Thank You for Snowing Your Support

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1 Parity for Disability NEWS December 2018 Thank You for Snowing Your Support A local charity providing specialised services for people with multiple disabilities since info@parityfordisability.org.uk

2 Winter Wonderland Success Friday 30th November saw staff, students and supporters all come together for our Farnborough Day Service s annual Winter Wonderland. With various Christmas stalls including handmade gifts, wreaths and cakes together with the chance to win on the tombola and raffle, there was much fun had by all, including some beautiful photos taken of the evening by Alix James Photography. Acting Day Service Manager Kelly Jarman said, It was another successful year and the staff all worked really hard to put on such a fantastic event. In total 1,350 was raised with further donations still coming in. Thank you to everyone that took the time to come and support us and we hope that you had a lovely evening. P. 2

3 Remembering Melissa A Parity student has sadly passed away and we will greatly miss her. A very affectionate person, Melissa Morgan built close connections and friendships at the Mytchett and Farnborough day services. She gave the best cuddles ever, said Keyworker Ashley Wood. She just was wonderful. She was full of love, said Keyworker Josh Byrd, who also described how Melissa adored animals and trips out, such as to the local pond to feed the birds, or to picnic at Frimley Lodge Park. Melissa enjoyed music and her favourite activity in the Mytchett day service was playing with the pitch and volume on the keyboards, which she chose to do constantly. She would make her way to them from anywhere in the centre. She knew exactly where she was going, said Josh. Our deepest sympathies to Melissa s family. We will not forget Melissa and will continue to celebrate her life with the many photos and good memories that we have. P. 3

4 Camberley s Bags of Thanks Following on from funding this year s Runways End Activity Week, the Tesco Bags for Help scheme has paid for a piece of equipment that will ensure more students at the Camberley day service use eye controlled technology more often. Thanks to the scheme, Camberley has bought a flexible floor stand on wheels to mount the device. It is adjustable so it can be used above a therapy bed, wheelchair, armchair or wherever a student may have positioned themselves. We now have a further stand for the device that everyone can use, said Day Service Manager Mandy Gray. Thank you to Tesco customers who voted to support Parity through the Bags for Help scheme. P. 4

5 Hidden Disability Lanyards Gatwick airport have introduced the Hidden Disability Lanyard scheme that aims to improve the experience of vulnerable passengers or those people that don t want to share details of their hidden disability. For more information, please hiddendisability@gatwick.com If you are wearing the lanyard it acts as a discreet sign for staff to recognise and understand that you have a hidden disability and that you may need a little extra help. Sainsbury's has also introduced the scheme which enables colleagues to identify and help if needed. They have so far rolled it out across nine stores with the hope that it will be nationwide soon. Parity currently has four lanyards. If anyone wishes to borrow one, please don t hesitate to get in contact by phoning or ing info@parityfordisability.org.uk. P. 5

6 Windlesham Golf Club Windlesham Golf Club Captain Graham Robertson nominated Parity for Disability as his charity of the year after visiting our Mytchett Day Service and meeting some of our students. Members got behind their Captain and various fundraising and events took place - including the annual Captain s Day, fundraising dinners and the ladies of the club donating some amazing Christmas gifts. In total a fantastic 22,000 was raised. Chairman Owen Durrett, Community Support Director Helene Abbiss and Executive Director Alison Cooper visited the golf club to be presented with a cheque showing the stunning result. They are pictured with Graham and the club s treasurer Mike Cole. Parity s sincere thanks go to Graham and all the members at the club for their incredible support. It will enable Parity to continue providing the essential services that our students require. P. 6

7 Raising the Bar Parents and professionals showed great interest in Parity s work at the recent Raising the Bar 2 Conference in Birmingham, a national annual event focusing on the needs of people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD). Parity Executive Director Alison Cooper presented a talk on Parity s specialised day services and the value of an individual plan with aims and objectives for each student. It was a really inspiring event celebrating the impact of the new standards and showing a unified voice, Alison said. While highlighting excellence, the conference also showed the continuing gaps in provision and ongoing need for mainstream recognition and acceptance. P. 7

8 Whistling Success on ebay Volunteer Amanda O Neill has taken on the challenge of developing our ebay shop where interesting and unique items that are donated to our three shops find a new lease of life. Recently a Victorian Police Whistle was kindly donated and highlighted on ebay. It sold for an incredible 192 and has found a new home with a specialist collector in Switzerland. Our ebay shop is reaching new people and countries raising vital funds. Through the items that have been sold since it started we have raised well over 1,000. Thank you to Amanda and everyone that has supported Parity through our ebay shop. P. 8

9 Christmas at North Camp Our North Camp Shop entered into the Christmas spirit with the North Camp Christmas Window Competition. It was very competitive, many shops got on board with the festivities and came up with some brilliant window displays. Judging the competition was the Mayor of Rushmoor, Cllr Steve Masterson who awarded our beautiful Parity window second place. Congratulations to the team and everyone in North Camp for taking part. Senior Shops Manager Christine Stevens said, We were so pleased to receive 2nd place for the North Camp Christmas window competition this year. Thank you to everyone involved in achieving this. Thank you to everyone that has kindly donated items to our three shops this year, with your support you are helping to fund Parity s vital services for people with multiple disabilities. P. 9

10 Thanks for Your Support Enterprise Rent a Car as part of their Angel Tree giving scheme this Christmas season visited all three day services and gave gifts to all of our students. Thank you so much for the time and generosity that all of your staff have shown Parity. Fleet Rotary held a bridge afternoon and raised 1,800. Fleet United Reform Church held a beautiful service and once again donated gifts and 500 to Parity. Thank you to parent Sheila Richens who spoke about Parity s services to the congregation. Fleet Methodist Church groups have been kindly making regular donations. Thank you to everyone that came down to Princes Mead on the 17th November where our Christmas Market raised a fantastic 625. Thank you also to Ann Fox and family for their continued sci fi photo booth, amazing costumes and new backdrop. P. 10

11 Thames Path Success Congratulations to Simon, Adam and Alan who took on the Thames Path Challenge. They walked 100km from Putney Bridge to Henley in under 24 hours and raised just over 2,000 in support of our students. Snow Windows Thank you to Tom and Keri from Snow Windows UK who took the time to come to our Farnborough Day Service and create some stunning snow scenery on the windows for our students to enjoy. For more information and to view their amazing work please visit their website If you would like to update your details or change how you hear from Parity, please don t hesitate to get in contact. You can call the office on or emma.nelson@parityfordisability.org.uk. For more information please visit P. 11

12 Upcoming Events For more information, contact Emma Nelson on or Friday 25th January 2019 Mayor of Rushmoor Quiz Night join the Parity team! Sunday 27th January Farnborough Half Marathon Run for Parity Sunday 24th February Brighton Half Marathon Sign up online Sunday 10th March Surrey Half Marathon Run for Parity Sunday 17th March Fleet Half Marathon Register online today! How to Donate Cheques Payee is Parity for Disability Where to post to 94 Whetstone Rd, Cove Farnborough, Hants GU14 9SX Or visit the website Click on Donate Or bank transfer to CAF Bank Acct no , SC Our Shops 69 Camp Rd North Camp Farnborough GU14 6EP Tel Linkway Parade Fleet GU52 7UL Tel Frimley High St Frimley GU16 7HJ Tel Parity for Disability is a Registered Charity No