The Joe Bigwood Field Jubilee Event

Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council had a Diamond Jubilee Fayre with all the traditional sorts of stalls. The Bank Holiday Monday event organised by ASDA Community Life Champions – Julie from Totton, Mandy from Southampton and Cecily from Eastleigh – Had all the crafts and refreshments that you would expect, as well as a display of Classic Cars and a Dog Show.

There were all sorts of activities includeing   football coaching offred by the Saints Foundation, zorbs, quad bikes, inflatable assault course and Sumo wrestling and Follow your Dreams had their inflatable Pirate ship and organised a treasure hunt!

The event helped raise £485 for Follow Your Dreams.

 

The First break in ten years for South Wales carers – “the Bluestone dream”

It is always increasingly difficult to get a break, a holiday or any respite if you are a parent or carer of a child with learning disabilities. Some parents dream of a few days away but often, it is just a dream, well for 40 South Wales carers and their children this dream came true!

This week saw local Charity ‘Follow Your Dreams’ and Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire work in partnership to give eight families from South Wales a week’s break to remember at the Bluestone resort.

The families have come from Barry and Ogmore Valley, South Wales, with children between 4-9 years attending Jenner Park Primary, and Ogmore Vale Primary schools. Teachers we’re amazed when Follow Your Dreams got in touch to let them know of the opportunity and worked closely with the charity to help coordinate families for the trip.

Bluestone has been looking at ways to work with the charity – which helps youngsters with learning disabilities to achieve their ‘dreams’ and build upon their potential. The idea of the holiday came about to provide a fun packed week for the kids, while mums, dads and carers receive a well-deserved rest.

“We were pleased to be able to provide much needed respite for the families with our unique ‘Free Range’ fun here at Bluestone,” said Liz Weedon of Bluestone.

“Our range of activities and facilities makes it a great place for the families to get together, have fun and relax – a perfect break.”

All the activities planned for the youngsters were exciting and created to stimulate social integration and team building, a skill that can often be lacking in youngsters with learning disabilities, while also building on their self-esteem and encouraging them to overcome difficulties, this included a giant outdoor laser tag that involved all 40 guests, followed by some “Welly Wanging”, rock climbing and a mud mystery tour for the Bluestone Dragon’s Golden Egg!

Mike Williams of Follow Your Dreams said “The staff at Bluestone have been fantastic, taking great care of the additional needs each family have required, on top of that they have made this a very special week for some very special youngster”

With all these exhilarating activities arranged for the youngsters, it also meant that the week would give parents and carers of the children the opportunity to take time out together, another parent commented “Often taking a child with learning disabilities on holiday can be more stressful than staying at home because of the unfamiliar surroundings, but knowing that your children will be looked after by a fantastic team of staff here at Bluestone, and with the involvement of a charity that actually understands is so reassuring, at last I get a break for the first time in 10 years.”

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Update on Connor

Some of you will remember our West Ham hero Connor, and we have a short update on his progress…

Connor and his family received the news that he was to be assessed on yesterday for either keyhole or open heart surgery, we will be kept informed by the family as to what surgery has taken place and we wish them all well. Connor will be in the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.

Our best wishes go out to Connor and his family and we will endeavour to update you with Connor’s progress.

Please Nominate Follow Your Dreams

Please take the time to visit your local store and nominate ‘Follow Your Dreams’ even if you don’t normally shop at the store, as a charity we could greatly benefit from being selected and help make 100’s of ‘Dreams’ come true!

Supermarket Sainsbury’s is inviting customers and colleagues to nominate their favourite local charity at their local store, and we need you to visit your local store and nominate ‘Follow Your Dreams’! The selected charities will receive a year’s worth of fundraising and awareness raising support from that store, something that ‘Follow Your Dreams’ would really appreciate.

This is the fourth year that Sainsbury’s has been running its local charity scheme. It operates across the country at Sainsbury stores, depots and support centres. Thousands of charities have benefited so far from over £4 million raised by staff and customers.

How to nominate Follow Your Dreams

Nominations are open from 9 to 23 May 2012. A nomination box and forms should be available at the front of every main and convenience Sainsbury’s store, as well as in their depots and support centres. Complete the form and post it in the box.

Local staff at each store will then shortlist three charities that they think best meet the needs of the local community. These three then get the opportunity to talk to Sainsbury’s staff in the store about the charity and its work. One charity from the three will then be chosen.

You can find your local Sainsbury’s store at:

www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/storelocator/storelocator_landing.jsp

A 10yr Old’s Desire To Help

Luke Samuel Payne, aged 10, who attends St Peters Church of England School in Essex has a family friend who recently gave birth to a baby boy with Downs Syndrome, through this experience Luke wanted to help similar children achieve their goals as they become older.

After exploring what charities were out there that helped youngsters with learning disabilities to achieve their ambitions, ‘Follow Your Dreams’ soon stood out to Luke and he set to his own ambitions of raising as much money as possible for the charity.

His first mission was to complete a 3mile track in the Brentwood Fun Run in March to raise £210. Whilst he is not a natural distance runner his determination to support the charity and youngsters with learning disabilities carried him to the finish line.

Mum and Dad have said “they’re so proud of Luke and the money he was able raise for ‘Follow Your Dreams’, Luke is so determined to continue raising money for the charity that he has put a list of fundraising activities together!”