Summer Grant Round July 2014

Hallam FM and Magic AM’s Cash for Kids last grant round took place on Thursday 31st July 2014, the Local Exec Board met to review the hundreds of grant applications and decide where £10,000 would be distributed. Below are the organisations/children we were able to help

Jessica

Jessica has a severe physical and learning disability. She tends to trip over regularly and cannot walk a long distance. She can drop and absence seizures which makes her tired and floppy. Jessica will be moving to a special school in September from a mainstream school so will be travelling in a wheelchair. Cash for Kids have been able to fund an Action 3 Junior Wheelchair so Jessica can travel to and from school.

Joe

Joe has autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, severe learning difficulties and additional mental health needs. He is unable to communicate verbally, making it difficult for his parents and people working with him to understand what he wants. At school he uses an app which enables him to communicate quickly and more effectively. He does not have this at home as he has to use pictures which unsettle him. So Cash for Kids have funded the Proloquo2go app to make it easier for Joe to communicate at home.

CRESST (Conflict Resolution Education Sheffield Schools Training)

The project is CRESST’s 8th Peer Mediators Conference, to be held in October 2014. For around 70 children from around 15 Sheffield primary schools, including many in Sheffield’s more deprived areas. Many children of primary school age in the city face barriers to learning and may even be scared to go to school, because of conflict, bullying and difficult behaviour. CRESST trains children to understand and resolve conflict. The aim of the project is to grow the children’s confidence in their work as mediators, help them learn from each other’s experiences, recognise and reward work they carry out. Cash for Kids are able to fund the venue hire and entertainer for the conference.

Friends of Adventures for Highfield Adventure Playground

Highfield Adventure Park is an adventure playground based in Sharrow and is one of only two remaining free adventurous play places in the city. The playground has faced cuts from the council. Cash for Kids have been able to fund the installation of a ‘Play Tank’ which they aim will provide a play environment that encourages children to imaginatively explore their world and make creative interactions with found objects in child-led play, can develop more imagination, competency, skills and give a greater sense of achievement and connection.

Rotherham Duty and Assessment Team

The team provides intervention and support to vulnerable children, young people and their families. They hope to ensure the child or young person achieves optimal outcomes and enter adulthood successfully. In order for this to happen the young people and families need to have access to the right opportunities to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy, achieve, make a positive contribution and experience good economic well-being. Some of the children live below the poverty line and do not have the basic things. Cash for Kids have funded beds, cot beds, bedding sets and nappies for these families.

Stephen Harrison Academy

SHA is a social enterprise aimed at providing mentoring programmes for children and young people with learning difficulties. They work with disadvantaged groups of children with a variety of diagnoses including autism, Asperger’s syndrome and adhd, who are experiencing learning difficulties and behavioural problems. SHA provide activity based learning and support, using snooker. The parents of children attending the academy said the sessions had improved confidence and social skills. Cash for Kids have agreed to provide funding for 42 snooker cues for the young people to use whilst attending the academy.

Adam

Adam has autism which affects his communication and social skills. He has problems expressing his toileting needs and frequently wets himself at night. He currently shares a bed with his sibling and as a result this is unhygienic and constantly wakes his sibling. Therefore his parents would like to move Adam into his own room. Cash for Kids have funded a bed and mirror to allow Adam to move into his own room.

Pops Summer Camp

The aim of the project is to reduce the number of children that are isolated in areas of high deprivation, to promote healthy lifestyles and discovering the fun of the outdoors. To encourage teamwork, developing communication skills, equip such children with new skills, enhance their natural talents. Children in Rawmarsh will have the chance to take part in this exciting project and for some this may be the only chance of a break away from home during the holidays. Cash for Kids agreed to fund crafts and activity items for the camp.

The Sick Children’s Trust

The Sick Children’s Trust provides ‘home from home’ accommodation for families with children who are seriously ill in hospital. The house enables parents and siblings to stay together close to where the child is receiving treatment. Families have access to shared bathroom, kitchen, playroom, dining room and laundry facilities. It alleviates some of the financial and logistical pressures of having a child in hospital, particularly for families who have other children too. The duvets they currently use have become very flat over the 13 years and during the winter months the families were often complaining that they were cold and could not sleep. Therefore Cash for Kids have funded new duvets for the families to use during their stay.

Haven House Project Ltd

The project focuses on the delivery of enhanced services to improve the lives of women, children and young people who have fled domestic abuse and are living in a refuge. Services are carefully designed to support children, young people and women towards achieving independent, enabled, creative and fulfilled lives. Haven works with children and families to help them move on from domestic abuse through play, fun for talking to their family, to repair and rebuild towards a positive future. The project consults the children and mothers to find out what activities they would like to undertake, a day trip out allows them to socialise with others and have fun and excitement. Cash for Kids have funded the travel and tickets to a theme park.

Amy

Amy has cerebal palsy and complex health needs, due to this she is unable to sit or stand and requires constant support. Home Start Sheffield have provided a volunteer who visits weekly to give her mother some practical and emotional help. During these visits the volunteer identified that Amy is still sleeping in her parent’s bedroom, not due to her disability but because the bedroom is uninhabitable and requires work. In order to her to move into her own bedroom Cash for Kids have provided funding for a carpet.

Home Start Sheffield

This project – “Towards Safe Independence” - is designed to support mothers and children who have experienced domestic abuse to support them in their transition from supported accommodation in a refuge to safe independent living in their own homes. It provides support to vulnerable children families at a critical point in their recovery from the impact of domestic abuse. These families are some of the most vulnerable in Sheffield. The project will involve: Home visiting families, recreational/therapeutic activities, emotional support for mums and children via their home visiting volunteer. Cash for Kids have funded small equipment essentials including irons and kettles for these families to use.

Note: Children’s names have been changed to protect their identity