasure to be invited, especially so as both Josh and Anthony attend the project on Friday’s.

The MP for Hastings & Rye, Amber Rudd, cut the red ribbon and she was then happy to have a photo with Josh and Anthony.

It was a lovely afternoon, so thank you Friary Gardeners.

For all those who receive the PWSA instant news, you will probably already be aware of this conference at which we do have to work hard (so it is not just a ‘jolly’).  There are lectures and workshops which cover many of the topics so frequently discussed in the PW world.

For those of you with a keen eye, you will have seen that the first day of this conference is a bank holiday (well not in Germany!), David and Gayle will fly out on Sunday evening and return late on the Wednesday evening.

Full report and hopefully some pictures after 7^th May.

2 weeks has now gone since we opened the doors at Bishops Gate.  The two ladies who moved in have settled and report that they are happy. 

The outcome of the planning permission application for the day service cabin should be known in the next 10 days, so fingers crossed for that.  All is ready is we get the green light, the cabin has been identified, the builder is ready to get going to put in the foundations and then build the cabin and the electricians have the cable ready for connection.

We are still purchasing items for day services as we find out what type of things the young ladies like to do, and it seems that they are looking forward to having a permanent base with good amounts of storage so that a big order can be placed for goods.

Pottery, computer club, gym, trampolining and the other external activities have all been tried and tested with good reports that these are enjoyed.

The next person to move into Bishops Gate will be a young man who is transferring from Bishops Way to Bishops Gate, and he is moving on 28^th April after having been away with

his family, so he left to go away from Bishops Way, and returns to Bishops Gate. 

After that, we have a young lady moving to the home on or around 14^th May, she is from

East Sussex, but has been living in a service which was out of county for a while.

We also are reasonably confident that funding is going to be approved for two young men, we hope that we will hear about this in the next 3 - 4 weeks, and that they will then be able to come along and choose their rooms (both have visited the home) and work when they will be moving in, both young men are keen to move and are looking forward to having a firm date to work toward.

Three other families visited during the day two from the London area one from Hampshire. Two are waiting to here if a place has been agreed for them and one is to start the process. Much discussion around PWS issues were exchanged.

By the end of the week both service users had enjoyed many activities, including Gym trampolining and attending the computer club.

There will be a further resident moving by the end of the month, he had his placement confirmed yesterday.

Following on from our earlier article about the Hastings Half Marathon, Rebecca Selby has written her account of the day.  We hope you enjoy reading it……..

After months of preparing for the Hastings half marathon Keith White and support worker Rebecca Selby finally took part in the event.  Both were nervous beforehand but soon settled into the race.  After a lengthy 3 hrs, finally the finish line was in sight with fellow service users and staff waiting to congratulate them.  Keith raised money for St Michaels’ hospice, whilst Rebecca raised money for PWSA.  Well done Keith and Rebecca!!!

Also running in the half marathon were Teresa and Sanchia from the management team and Sharna who is a senior support worker at Bishops Corner.  They didn’t beat Keith, but had agreed to half walk and half run the marathon.  Very well done ladies.  Pictures are at the half way point.

We went down the night before the conference and stayed at the Hilton Hotel Newport where the conference was held. All of us met up with Katie who is on the advisory Board and her Mum and Dad. Susan the new Chief Executive of the PWSA was there and following a meeting of the Advisory board all enjoyed a great meal followed by socialising in the bar.

Next day the conference was held. It was a full progamme with a very high standard of speakers. They all delivered topics of great interest to all and answered many questions afterwards. There were workshops with feedback afterwards. The day concluding at around 4:30pm.

A very full and interesting two days away were had by all with us arriving back in Hastings just after 10pm.

A very warm thank you to Ludlow Street Healthcare for organising this fantastic event.

David Palmer and Sanchia Lowe set off yesterday (20^th March 2012) with Lizzie, Gregg and Josh to attend a conference in Newport, Wales run by the PWSA.