Are You Up For The Apollo Schools Project?

The Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund is looking for 10 schools to take part in an exciting new community project. The Apollo Schools Project is aimed in particular at year 10/11 students who would like to show their creative side to raise funds on behalf of the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund.

Carlene Golightly, Community Manager of the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund said: “The aim of the project is for participating schools to devise and implement innovative ways to raise funds on behalf of the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund. The school would set their own fundraising targets and look at what events and activities they could hold throughout the coming year. It is likely that the pupils involved will be from Year 10 upwards with the support of their Teachers."

Carlene continued: “We are delighted to say we have three schools already on board who are busy developing new and existing activities to help reach their fundraising targets. Having met with the schools the enthusiasm from the students and teachers has been fantastic and the activities they are planning are fun and will engage with colleagues within the school and externally. This project will also help students develop key proficiencies in time management, communication and leadership skills. The Evening Chronicle are keen to capture some of these events to show how innovative the students are and what a great community spirit there is within our local schools.”

The Sunshine Fund will provide schools with the necessary forms, support and advice. This is a great project for schools to be involved in and will instill in students a sense of achievement and pride knowing that they have helped to change the lives of disabled children in their community. At the end of the year we will be inviting the nominated school members to a special awards evening and we will be awarding a first, second and third prize for the most innovative idea and the most money raised.

One of our Apollo Schools is Thomas More RC School in Whitley Bay. Pictured are some of the year 10 students who are taking part in the Project. Jill Forsten, ASDAN Tutor said: “Our year 10 students are really proud to be helping such a worthwhile charity. They are hoping to make a big difference to the lives of children with disabilities in the North East. This project will also help the students work towards the credits needed to successfully complete their Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Level 2 and Wider Key Skills. They are a fantastic bunch of young people who we are very proud of!"

If you would like your school to be part of this exciting project please contact Carlene Golightly on 07794 938609 or email carlene.golightly@ncjmedia.co.uk. 

Newcastle sk:n Clinic Hosts Yummy Mummy Event To Help Disabled Children In The North East

Newcastle sk:n clinic is hosting an event in collaboration with the  Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund. The event is being held to find the North East Yummy Mummy Of The Year 2011,  with £1500 worth of sk:n clinic treatments up for grabs for the Mummy deemed the yummiest. Mums across the region are urged to participate by describing, in no more than 50 words, why they deserve to win. Registration is £5 per Mum, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Sunshine Fund to help disabled children in the North East.   

Sarah Hetherington, clinic manager of sk:n in Newcastle and a Sunshine Ladies Business Group supporter said: "We are delighted to support the work of the Sunshine Fund and hope that many Mums come forward. 

"We have a fantastic prize up for grabs and are looking forward to pampering the most deserving Mum with treatments across our broad range of expertise. The winner will be spoilt with an array of treatments and the best thing is that we get to support a great cause in the process. All Mums who enter will be invited to our clinic on Grey Street and will receive a free goody bag, free skin assessment and a lovely glass of bubbly."

Carlene Golightly Sunshine Fund Community Manager said: "We’re thrilled that sk:n clinics has been able to support us by hosting such a fantastic event. 

"The Sunshine Ladies Business Group get together every month to share business ideas and also ways in which their organisation can support the Sunshine Fund.  This year, grant applications from individuals and organisations who look after disabled children have risen by 30%, therefore we need to raise as much money as possible to ensure we meet the needs of disabled children in the North East".

To find out how you can enter please call 0191 261 0011 or email newcastle@sknclinics.co.uk and we’ll send you a form. The winner will be notified by 30th April.

If you would like to find out how you can help support the Sunshine Fund and make a real difference to the lives of disabled children in the North East, please contact Carlene Golightly on 07794-938609 or email carlene.golightly@ncjmedia.co.uk.

Johanna Smith - How the Sunshine Fund Has Helped Our Family

Following on from our previous post about the amazing support we've received from ITPS, Johanna Smith shares her story about her son, Isaac, and what the Sunshine Fund has meant to her family.

The Sunshine Fund have been part of our lives since my son Isaac (pictured with his hippocampe) was 3 years old and we made our first grant application for a specially adapted trike. He’s 8 years old now and last year we were awarded our second Sunshine Fund grant to purchase a Hippocampe, all-terrain wheelchair.

Isaac had a rocky start to life. He was born 10 weeks prematurely and as a result of this he has complex cerebral palsy and a hearing impairment. Despite his severe physical disabilities he has got a real lust for life, he has lots of friends and enjoys outdoor activities. The Hippocampe has made it possible for the family to go to the beach, go camping, caving and on country walks. These are all things that would have been very difficult with a standard wheelchair and would have become virtually impossible as Isaac and his wheelchair get heavier and bigger.

The family really noticed the difference this winter when there was lots of snow. Before when there was thick snow or ice Isaac hardly left the house except to go to school. This year he was able to use the Metro to get to an important hospital appointment that he would otherwise have missed because our car was snowed in. He was able to go out and about in the snow and enjoyed throwing snowballs and building snowmen.

Johanna continued “It has made a huge difference to us as a family and stopped Isaac from being isolated through the bad weather. More importantly the Sunshine Fund grant has supported us to live the life that suits us as a family. We found the process of applying for the grant to be very straightforward and the staff are really friendly and helpful.

I am so very grateful to organisations such as ITPS for their tremendous support in helping my Son and others like him. I would like to encourage more businesses and individuals to support the Sunshine Fund financially. It’s a vital local charity that makes a massive difference to disabled children and their families’ lives.

Families want their children to get the most out of life but it can be a real struggle to get the equipment they need to achieve this. It’s great to know the Sunshine Fund is there to help when you really need it most, I don’t know what we’d have done without it.”

There are lots of ways individuals, companies, schools and other groups can support the Sunshine Fund. If you would like to find out more about the Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund and how you can make a difference to the lives of disabled children in the North East please email carlene.golightly@ncjmedia.co.uk or call Carlene on 07794938609.