Highlights of our first half of 2023

We have tried to produce a wide variety of activities, Parent Tea sessions and excursions to bring a bit of sunshine into the lives of those connected with Dream The Change, CIC during the first six months this year.

 

Judging by the excellent feedback from those attending, we think we’ve succeeded with our aim.

 

One of the highlights of the last six months has been our employment of carer Daniela Eyong, who has given parents and carers respite breaks by taking care of their children out on activities for a while.

 

Lots of happy parents of special needs children connected with Dream The Change, CIC who are delighted with the respite breaks and have given us lots of messages of gratitude.

 

One of the parents said: “I am so grateful and happy about how well Daniella has managed to engage with my son. Thank you Daniella we are all very grateful”.

 

A Dream The Change Board member said, "Everyone involved with Dream The Change said is enormously grateful for funding for a respite carer from Colchester Catalyst and the National Lottery, as it is giving us the chance to be better, more rested parents for our children. Thank you so much."

 

 

Parents, children and their siblings have been able to let off steam at our Sport sessions.

 

Held weekly at Acorn Hall/St Anne's Community Centre, 252 Harwich Road, Colchester CO4 3DH, from 5-6:30 pm, parents can enjoy a tea and coffee break in the middle of the session.

 

The sessions have given us opportunity to celebrate every child’s birthday who regularly attends our Sport Sessions, with a slice of cake and a loud rendition of the birthday song.

 

 

This year Dream The Change, CIC  has engaged an Occupational therapist (OT) and OT assistant, Robert Walker and Charlie Charlton from Sport For Confidence who held three workshops for our parents. 

 

The aim was to help parents and carers understand the benefits of children doing activities like sports, especially those with special needs.

 

With the support volunteers/staff, parents and children, the OT involvement has helped to build the children’s capabilities and confidence.

 

Parents have also been encouraged to use physical activity in their daily routines to promote social, physical, emotional, and sensory regulation.

Individual parents have also been able to raise their child's issues around social, physical, emotional, and sensory regulation with the OT during the sessions. 

 

The OTs continue to support our sports sessions along with our usual leader Kevin Smith from Ability using Sport.

 

We greatly appreciate all involved with our Sports Sessions!

 

 

Our art classes have been popular with children who attend Dream The Change events. It gives them chance to express themselves in colour, with paints, markers depending on the theme of the class. The themes have included The Colour Monster and Easter Crafts.

 

All children connected with Dream The Change, CIC produced fantastic, creative art works at our June Art Class which was organised so they could design our new T-shirt to be used to promote our organisation and the work we do.

 

All of the children produced 2 or 3 images showing off their incredible imaginations and productivity.

 

Jemal, one of our Founding Directors said, “Thank you all for your valuable contribution.”

 

Our parents connected with Dream The Change haven’t been left out either over the last six months. 

 

We have held Parent Tea Sessions both in person and on Zoom with specialist speakers, including : Mitzie Grace Etrata, a nurse for 22 years and now a nutrition and health coach; Sue Anderton the Founder and Executive Director of The MAZE Group Community Interest Company; Hannah Knight, SEND Information Advice & Support Worker and Marco from Privacy Solutions talked about privacy and security online.

 

 

Families connected with Dream The Change, CIC have given us some great feedback after we enjoyed an excursion to Clacton.

 

We met at the Observation Wheel armed with snacks for energetic youngsters and then headed for the softplay area for the rest of the afternoon. 

 

Parents enjoyed chatting while the children played on the soft play equipment.

 

Afterwards, one parent said, “We had so much fun yesterday. My kids were so happy and being with Dream the Change is always fun as everyone there it’s so kind

Thank you

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Another parent said, "Thank you so much for this opportunity yesterday, we had such an amazing time at Clacton soft play. We also enjoyed lunch, snacks and hot drinks. 

 

"The hospitality was amazing and the parents were great, we chatted and shared our experiences. The kids had so much fun. We definitely would go back again.

 

"Thank you so much Dream The Change, CIC."

 

 

Kids connected with our Community Interest Company always enjoy fun and frolics at Jumpstreet and our recent visit was no exception.

 

It gave the children chance to make friends and let off steam, while the parents and carers socialised while observe their offspring or children in their care.

 

 

Well-named, we all enjoyed a trip to the Mega Fun Inflatables Day event at Great Notley Country Park and Cuckoo Wood Local Nature Reserve, Braintree. 

 

Children were spoiled for choice as there were so many inflatables to try at the event.

 

We also had an amazing adventure at Alpaca Acres at Chappel Road, Great Tey, Colchester, Essex, where children had chance to feed the Alpacas, baby goats, pigs and sheep.

 

A member of staff gave us a guided tour and told to us about the Alpacas, which originate from South America, as she escorted us around.

 

In May, we started sending out a newsletter to families connected with Dream The Change to keep them updated with what’s happening.

 

If you would like to receive our newsletter, get in touch with your details via our contacts page on our website.

 

 

We are so grateful to all of the volunteers, students and sponsors who assist in the running of Dream The Change, CIC and help us provide an even better service.

 

Parent and Board Member, Paulina Rangel and parent, Akpan Arit, received a certificate after completing the three days training with the Ministry of Parenting sponsored by the Incredible Years Training for Essex based services/practitioners.

 

This three-day course gave our two trainees the skills and knowledge to facilitate the Incredible Years school aged programme (5 -12 years). 

 

After undergoing the training, Arit was appointed as our volunteer Training Coordinator.  She says she is passionate about learning and helping others to build their capacity and grow.

 

We were delighted when Rekha Syamalakumary, a Social Work student from the University of Essex took up a placement with Dream The Change CIC. She has been helping in various areas of our organisation and learning at the same time.

 

Rebecca Oguntade became our new voluntary Family Support Coordinator.

 

Through her role, Dream The Change is identifying areas where improvements in our services or organisational work may be made to ensure we provide the best services and activities possible, that fully comply with all policies, procedures and legislation. 

 

Rebecca is building up friendships/relationships with parents/carers to discover if they need someone to talk; she identifies and follow up on clients’ concerns and needs and finds out if they require referral to an appropriate service.

 

As a mum of children with special needs, Rebecca says she uses her personal experiences to help other parents and carers in their times of need.

 

Our latest helper is Niranjan who is volunteering to help Dream The Change, CIC in his summer holidays.

The 16-year-old is keen to gain experience as a volunteer and wants to learn new skills.

Niranjan, who has special needs, said, “Being a volunteer with Dream The Change, CIC will help me focus on my skills to develop and build a strong career goal for my future.”

 

We would also like to thank our funders the National Lottery Fund, Catalyst,  The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE), Active Essex, Essex Community Foundation, EALC Food Programme, Little Lives UK, Essex County Council, Ministry of Parenting and our sponsors Sally Anderson-Wai of Write Wai PR & Copywriting Services, Fuze agency who help us to keep Dream The Change going and our Co-Founder/Director, Jemal Allabayeva, who does a lot of the admin and funding applications behind the scenes, Board Members Paulina Rangel and Zak Absi offering their expertise and professional experience and Company’s secretary, Rachel Walton who provides invaluable guidance and advice.

 

 

We regularly organise events, excursions, activities, training workshops and support groups for families with special needs children and their siblings.

 

If you would like to volunteer to help or join in with our events get in touch via the contacts page on our website.