West Yorkshire Spring Grant Round 2018

Cash for Kids granted funds to support over 9,000 local children.

Swinnow Children's Centre - £1,375 - 150 children

Swinnow Children's Centre provides support for families with children aged 0-5 years. The ethos is to give families the opportunities to achieve the best possible outcomes and provide safe secure environments for children to develop and play with purpose. The families they support suffer from at least one of the few disadvantages such as: low income, mental health issues, domestic violence, substance misuse and more. A lot of the children do not have safe places to play outdoors and the centre want to ensure that they can provide this safe, tidy and clean area for them. Cash for Kids agreed funding to provide outdoor play equipment for the centre; which includes a free-standing chalk board painting window, wooden planters and raised beds, a slide, picnic benches, a sand pit and more…

Supporters of Crawshaw Academy - £300 - 40 children

The Supporters of Crawshaw Academy is made up of the PTA and they support the school in many different ways. One of the schemes that they run within the school is Crisis Boxes. They have 4 types of crisis boxes; toiletries, stationary, food and uniform. The idea of these boxes is to support children who are in a crisis situation. This may be due to poverty, illness or being placed in care. The majority of the children who use items from the boxes are vulnerable, have social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Cash for Kids loved the idea of the Crisis Boxes, as some children may be at a loss and need that help and can go to obtain essential items to help them with their hygiene, hunger, learning and more. Cash for Kids agreed the funding to purchase items to replenish the uniform box, specifically shoes and outdoor footwear for P.E. They are also funding toiletries and food.

Leeds Women's Aid - £463 - 88 children

Leeds Women’s Aid provide a range of services for vulnerable women and families experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Their services include; emergency refuge accommodation, telephone helpline, drop-in services, healthy relationship programmes, independent domestic violence advocates and children support. The children they support are at a higher risk of behavioural problems, depression, lack of confidence and mental health difficulties due to what they have experienced or witnessed. As part of the support for the children, Leeds Women’s Aid applied to Cash for Kids to fund a range of books that help children express how they are feeling and help with confidence. They also requested art & craft materials, baking equipment and a range of games for their groups. Having these items ensures that the groups continue and these children can make friends, develop skills and build self esteem.

Little Hiccups - £1,546 - 250 children

Little Hiccups is a support group for families who have children with disabilities. They provide Outreach, Stay n Play, Hydrotherapy sessions and Family Fun Days. They believe that everything should be accessible to all no matter who, and will often organise events that 'break boundaries' such as skiing, wall-climbing or indoor skydiving. Cash for Kids agreed funding for a Mobile Changing Unit. Little Hiccups explained: “The sad fact is that Disabled Toilets are just not suitable for many of our families but Changing Places are not yet wide spread. As we visit a variety of places it would be nice to be able to provide a Mobile Changing Unit to enable families to change their child at any time. It will enable basic necessaries such as hygiene and decency for the child concerned.”

Targeted Early Help West/Lister Lane - £115 - 10 children

Targeted Early Help support local families with children up to 18 years old, who may suffer with a wide variety of difficulties from domestic abuse, conflict, bereavement or abuse. They currently have a number of children experiencing bereavements and they feel that having more literature to help support these children will be a massive help. Cash for Kids have provided funding for 10 copies of “Winstons Wish – Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine” book. The book is packed with resources to help children explore their feelings and work through it with a support worker.

Forget Me Not Children's Hospice - £5,000 - 500 children

Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice is a West Yorkshire based charity offering support to children and families with life shortening conditions across Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield, Bradford and Leeds. Our 4 bed hospice facility currently supports 390 children and families from across the region. Due to the limited mobility of their children, they are unable to use standard play equipment and experience playing in a safe and fun environment. Cash for Kids have agreed funding for an “all inclusive” pirate ship, which will be installed within the newly refurbished garden; which is an on-going project at the hospice. Having this garden and pirate ship will allow the children to play in a safe space.

Friends of Phoenix Special School - £1,125 - 300 children

The Phoenix School is a generic primary school and nursery for 80 children with severe and complex learning and medical needs. It is co-located with Merlin Top Primary Academy. The Friends of Phoenix Special School are made up of a group of parents and staff, who come together to raise money to buy items for the children who attend the school, and the holiday play scheme. Their play scheme runs during the holidays for disabled children and their siblings. These children are normally isolated and cannot access normal play facilities due to their disabilities. Cash for Kids have agreed funding for a Complete Stage Lighting Kit. This kit will be used in the Stay and Play holiday groups and will allow the children to organise performances and perform themselves, no matter what their disability. It will help build confidence and self esteem as well as help venture into the performing arts and drama areas of learning.

The Hunslet Club - £2,365 - 3,000 children

With a membership of over 2700 young people accumulating over 67,000 individual visits annually The Hunslet Club are one of the largest youth organisations in the country.. Membership is free and their pricing policy has remained the same for over 15 years to ensure accessibility for all regardless of social, ethic or economic circumstances. Young people living in South Leeds face multiple inequalities. There is a prevalence of low income households, inter-generational unemployment and a culture of low aspirations which manifests itself in poor mental & physical health and anti-social behaviour. The Hunslet Club develop (through projects such as youth clubs and activity camps) children and young people faced with these issues by raising confidence levels, providing opportunities to socialise in a safe, inclusive environment, learn new skills, live healthier lifestyles and develop self respect/respect for others that allows them to become responsible young citizens and achieve their full potential. Funding has been agreed for new equipment such as; a Skillbuilder Equipment Pack, Footballs and Goal Posts, Gymnastics Mats, Percussion sets and more..

"Child A" and siblings - £1,060*

An application was received from Child A’s mother, who explained that Child A and two siblings disabilities which include autism and difficulties with sensory processing. All 3 siblings present challenging behaviour, which means as a family they cannot venture out to places like soft play or parks. They all like to be outdoors, but require specialist equipment and sensory play equipment, to help with their individual needs. Cash for Kids have agreed funding for specialist outdoor play equipment. (*names changed to protect identities)

Knottingley Angels - £700 - 25 children

Knottingley Angels are based on a disadvantaged estate and their aim is to keep children off of the streets and avoid crime and the use of heavy drugs. The group dance and do cheerleading at local rugby games and big events. They want to ensure that their group continues and grows, but to enable this they need funding for new kits and equipment. £700 has been awarded from Cash for Kids to buy the kits and equipment.

Leeds Baby Bank - £2,399.40 - 500 children

Leeds Baby Bank identified there was gap in the support offered to families with younger children when they were using food banks. Most food banks offer items such as pasta and tins but not formula, baby food, nappies and wipes. This is where Leeds Baby Bank can help and why they focus on helping on 0-4 yrs. They also provide clothing, bedding, and equipment such as moses baskets, cots, prams, high chairs. They are a “use once service”, to ensure the service isn’t misused. Referrals tend to come from professionals working with families although families can self-refer. They identified a need for highchairs, safety gates and nappies. Cash for Kids have funded 60 highchairs, 60 safety gates and a variety of nappies.

Temple Newsam Learning Partnership Trust - £1,800 - 150 children

TNLP Trust is a charitable organisation made up of nine schools, two children’s centres and a variety of community organisations all working together to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and families in the Osmondthorpe, Halton Moor and Temple Newsam neighbourhoods of East Leeds. Around five thousand families live in their target area whose children attend local schools and other childcare settings. The TNLP Trust works to support children of all ages from 0 to 16 years as well as their parents and carers. Cash for Kids have agreed funding for arts & crafts groups, cookery groups and sports groups; all for 3 separate schools in that area. These groups will take place in the summer holidays, and focus on helping children transition from primary school to high school.

The Sick Children's Trust - £724.92 - 4,000 children

The Sick Children's Trust believes keeping families together significantly improves the recovery of seriously ill children. They provide free, high-quality ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, as well as emotional and practical support, to families with sick children in hospital. They work with the hospitals, supporting them in their role and providing complementary support to our families. They relieve some of the emotional and financial strains at a very stressful time, providing an essential service free of charge for over 350 families every night, 365 days a year. The Trust want to provide a safe and clean environment for children and their siblings can play, which will allow their parents a break knowing the children can have fun. Cash for Kids have funded various items such as; outdoor ride-on bikes and trikes, garden furniture to help improve their outdoor space.