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 louise.webb@childrenfirstderby.co.uk

 

DHU Healthcare’s Corporate Team has rallied together to give vulnerable children and young adults in Derbyshire a happier Christmas

Teams at DHU’s Roundhouse base on Pride Park plus People & Culture team DHU wide have been busy collecting and donating gifts and toys for Children First Derby, a charity providing essential services for disadvantaged kids in the county.

As a not for profit, Community Interest Company, DHU constantly looks at ways to make a positive impact beyond the realms of healthcare and as we enter the festive season, wanted to do something to help spread a bit of Christmas spirit to those supported by Children First .

These gifts were collected and placed under a tree before being joined by Louise Webb from Children First Derby, who collected the presents, ready for Santa to give to those who may otherwise have missed out; to put smiles on young faces
on December 25th. 

April Francis, Organisational Development Specialist at DHU Healthcare, expressed the team’s sentiment, stating, “Supporting a local children’s charity seemed perfect at this time of year, the donations have been amazing and it really shows what the power of collective kindness can achieve.

Working together within the teams at Roundhouse and the wider People and Culture team to provide the children with these gifts is really something wonderful.

Debbie in the Café has been a great help in collecting all these and we’re overwhelmed by the response!” 

Jessica Armstead. HR Coordinator for Urgent and Emergency Care, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Being part of something that brings joy to children that may be facing challenges is incredibly fulfilling. This is the true spirt of the season.”

Children First Derby is a charity devoted to supporting vulnerable children and young adults up to aged 18, serving as a lifeline for those facing adversity in the Derby community. The thoughtful gifts collected by DHU Healthcare’s Corporate Team will undoubtedly bring smiles and holiday cheer to the faces of those who need it most. 

Louise Webb is the Children First Derby Fundraising Co-Ordinator, she said:
“We’re so pleased that DHU Healthcare has chosen to support us in what we do,
helping young people and their families when they need it the most. We support
children from broken families, single parents who are finding life difficult or it could be families with children who have disabilities. They all need help in some way.

“Many of the children who will be receiving these generous and wonderful gifts
will otherwise have had nothing. Christmas is all about giving and I know from
speaking to some of those at DHU who organised this collection, the thought of
being able to provide that moment of joy to a child on Christmas Day is what it’s all about. Thank you to everyone at DHU who supported this collection.”

But the giving spirit doesn’t stop there. DHU Healthcare’s Corporate Team is gearing up for a Christmas Bakes Fundraiser from December 5th to 7th, 2023, at the Café in No 2 Roundhouse. All proceeds from this will go directly to Children First Derby, further amplifying the impact of their collective generosity.  

Children First Derby’s Christmas Market Was A Roaring Success

Children First Derby held their annual Christmas Market in November, at Electric Daisy, on Bold Lane in Derby which was attended by over 300 people including Santa and his elves!

The event, which was sponsored by Smith Partnership, raised over £1000 for the charity.

Electric Daisy was a fantastic venue with plenty of space for the Christmas Donkeys, Santa’s Grotto and a fire pit to toast marshmallows. Although outdoors, the space was well covered to avoid the small drizzle of rain and beautifully lit up with Christmas lights and decorations, as well as a Christmas Tree which was kindly donated by Mr Christmas Tree in Spondon.

There was a range of stall holders there on the day, that set up in beautiful wooden huts, selling everything from dog treats to candles and toiletries. Children First Derby had their own stalls selling Santa Keys, Snowman Soup and Advent Calendars, kindly given to the charity at cost to help them raise money.

Alongside the stalls Children First Derby also had a traditional sweet cart and a Face Painter who was hugely popular with the children.

Electric Daisy, who provided the venue to the charity free of charge, had their horse box bar open and the pizza over fired up, keeping everyone fed and watered whilst they enjoyed the event.

One stall holder said, “This is one of the best Christmas Markets we have been to, and we do a lot at this time of year. It was well organised and there was plenty to do for all ages. It had a real buzz about it.”

There was plenty to do for all the family, children could write letters to Santa and post them in the very special North Pole Post-box whilst their parents shopped and enjoyed a festive tipple. There was also a chance to visit Santa in his grotto, complete with fire backdrop and stations to create your own ethical reindeer food station, decorate your own wooden baubles and the extremely popular s’mores station around the fire pit.

The ever-popular Christmas Donkeys were also back for the second year and the children loved stroking them and having their photos taken.

Louise Webb, Fundraising Coordinator said, “It was fantastic to have so many people attend on the day, Electric Daisy was a great venue in Bold Lane, and it was lovely to see new faces with people passing by coming in to see what all the excitement was about.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to Jamie and his team, all our stall holders, our fantastic volunteers and of course Smith Partnership who helped make this event possible.

“As a charity we rely on fundraising from events like these to help support our Family Support and Mentoring Services.”

Housebuilding Staff Trek Through Costwolds For Children First Derby

Staff from a Derbyshire-based housebuilder have braved the elements to successfully tackle the Cotswold Way in aid of charity.

A team of 15 employees from Miller Homes East Midlands walked the 50km route across The Cotswolds to raise money for its regional charity, Children First Derby.

The staff from Miller Homes were joined by the charity’s fundraising coordinator, Louise Webb, on the trek, and have so far raised almost £3,000 via the housebuilder’s dedicated Just Giving page for the walk.

Funding from the charity walk will go directly to Children First Derby, to support vulnerable children, young people and families across Derbyshire, something the charity has been doing since 1974.

Louise Webb, fundraising coordinator for Children First Derby, said: “It was a great experience with a great group of people. Everybody was really encouraging, helping each other to keep going especially towards the last five miles, which were really tough.

“It was hard work and my body ached for days, but what a fantastic fundraising achievement. The money raised will really help make a difference to the families, children and young people that we support.

“We are extremely grateful to Miller Homes for their continued support and especially this latest fundraising effort which really was a challenge. Thank you to all the group that took part and we can’t wait to see what Miller Homes decide to do next and hope to keep working with them in the future.”

Miller Homes East Midlands is based at Centro Place in Derby, near to Pride Park. The housebuilder has raised in excess of £25,000 for Children First Derby since it partnered with the charity in 2021.

Tom Roberts, operations director at Miller Homes East Midlands, said: “Our team has completed an incredible feat by trekking across 50km of the Cotswolds Way in the name of charity.

“We knew the enormity of the challenge going into it, but felt if we were going to ask family, friends and colleagues to support us, it needed to be something which took courage and a lot of commitment to achieve – and the feedback from those who took part certainly suggest we hit the mark.

“We are really pleased to have raised almost £3,000 so far from the walk, which takes our overall fundraising for Children First Derby to over £25,000 in the past two years, but we recognise the most important thing is what the money is going towards, something we all feel passionate about, and that certainly kept the team going during those difficult moments during the walk.”

To donate towards the Cotswold Way fundraiser with Miller Homes, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/miller-homes-east-midlands-1692264521913.

children first derby annual family christmas market

Join us at our Christmas Market on Saturday 18th November from 12pm. 

There will be fun for all the family with Santa’s Grotto, Christmas Donkeys, crafts, stalls selling local produce, pizza and a bar. 

If you are interested in having a stall at the event please contact louise.webb@childrenfirstderby.co.uk. Stalls cost £25 with all proceeds going to Children First Derby.

children first derby Christmas present appeal

As well as Christmas Presents this year, we are also doing a financial collection so that we can take our families shopping and help ease the worries about food over the festive period. Please contact louise.webb@childrenfirstderby.co.uk for more information on how to donate.