Motorvate would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Motorvate have spaces available in the new blocks of the Sports Therapy Groups which start on Thursday 7th January and run for 6 weeks.  There are three spaces available in  group 1 and five spaces in the  group 2.

Group 1 from 4.15 – 4.55  is aimed at children aged between 5 and 10 approximately with a diagnosed developmental delay. This group addresses motor skills difficulties whilst learning essential group social skills and most importantly the chance to have fun! The cost for this group is  £36 for the block with a discount price of £30 for a second child.

Group 2 also runs for 6 weeks beginning on Thursday 7th January and finishing on Thursday 11th February from 5.05 – 5.45 pm in the Scout Hall at Perth Academy. The cost for this group is  £48 for the block with a discount price of £40 for a second child.

Children aged between 5 and 12 who may or may not have a diagnosed difficulty would benefit from this group. Particularly those who want to focus on social and group skills as well as motor skills. This group is designed to help children cope with playground games / sports.

Contact us on 07704 313283 or at motorvate@live.co.uk

Motorvate have now been operating from our new premises for two months and things are going very well. 

Our Sports Therapy Groups continue on a Thursday from 4.10 – 4.55 and 5.00 – 5.45.  There are currently spaces available in the earlier group and spaces will be available in the later group from January.

The new premises are working particularly well with our individual clients and we currently have 4 youngsters receiving therapy in the centre.

Susan Doogan and Dave McCaw took on a big challenge in delivering training to the full staff of 5 schools at one time.  The staff of St John’s RC Academy, St John’s RC Primary, St Dominics RC Primary, Our Ladys RC Primary and St Stephens RC Primary gathered en masse in the Assembly Hall of St John’s Academy.  Susan and Dave discussed Child Development, Specific Developmental Difficulties and the Importance of Motor Skills.  The purpose of this training was to set a context for all staff so they could appreciate the impact of the Motorvate Individual Motor Skills Programme which has been purchased by all of the schools.  The afternoon session was specifically for staff involved in delivering that programme and they had the oppoortunity to try out some of the exercises as well as being taken step by step through the set up process.

Despite the challenge we received some very positive feedback and all five schools are now well placed to move forward and support youngsters who would benefit from this type of  intervention.

Following the closure of the Yoga Health and Therapy Centre at the end of June.  Motorvate have spent much of the summer searching for new premises.  We are delighted to announce that as from 20th August groups and individual work will take place at The Scout Hut at Perth Academy, Murray Place, Perth.  We are indebted to Perth & Kinross Scouts for allowing us access to their brand new building which is an ideal location and set up. Further details to follow!

Motorvate have added to their services by producing a new Sensory Awakening Programme  for pupils with Additional Support Needs in schools.  This exciting new programme has been designed to calm down or raise the alertness levels of the children to prepare them for learning. The series of 10 minute warm up programmes to start the day are varied and stimulating written to cater for children  who may in some cases have complex needs. The Motorvate team are working on a version of the programme which they hope to make available for mainstream school pupils soon.

A sample from the programme is available in the downloads section.

Motorvate have been really busy delivering training for Carers in Perth & Kinross, Dundee City & Angus Councils over the last 6 weeks.  Almost 60 Carers have received training in 3 different courses. Understanding ADHD, An Introduction to Normal Development & Specific  Developmental Conditions and Normal Development, Specific Developmental Conditions  & The Impact of Attachment Disorder.  The feedback for every course has been really positive and the Motorvate trainers have really enjoyed the opportunity of working with such dedicated groups of  carers.

Motorvate are discussing follow up training with each of the respective authorities and this is hoped to take place after Easter.

Dave McCaw from Motorvate was interviewed for an article published in the Herald a national newspaper based in Glasgow.  The article ‘Communities Thrive on an Italian Recipe’ tells about the work of the Sirolli Project and the support offered to Motorvate in developing the business.  As Motorvate continues to grow in terms of turnover and client base, the advice offered by Sirolli coordinator Fiona McPhaill, in the early stages, has proved invaluable.

The full article can be viewed on the link below.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/otherfeatures/display.var.2486487.0.Communities_thrive_on_an_Italian_recipe.php

Angus Council Foster Carers were the first group to receive Motorvate’s latest training course ‘Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder’.  Brigid Duthie and Dave McCaw presented for two hours to a knowledgeable and interested group of carers.  The course covered ADHD, symptoms, treatment and strategies as well as how the condition relates to child development and other developmental conditions.  Group discussion and experiential activity were included in the training which seemed to go down well with the delegates.  

“Everyone should attend this course”

“I have learned a lot” 

“Reaffirmed a lot of beliefs and ideas I had”

were just some of the comments on the evaluations.

Motorvate are due back in Angus for the Introduction to Normal Development and Specific Developmental Conditions course on Monday 9th February.

Crieff High School and The New School, Butterstone both received training and the Motor Skills Programme for Schools (4th Ed) last week. 

Dave McCaw and Susan Doogan presented the training to Crieff last Monday and to The New School on Tuesday.  Both schools have clear ideas having allready identified pupils for the first cohort on the programme and Motorvate were delighted to be involved in supporting this.

Feedback from both establishments was very positive and we hope to be invloved in follow up work in both schools.