First Garden Project Completed
We are excited to announce that the ‘Growing Families Minds’ initiative has achieved its first completed garden project. This initiative was launched by Children First Derby in response to the growing concern of children spending excessive hours on electronic devices and engaging in sedentary indoor activities. The team recently transformed a service user’s garden into a safe, spacious, and inviting green space for children to enjoy.
Despite facing challenges, the team successfully completed the project on a sunny day, using professional equipment to trim overgrown hedges and create a 4-meter-wide play area. This initiative provided one of our supported families, with a child who has ASD, with a convenient and accessible outdoor space, especially as this family find it difficult to visit local parks or participate in group activities.
The before-and-after pictures showcase the remarkable transformation brought about by the team’s hard work. This project not only enhances the outdoor environment for children but also promotes physical activity and exposure to natural sunlight. We are thrilled to see the positive impact of this initiative on the families we serve.
Positive Parenting Programme
This 5-week parenting programme provides parents with practical strategies and techniques for promoting positive behaviours in their children.
Through a combination of classes, groups discussions and activities, parents will learn about their principles of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and how to apply them in their daily lives.
Starting on Thursday 11th July from 12pm – 2pm at Children First Derby on Leopold Street in Derby.
For more information please contact Fiona on [email protected] or call us on 01332 341516
Thank you to Repton Prep!!!
Every year the Houses at Repton School (Repton Prep) each house chose a charity to support throughout the academic year. Congratulations to Wavell House for their fantastic work this year raising £4,500 for the chosen charity. Children First Derby… US!!!!!
It was a pleasure to be able to accept the cheque at the end of term. The money will be used to support vulnerable children and families in the local area.
Children First Derby Celebrated its 50th Anniversary
We celebrated 50 years of Children First Derby by holding a special 50th Anniversary Ball on the evening of Saturday 29th June 2024 at Pride Park. The event raised a substantial amount of money to support our work helping vulnerable children, young people and families.
We were joined on the evening by some special guests who kindly graced us with their presence such as The Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, The High Sheriff of Derbyshire Ian Morgan OBE, The Deputy Mayor of Derby Ajit Atwal, Sir Stephen Moss CBE, our Patron, Amanda Solloway Member of Parliament for Derby North and John Whitby Cabinet Lead Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills Derby City Council.
The evening, whose Headline Sponsor was Smith Partnership, started with a bang! A dance battle between two teams from Trinity Dance Warriors (Ill Warriors), where dancers displayed incredible individual routines which absolutely left the audience in awe. Guests were then asked to choose between the teams, which was an impossible task!
Over 180 guests were welcomed by Irshad Baqui, Chief Executive and Louise Webb, Fundraising Coordinator. Guests were entertained throughout with up close magicians, Ian Barradell and Andy Hall, performing at each table.
Fred Jacques, Chair of the Trustee, took the opportunity to thank Claire Twells, from Smith Partnership and some key individuals who have contributed to the success of the charity, namely Milly Wigley MBE, our Founder; Pat Dixon, who has volunteered for over 47 years and still does. Fred presented each of them with a bouquet of flowers. Fred also acknowledged Sue and Colin Hand, founder members who were also present, and Derek Rowley and Monica Nelson for their invaluable contribution.
A special film was commissioned for the event, which was produced with the help of Impress Video. It gave an overview of the services that Children First Derby delivers and featured a number of beneficiaries both parents and young people who spoke about how the charity has positively impacted their lives. Guests were moved by what they saw and appreciated the work of the charity even more.
50th Anniversary Ball – SUCCESS!!!!
Here at Children First Derby we like to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who attended our 50th Anniversary Charity Ball❤️.
Everyone dressed to impress, participated in our raffles and games. It was amazing to see so many people having a great time all in one place. Without the love and support none of what we do would have been possible including the Ball!!!
Louise Webb was the mastermind behind the planning and running of the event. So we owe you a MASSIVE thank you for making it such a great event. We know it wasn’t easy!!!!
Introducing Daniel – Our new PR & Marketing coordinator
We would like to give a huge welcome to Daniel. Our new PR & Marketing Coordinator.
Daniel will be replacing Jordan and jumping straight in at the deep end. Working closely with the whole team to help promote who we are and what we do and how to best communicate that with our shareholders and service users.
Daniel Studied Digital Marketing at Sheffield Hallam University where he achieved a degree and then started his corporate career at Nottinghamshire Mind as a Marketing Lead.
“I am looking forward to starting my new job with Children First, So far everyone has been very friendly and helpful. Even though I am only working on a part time basis, I am looking forward to settling in and working with everyone.”
We believe Daniel will be a positive addition to the team and help move us in the direction we want to go.
Punjabi Rams 10th Anniversary
Please Note: this number has now been increased to £12,500
From everyone here at Children First Derby we would like to say a massive thank you to the Punjabi Rams.
On Saturday 11th they held their 10th Anniversary Charity Meal in aid of ourselves and Umbrella. At this even a total of £11,400 was raised which is going to be split between the two charities. The event was full of nothing but good vibes, inspiring information and amazing food.
They managed to raise this amount through various aspects such as raffels, blind auction and a traditional auction. with a star studded guest list it’s no wonder the event was such a success.
We are very thankful to the Punjabi Rams and we look forward to working with them in the future.
Children First Derby Receive £2500 Funding From The Foundation Derbyshire Walbrook Fund
Children First Derby are delighted to have been awarded a grant of £2500.00 from the Foundation Derbyshire Walbrook Fund, for the delivery of a martial arts club as part of their Mentoring Programme.
The grant will cover four, six week activity programmes, based at a martial arts club, to support the charity’s mentoring provision.
Children First Derby currently offer one to one and group mentoring for young people aged 10-18 to give them the support of caring role models to grow into confident, successful adults. The martial arts club will be a new addition to the current group mentoring activities which include Drama, Football and Climbing.
The Walbrook Panel said they understood that the martial arts activity was a great way to boost confidence, self-esteem, and respect.
Kerreene Davidson, Mentoring Service Manager at Children First Derby explained, “The Mentoring Service has seen an increase in physical and verbal bullying which has left some of our mentees hospitalised and as a result we had a consultation with our Youth Forum to hear their views on how we can effectively support these mentees.”
The response to the consultation, gave an insight into the young people’s views around the benefits of learning martial arts. They shared the need to improve their confidence, the feeling of helplessness when being attacked and expressed that having the skills to protect themselves may have prevented them ending up in hospital.
Kerreene added, “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding that will give young people the opportunity to participate in Jui Jitsu sessions at Gracie Barra. The sessions are tailored to the specific needs of the young people and are designed to increase their confidence, self-esteem, teach self-discipline and self defence.”
Vote for Children First Derby’s project ‘Growing Families Minds’ in your local Tesco!
Children First Derby are delighted to have had their project ‘Growing Families Minds’ selected for the Tesco In-Store Vote.
The charity applied to Tesco Stronger Starts towards the end of 2023 and were successfully chosen as one of the projects to be put forward to a customer vote in Tesco stores. Voting will commence in store from Mid-January 2024 until the end of March 2024.
The project will helping vulnerable families in Derby improve their unused and unsafe outdoor spaces for them to grow food and for their children to enjoy the outdoors.
The project with the highest number of votes across the region will receive £1,500, the second placed project £1,000, and the third placed project £500.
Louise Webb, Fundraising Coordinator at Children First Derby says, “We are delighted to have been selected for the Tesco In-Store Vote. Our Growing Family Minds Project is really important, we have several families with outdoor space that they can’t use and evidence shows that children are swapping the outdoors for more sedentary activities due to lack of facilities in their own outdoor spaces, or the families do not have the skills to maintain their gardens.”
Children, young people and families that do not have an enjoyable safe space outside can become depressed, lethargic and lead a sedentary lifestyle that is detrimental to their physical and mental health and quality of life.
“At Children First Derby we have noticed a growing number of families that are experiencing social anxiety, depression and lacking in self-confidence whilst also caring for children with ADHD, OCD and ASD.
For some of these families it’s not easy for them to just go to the park or engage in a wellbeing group activity. We would like to help families to enjoy the outdoors and promote a healthy lifestyle by teaching them to look after their outdoor space.”
You will be able to vote for Children First Derby in the following stores in Derby:
2034 Keldholme Lane DE24 0RY
2257 Chaddesden Express DE21 6NA
2380 Derby Alvaston Exp DE24 8QN
2649 Heanor DE75 7EX
5886 Derby St Peters Street DE1 2AA
6428 Chellastn Drby Rd DE73 5SA
To vote, you will need to make a purchase within store of any value. You will receive one token per transaction and it’s not necessary to purchase a carrier bag to receive a token.
To find out more about the Growing Families Minds Project and to get involved please contact [email protected]
