Our February news

Surely it can't be February already?

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A good news story for February: Sarah Vearnals is joining us as our new Communications Officer! Sarah said: "I'm thrilled that I will be moving over from my volunteer role to be an official staff member of the charity that helped my son to walk - School for Parents. It's really hard to get my head around that something I am super, super passionate about will actually be a job." We're looking forward to working with you Sarah!

Please let us know if you have any toys, games, mobility aids, outgrown Piedro boots, leg and arm splints that could benefit disabled children in Kenya. Caroline Newton is flying out on 7 Feb and can take items.
email Caroline

''School for Parents is an 'Undiscovered Jewel' which acts as a lifeline to parents who could otherwise find themselves isolated" said Councillor David Mellen, Portfolio holder for children's services in Nottingham, when he paid a visit last week. Cllr Mellen will also be coming to one of our open events in March!

Debbie's leaving!
Having worked for Rutland House School / Rutland House School for Parents and then us (as an independent charity) for most of her working life (a total of 33 years!), and having supported hundreds of children during that time to develop new skills, Debbie Allsopp is leaving to pursue a new career, providing individual support to disabled children and their families. Debbie’s last working day will be Thursday 5th February and you are invited to her leaving party on Sunday 8th February at School for Parents between 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm. All children and families that have attended Rutland House / School for Parents are invited - please email to let us know you're coming

3 New Trustees at School for Parents!
We're pleased to announce that 3 new trustees are supporting School for Parents: Tony Bates, owner of Fast Graphics in Nottingham and formerly one of our ambassadors; David Winnett a Collaborative Family Lawyer and Mediator at Hopkins Solicitors (David's daughter attended SfP for 4 years); and Alison Brooks from Barratts (Barratt, Goff & Tomlinson personal injury and clinical negligence solicitors).
We would like to strengthen our Board further by inviting a parent or carer (either currently using or have previously used our service and ideally with a financial background) to join us. For information please email Shaun Hallam

We've been adopted!

We received the best news last week ...
We've been selected by the East Midlands office of global company
Turner & Townsend as their adopted charity:

Turner & Townsend is an independent professional services company specialising in programme management, project management, cost management and consulting across the property, infrastructure and natural resources sectors.

Thank you - your support will help to make a real difference and we are looking forward to developing the relationship.

Click here to see their fundraising page

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Do something FABULOUS!

Help us empower parents and enable disabled children here in
Notts and Derbyshire.

Join the 250 people coming to our 5th Cherub's Ball on
Saturday 25 April at Blotts Country Club.

With: Des Coleman The New Trio, Pesky Alligators

Our short video clip from 2014 provides a taster of the fantastic party atmosphere - it really is a fabulous, sparkly, laugh out loud, fun event
& perfect for family celebrations, groups of friends
or corporate entertaining.

Tickets £50pp | Tables of 10 £500

The Ball is a staple fundraising event for School for Parents and thanks to everyone that supports the evening, it raises enough to fund our service for a month.

Book your table / tickets, or donate an item for our amazing auction,
please email Eileen Sleaford

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One person missing out on Cherub's Ball fun this year is Richard Walker (pictured on the left - if you watch the Ball video carefully you'll spot him dancing!).

We'll let you off this time Richard, seeing as you're running the London Marathon for School for Parents the following day on Sunday 26 April!

Please support Richard's fundraising efforts to support our charity.

Imagine willingly putting yourself through 7 days of pain!

Thank you James Lawson, Christopher Cartlidge and Steven Martin for supporting School for Parents through your 'week of pain' - cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End in just 7 DAYS!

Thanks also to Clare Taylor and Thomas Lawson (James' 8 year old son).

Every £1 raised helps our charity so p lease help them on their 1000 mile journey by giving what you can.

The School for Parents Summer Party is back and It's going to be bigger and better too!

Get your diaries out folks: SATURDAY 13th JUNE, it's the SfP Summer Party! Bridge Field, West Bridgford.

Whooo Hoooo!!!!

Like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all that's going on.

Contain your excitement all you Teddy Bears #TeddyBearBungee Think immensely high, think pirates walking the plank, incredibly brave bears and a terrifying shark pit beneath.
The BUNGEE IS BACK!

National Conductive Education Week

During the week beginning 7 March School for Parents will be helping to raise awareness of Conductive Education - please see details for our open events on 10 and 11 March. Please join us. If you would like to help by sharing your story please email eileen.sleaford@schoolforparents.org

CE AWARENESS WEEK 2015 7th - 14th MARCH

7 March

ACROSS THE UK

Pre-loved Books Needed!

If you are having a clear out of your bookshelves, please donate them to the TSB bank on Sneinton Dale - they are selling books at 50p in aid of School for Parents. Thanks so much to TSB manager Lisa Del Gaudio and her team.
They can also be left at SfP and we'll take them down there.

1,000 posters donated by local print company!

Many thanks to Catherine Tew from Midlands Regional Printers for donating 1,000 printed A4 posters to help raise awareness of our charity out there in the community.

They are already working, with several new calls from parents.

Thanks for bringing them in too Catherine and spending time with our children.

Where do we start? There are always so many people to thank, all doing different things to support our charity - it's amazing and extremely heart-warming too!

Trust funders and organisations, Trustees / ambassadors and their connections, families, friends and people we don't know who go out of their way to help by mentioning our name, tweeting, sharing, organising an event, making a donation, adopting us... THANK YOU!

We must raise £20,000 every month to keep providing free Conductive Education to children who need the early intervention programmes that we run and the help we give to parents.

Thank you if you've helped us or are thinking of helping us - we really do value and appreciate your support.

You can donate or set up a fundraising page here.

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