DGSM yourChoice newsletter
Choices www.dgsmyourchoice.org.uk
Summer 2015
Charity number 1103190
We welcomed feathered visitors from Eagle Heights, including an American Bald Eagle, a hawk and an owl.
A week of celebrations! This year’s Learning Disability Week was a huge success. We organised different activities throughout the week, which included judo, bird of prey experience, New Age Kurling and Cycle4All. We would like to thank Gareth Johnson MP for visiting us and we hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Thank you to Gravesend Lions Club and Sevenoaks District Council for their generous support, which has made these events possible.
Workshops for children
and young people
For the fourth year running, Children in Need have funded Children and Young Peoples Holidays workshops in Medway with a grant of ÂŁ10,000. The workshops take place 4 times a year during the school holidays and run from Monday to Friday. The group choose a topic and plan and develop their own production with the help of drama, music and dance teachers. They also get to perform in front of parents, carers, friends and supporters on the last day. People attending tell us that it is a really fun week where they can learn new skills, build their confidence and make new friends.
www.dgsmyourchoice.org.uk
Ahoy! from Dreamland This year’s Peppercorns summer outing was to Dreamland Margate’s newly renovated amusement park. Full of modern and vintage rides and attractions, Dreamland was a hit with the people who visited.
It was really good fun.
David
The staff were fantastic and took the time to help the people we support to get on the rides.
Becky Green, Services Manager
Karen’s win at Ascot Traveling on the bus and shopping independently is part of Karen’s life. Karen lives at Benham Lodge in Gravesend and recently completed her level 2 first aid course. This came in handy, when one of her house mates had a nose bleed. Karen knew exactly what to do. This year Karen went to Royal Ascot Ladies’ Day with her support worker Barbara. She got dressed up and even wore a fascinator. They both had great day and the horse they bet on won the race! Karen loves horses and also went to watch a 3 day event. She would love to have her own horse one day and hopes to find a job where she can work with animals.
We’ve merged with mcch We will continue to be a separate charity, under the mcch group. This means that we are part of a larger organisation, who have very similar values to our own. www.mcch.org.uk
learning disability | autism | mental health
“It’s good here” Linda has been coming to Peppercorns for many years. Linda tells us why she likes it so much. “It’s good fun and I have lots of laughs. The staff are great. They help you out.” Linda takes part in lots of different activities like cooking, dancing and drama. She has also learnt a lot and enjoys doing the Steppingstone course that includes english, maths and geography. “We went to the library and I was a bit nervous at first. I can’t read. Steppingstone is helping me with my reading. I am getting better.” Linda likes to help the staff and is on the Industry nightclub committee. “I sit on the door and take the money. Once that is done, I have a dance. I have made lots of friends here and love coming to Peppercorns.” Peppercorns is a service for adults with learning disabilities in Dartford. We are always looking for donations to help us buy equipment to support the activities. This includes sensory equipment, arts materials and musical instruments. Text ABCD14 £5 to 70070.
Thanks to Santander for their grant of £7,147 to support the Photographic Project at Peppercorns.
We ran 4 12-week courses during 2014/2015 and bought cameras, Apple Mac Book animation equipment, tripods, tablets, printers and more. The courses covered training on how to use digital cameras, editing, printing, creating storyboards and Adobe photoshop. The groups have created storyboards on topics like social behaviour, keeping safe, being healthy and independence. We look forward to seeing the photos they have taken during their Summer holidays with their own cameras!
Thanks to the pupils and teachers at Dartford Grammar School for their kind donation of £746. Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you
Quiz Night
Thursday 15 October
Dartford Conservative Club
Ladies that Lunch Tuesday 8 December
Hilltop Hotel, Stansted Nr Brands Hatch TN15 7NY
Glitz & Glamour Charity Dinner with singer Chris Till
Friday 6 November The Knowle Country House Restaurant, School Lane, Higham, ME3 7HP
Up for a challenge? RideLondon-Surrey 100: 30/31 July 2016 • Cycling 100 miles through London
British 10K: Sunday 10 July 2016 • 10km run through London
Thames Path Challenge: 10/11 September 2016 • Walk, run or jog following England’s greatest river. Choose either 25km, 50km or 100km.
Freedom Night Club
The Crush Bar has been refurbished into a new-look bar, called Industry. The next night club will be on Wednesday 30 September, so join us for the launch party! Future dates:
er 28 October | 25 November | 30 Decemb
Open to everyone!
Charity Golf Day
Halloween Walk
Friday 25 September Knole Park Golf Club, Sevenoaks, TN15 0HJ
Thursday 29 October 11am - 1pm Fancy Dress Shorne Woods Country Park, Gravesend Minimum sponsorship: £3 per walker Registered office: DGSM yourChoice c/o mcch One Hermitage Court Hermitage Lane Maidstone Kent ME16 9NT
For more information about these events, call our fundraising team on 01322 425995/6.
Registered charity number 1103190
www.justgiving.com/DGSMyourChoice
www.dgsmyourchoice.org.uk