Services
| Out of School Activities/Trips and Parent/Carers Social Events-out in the Community | Total Attending |
| Live Show-X Factor, Radio Metro Arena, Newcastle - 1 Visit | 69 |
| Live Show-Disney on Ice, Radio Metro Arena - 1 Visit | 93 |
| Live Show-Scooby Doo, Billingham Forum - 1 Visit | 59 |
| Mums/Dads/Carers Brewery visit - tasting of ales & buffet, compliments Cameron´s - 1 Visit | 19 |
| Elementis, Yarm - BBQ, Bikes & Games - 2 Visit | 123 |
| Teesside Princess Riverboat Trip with BBQ/Disco - 1 Visit | 60 |
| Lightwater Valley Theme Park, Ripon - 1 Visit | 75 |
| Metrocentre, Gateshead - 1 Visit | 40 |
| McDonalds/Multi Sensory Room, Hartlepool - 3 Visit | 43 |
| AMF Bowling Washington - 3 Visit | 161 |
| Darlington Dolphin Centre-swimming, soft play and sensory room - 1 Visit | 39 |
| UK Superbowl Hartlepool - 2 Visit | 73 |
| Cinema/Pizza Hut or Burger King, Hartlepool - 3 Visit | 174 |
| Various Social/Pub Lunches - 4 Visit | 112 |
| Mums/Carers Celebrating National Carers Week - Oakroyd Hotel for lunch - 1 Visit | 21 |
| Quad Bikes - 1 Visit | 14 |
| Mums/carers Christmas Shopping Day - Meadowhall, Sheffield - 1 Visit | 15 |
| Mums/carers Christmas Night Out-Marine Hotel - 1 Visit | 20 |
| Teesside Princess Santa Cruise with buffet - 1 Visit | 98 |
| Parties at Easter, Summer and Christmas with our own disco, buffet, prizes and gifts, Catholic Club allows use of room free of charge - 4 Visit | 315 |
| Snow White Pantomime, Darlington Civic Theatre - 1 Visit | 115 |
| Hydrotherapy Sessions, High Tunstall School - 29 Visit | 132 |
| Disco/Social Evening/parties, music manned by our own DJ´s Young People/Volunteers - Room compliments of Cameron´s Club - 11 Visit | 410 |
Children´s Club
The children have enjoyed various activities held in-house and out in the community.
Once again the annual strawberry tea was greatly enjoyed by all the families and delicious cream teas were served by the children.
The children brought their favourite Teddies to participate in the Teddy Bears Picnic held in the Resource Centre and the ever popular Merry Go Round, where the children take great pleasure in enjoying the soft play and lunch, was visited 8 times.
Volunteers helped the annual popular fancy dress Halloween Party go with a swing by decorating the centre in true spooky fashion.
As usual the highlight of the Christmas Party was a visit from Santa who made sure he brought along his sack full of presents.
Santa flying in with a bag full of gifts
Drama Club “Constellation”
Our drama group Constellation have continued to wow audiences with their shows for DreamMakers and a number of private parties. They once again attended the Vibe Awards. Their performance was based on a theme of urban hip-hop. Although initially out of their comfort zone they soon got into the swing of it and took the show by storm.
Our young people also attended and gave a short performance at the Youth Opportunity Fund Awards Day. They have also enjoyed being part of the audience for various theatre shows in Hartlepool and Sunderland and a trip to Pizza Hut/Cinema.
In November our stars were called for an audition in Glasgow for “Britain´s Got Talent”. Although we were only given a few days to prepare everyone involved pulled out all the stops to give a perfect performance on the day. We all had a wonderful, exciting day being interviewed for television and taking part in the filming of the opening credits. We now wait in anticipation to see if we have been successful in getting through to the next stage.
Friends in conjunction with “Constellation”
This group of young performers is made up of members with and without disabilities who join Constellation for various events and shows throughout the year.
We started the year with a very successful Family Entertainment Evening at the Mayfair. May found us joining together as one choir we sang at the Hartlepool Music and Art Festival, which is part of the British and International Federation of Festivals for Music Dance and Speech. We signed and sang “We´d Like to Teach the World to Sing” which was awarded the category of “Outstanding”, we were later invited to a presentation evening and were presented with a trophy from the Hartlepool Civic Society for our performance
All our young performers worked tirelessly for our annual event at the Arc pulling off yet another spectacular night of entertainment which had the audience on their feet both nights. It gave Constellation and Friends the opportunity to showcase their talents once again. We must not forget all the people who worked hard behind the scenes to help make this venture so successful. The After Show Party and Awards Evening was held in the Borough Hall which was a more spacious venue. The stars were very proud to collect their certificates and trophies.
St.Theresa´s Parish Church requested a repeat performance of the nativity and we were only too pleased to oblige.
As this goes to press we are working hard to present our very first Pantomime in the early New Year 2008. Constellation have spent many weeks of working as a group with the volunteers to produce a script in order to ensure old panto favourites are included such as “He´s behind you...” and “Oh no he isn´t”.
Summer Playscheme
As usual this was successfully held in High Tunstall School for 11 days, 10am to 3.30pm.
Attendance:
- 98 - Children and young people-an average of 70 per day
- 24 - Sessional workers
- 16 - Volunteers
- 9 - Personal Assistants
- 3 - Parents
- The Manager and Administration Staff
Activities on offer include:
- Swimming
- Music Workshop
- Computer Games
- Face Painting
- The bicycles/outside play/kites
- Bouncy Castle/slide
- Football sessions
- Bike Tests
- Children´s Entertainers
- Ice Creams
- Basket Ball Demo
- Belly Dancing show
- The teenage room
- Beauty and hair braiding
- Fire Engine Demo and Little Dennis
- Photography training
COMMENTS RECEIVED:
“I have enjoyed spending time with my friends. I have also enjoyed swimming, Egyptian Belly Dancing and helping the staff.”
“The playscheme has been a godsend to me. I know I can leave my child knowing he is getting the attention he needs. The one to one is fantastic because he can be very demanding. I know I won´t be getting a phone call asking me to come and get him.”
“The playscheme has been the most enjoyable part of my summer so far. The best thing has been getting to know the children/young people who have such great personalities and endless energy. It has been lovely getting to know them and I can´t wait until next year to do it again.”
The scheme is unique, being the only one of its kind in the area.
The Group is Ofsted Registered EY 294144 - the certificate is on display in the Resource Centre.
Short Holiday
Alton Towers
The families attending enjoyed a three nights stay in an onsite hotel including breakfast and evening meal. Two day park tickets were provided as well as sessions in the Splash swimming pool and crazy golf.
Blackpool
A varied programme of events was enjoyed by all during our three nights stay at the Shellard Hotel.
Resource Centre
The following services are provided at our centre and continue to be popular:
- Support/information sessions for parents/carers.
- Parent/carer/baby/toddler group.
The above Monday and Thursday, 10 am to 12 pm. Term time only. - Children´s activity club, once a week term time plus extra sessions.
- Drama Group, once a week plus extra sessions.
- Friends regular sessions.
- Multi-sensory room weekly term time (Thursday 1-3 pm) and occasionally at other times.
- Members own children´s parties.
- Training and awareness sessions.
- Associated group´s use.
- Drop in days - Tuesday 10 am to 3 pm term time. Members and professionals alike pop in for a chat, or information etc.
- Family Nights-1 x Pie and Peas, 2 x BBQ´s, 2 x Fish and Chips suppers all with Bingo, games etc.
- Mums & Dads/Carers Pamper Evening-various therapies, buffets and a lovely relaxing time had by all.
- Fundraising Events (see Donations/Fundraising).
- Our own Santa´s Grotto using our storeroom, beautifully decorated by a group of our volunteers/members. Santa, loaded down with gifts, paid a visit and music, mince pies, sherry and gifts were organised for 2 sessions. Grotto used by all Resource Centre activities and regular clubs.
- New Years Eve Party with decorations, music and entertainment organised by some of our volunteers/members, a delicious buffet was included.
All activities, trips, short holiday, various clubs, social events etc. are always well attended.