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SMILE
Association are a new group set up in early 2006 to encourage and develop
children's self esteem through the provision of a safe, fun environment where
children can experience activities and learn new skills through workshops
and outward bound weekends. The group are based in the Greenfield Middridge
ward of Sedgefield district, which
is ranked within the top 4% most disadvantaged wards in the country.
The SMILE Association have recently received funding towards:
The group received £7,000 which enabled them to take sixty children and young people between the ages of 5 and 13, including some who have learning disabilities, on two three-day trips to the High Force Outward Bound Centre in Middleton in Teesdale.
The children took part in a number of exciting outdoor activities including canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling and waterfall jumps. All of the activities were designed to improve team work, self confidence and help them to develop interpersonal skills. For many of SMILE's children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds this was an incredible opportunity. It looks like they had lots of fun too!
SMILE
were given a grant of £882 from our TKA Tallent Chassis Fund to hold
a 3 day children's festival with a SuperHero theme.
Group leaders, parents and children all got involved in the fun, many of them
dressing up as their favourite SuperHeroes including Spiderman and Mr. Incredible.
The grant helped them to put on a huge amount of activities for the children
including dancing, juggling, fashion, art, cookery, competitions, crazy characters,
games and much more. 150 children between the ages of 3 and 11 attended the
festival over the three days and to enable those from further a field to attend
the group put on buses to pick up and drop off the kids from out of the area
which meant that children from low income families could have the opportunity
to experience such an event for free.
Sean has been going to Smile for six months, he heard about the project through
his mum and dad. He thinks it is 'proper excellent' and likes the games. He
has about 50 friends at the Smile group and loves going.
Luke and Josh like to go to Smile to meet up with old friends and meet new ones. They like the football and the guitar workshops. They think that the leaders are funny, friendly and good fun. The bouncy castle and the football were their favourite things to do at the festival. Luke said 'I liked making the ginger bread men cause you can eat them afterwards!'
