Summer Grant Round 2016

Friends of Lofthouse Children's Centre - £982

The Friends of Lofthouse Children's Centre are a volunteer-led group who support the Children's Centre. They provide play sessions and other support groups for families in the local and surrounding areas of Lofthouse. They identified a need for new outdoor play equipment as the current equipment is weathered and broken. Cash for Kids are funding an outdoor playhouse, specially designed outdoor matting to ensure the children can play out and be safe even when it is wet and a gazebo to provide shelther from the elements.

Oasis Project at Bradford Women's Aid - £1,400

The project offers support services for women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. They provide temporary sheltered housing for these women and their children. A lot of these families have had to flee their homes and leave sometimes all of their belongings to move to the safety of the sheltered housing. Some families have moved from far across the UK, know nobody and in some cases they are not even allowed to keep in touch with their extended family and friends for their safety. A lot of the children are confined to the housing on evening and weekends. Cash for Kids are going to fund a day trip to a theme park, to provide some fun and long lasting memories.

Boy Aged 3 c/o Buttercup Children's Trust - £1,500

Buttercup Children's Trust approached Cash for Kids to assist with a young boy who has severe autism. The boys family are raising funds to purchase a Service Dog. Service dogs are proven to support the unique challenges of someone on the autism spectrum, with calming techniques and helping the person and their family around them settle into a regular routine. Cash for Kids have agreed to fund the remaining £1,500 to ensure that this dog can be purchased for the young boy.

Donkey Sanctuary Leeds - £450

The Donkey Sanctuary are most well-known for their work with riding and children with disabilities. However, they are also working with local schools to provide extra therapeutical education for children with various special needs. Due to new health and safety regulations they have to purchasea complete new set of helmets for all of their riders. They applied to Cash for Kids to help fund 4 non-standard helmets, which are specially designed for children who cannot wear the normal helmets due to the specific specialist needs. These helmets are costly and have to be ordered from overseas. Cash for Kids agreed to purchase the 4 new helmets.

Crossgates and Manston Children's Centre - £306

The children's centre host support groups for the more vulnerable families in their area. One of the groups are currently focusing on healthy living and healthy eating with the parents - focusing on cooking healthy meals and ensuring their children get healthy meals. The children work with the creche workers, who have expressed the desire to also help educate the children on healthy aspects of food. Cash for Kids are funding new "Home Corner" items to assist the children with their learning.

KCSA College - £1,724

The college are a not-for-profit organisation dealing with disadvantaged, marginalised young people who are not in main stream education; mainly through homelessness, disability and social/emotional insecurity, crime and behavioural problems. They applied to Cash for Kids for funding towards expanding their vocational and practical courses. Cash for Kids are purchasing a computer and iPads to allow learners online access to courses and resources, and also a selection of hair dressing equipment; from scissors, mirrors, chairs and much more.

Boy Aged 15 - £500

Supported by their social worker, boys family applied to Cash for Kids for an iPad. Boy has Cerebral Palsy, he is confined to a wheelchair and does not have use of his legs or his arms. The iPad is a luxury to his family, but they expressed how having this iPad would change their sons day-to-day living immensely. It would allow him to communicate with friends and family, educate himself freely, but will also have fabulous features that will give him independence with turning lights on and off within the house and turning the TV channels over. Cash for Kids agreed that this item would have such an impact, and have agreed to fund the iPad.

• A Bitter Pill