Cash for Kids - Thank You - The Difference You've Made in Staffordshire & Cheshire!
Cash for Kids is Signal 1's charity which aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged children across Staffordshire & Cheshire. Whether they are living in poverty, with an illness or disability or have additional needs, we want to help them live life to the full.
Thanks to YOU Cash for Kids has been making a difference to the lives of hundreds of local children this year. Here's some of the projects we've been able to help;
Ruby's Fund
Ruby's Fund supports children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities at their sensory centre in Congleton, Cheshire. The centre has specialist facilities including a sensory room, soft play area and social cafe. Their aim is to improve the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of the children and their families.
Cash for Kids has funded the new Ruby’s Fund Gaming Group Project. This is a social group for young people on the autism spectrum based around gaming on popular consoles. The sessions will provide an opportunity to make new friends in a small group whilst enjoying a mutual interest of computer games. In addition the equipment will be used by a siblings group. The siblings of disabled children can often miss out on activities & feel isolated. The siblings group enables them to build friendships & share their common personal experiences with others in similar circumstances.
Our Space
Our Space is based at specialist premises in Newcastle-under-Lyme. They provide a wide range of play, recreation and social opportunities for children and young people who have a disability as well as support for their families. Their fully-accessible, purpose-built premises house a soft play area, large play room, craft area, kitchen and toilet facilities and an extensive outdoor area with play equipment, nature trail, sensory area and a large field for sports.
Cash for Kids has helped them to refurbish their role play corner, with a play house complete with a play kitchen furniture set, play food and crockery and play kitchen appliances. The role play corner will help children to learn through play, to improve their social and communication skills and therefore help them to build friendships.
Self Sufficient Children
Self Sufficient Children is a community group set up to help children learn to grow fresh fruit & vegetables & to educate them on where food comes from. Susan, who heads up Self Sufficient Children, heard from parents & other children that they didn't know where their food was coming from, so she wanted to do something to help them learn. The allotment and nature area at Self Sufficient Children allows kids to get into the outdoors, meet new friends and the food they grow helps with reducing their pressured family food bills.
Cash for Kids funding helped them buy lots of gardening equipment that the kids are using to grow many different varieties of fresh food.
Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme
Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme supports disabled children and young people in Cheshire. Their aim is to support the children to have new experiences and to have fun with friends in a safe supportive environment. The children all have disabilities including a physical disability (e.g. down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, williams syndrome), learning disabilities and autism. Many have challenging behaviours which makes it difficult for parents to take them out and about. Children also come from low income families not able to afford trips out. All these factors effect children's quality of life and life experiences.
Central Cheshire Buddy Scheme organise outdoor activity sessions plus use their minibus to take the children on trips, activities, days out and on residential weekends.
Cash for Kids funding will be used to take the children on trips as part of their Beach Buddies project to places such as Blackpool, Crosby, new Brighton, Prestatyn & Llandudno.
ALICE
ALICE support around 350 children under the age of 5 that are living in some of the most deprived communities in England. Many of these children are living in poor conditions, with homes lacking even the basic essentials such as beds, mattresses, cookers, carpets, safety gates and heating.
Through their programmes they are able to identify and support some of the most vulnerable children in the area. They help with clothing, school uniforms, school supplies, toiletries, hygiene packs, food and heating top-ups. Many of these children are going to school on empty tummies. Through the food pantry they supply food for families and breakfasts through partner schools.
They also run free play groups for 0-5 years-olds within the communities in which these children live. Many of these children can become isolated because of poverty, and often face a home environment where there may be domestic violence and substance abuse. The play groups enable disadvantaged children to participate in safe and stimulating play, develop social skills, make friends and enjoy a healthy snack.
Cash for Kids Day funding will enable ALICE to provide 356 children under the age of 5 with food parcels, toiletries, clothes and emergency heating top-ups for their homes.
Cash for Kids in the Midlands has also been helping children in the East Midlands & West Midlands.
BUT we can only continue to help more children with your help - so click here to find out more about Cash for Kids and the ways you can help.