Little Hiccups Year 2015

Little Hiccups Fundraising Ball 2015

Little Hiccups Fundraising Ball

Local support group for children with disabilities / additional needs, Little Hiccups is kicking off Christmas in style by hosting its annual Fundraising Ball this Saturday at The Marriott in Leeds.

The annual Ball has grown from year to year and this year its reputation has preceded it and it is the most popular Ball yet with tickets selling out early.

With a delicious three course dinner, complimentary wine on every table, exclusive auction items and contributions to our raffle prize from a host of generous companies this year promises to be the most amazing yet.

The annual Fundraising Ball started 5 years ago as a brainchild of Linsay Medica, the Founder of Little Hiccups who says “This is our biggest Ball so far and it promises to be the best! We have some fantastic entertainment planned and we are definitely kicking off the festive season in style with a night to remember.”

Even at Little Hiccups Fundraising Events the families are not forgotten. It is a frustrating and unfair fact that the cost of bringing up a child with disabilities is three times greater than bringing up one without. It is because of this that Leeds based company Equinox traditionally sponsor a table so that Little Hiccups parents and carers of children with special needs can take part in our special night too. One of Little Hiccups guest parents phrase it perfectly as “being invited with a free place is not only exciting but that push I needed to actually have a night out! To be able to come to something so special also reminds me that I’m ‘me' and not just 'mum'”.

An evening of Glamorous Entertainment

Not only do we have some amazing guests but we are pleased to announce the return of singer Bethany Hare. Bethany sang for our guests as they arrived last year underneath the eaves of a fantastic Christmas tree while guests warmed themselves on Hot Chocolate with Baileys or Mulled Wine. Little Hiccups were so blown away with her stage presence and voice that this year she was asked to sing on the main stage.

Bethany has just turned 16 years of age and has been fundraising since she was 10. To date she has raised over £30,000 for Martin House and also set up her own charity called Bethany's Smile - her aim is to build Smile Cottage, a holiday home for families of children with high care needs. In addition to her own fundraising, Bethany performs free of charge for any charity in Yorkshire to try and help them to raise more funds for their very worthy causes - her way of trying to support everyone as much as possible.

We also have Shane Durrant who will entertain the guests on arrival. Shane is a Yorkshire-based performer, teacher and composer. He has worked extensively in the UK and abroad, playing at ski resorts in the Alps, directing shows onboard cruise ships and running music schools in Malaysia.

Dean and Richard from X2 Photography will also be there to capture the guests in all their attire although of course the obligatory Santa hat must make an appearance. X2 Photography specialises in family photos of children with special needs and Little Hiccups use them at a number of their events.

Fundraising for an Amazing Cause

Little Hiccups are a support group based in Leeds run by parents who have children with special needs. They had a vision to bring parents and families of disabled children together, to make memories and experience the support of other families in similar situations.

Little Hiccups has nearly 200 families that it supports and the aim of the Ball is to ensure that Little Hiccups can keep providing the support to each of these families that attend our Fortnightly Stay n Play sessions incorporating Baby Massage & Yoga, Music Therapy, information from different services and our Monthly Family Fun Days which include relaxed and group trips to the cinema, theme parks, skiing, wall climbing and photoshoots amongst others. Little Hiccups also offers an Outreach programme and in 2016 have many more future plans to enrich the lives of the families that they support. All monies raised goes back towards the families.

Little Hiccups Secretary and Event Organiser, Miriam Watson says “We are all very excited about this Saturday. It looks like it is going to be our biggest and best yet and we have some fantastic prizes to give away. We've been completely blown away by people's generosity."

James Thompson, a medical negligence solicitor at Simpson Millar LLP and a committee member of Little Hiccups said "This is a charity that is very close to my heart; I've seen the amazing work they do for families in and around Leeds and I am grateful to Simpson Millar LLP for getting behind this event and donating one of the Star Prizes for the night".

ENDS

Note for Editors

Little Hiccups is a support group that has been set up by families who have children with special needs.

Through personal experience they recognise the importance of allowing the parents and families of a child with a disability the opportunity to meet people in similar situations, to make friends and support each other. Little Hiccups runs a bi-monthly support group for under 5’s in Leeds and organises a fun monthly outing that the whole family can attend.

You can contact Little Hiccups through our website www.littlehiccups.co.uk, by email on info@littlehiccups.co.uk or mobile on 0783 123 0741.

Bethany’s Smile: http://www.bethanyssmile.org
Shane Durrant: www.shanedurrant.co.uk
X2 Photography: www.x2photo.co.uk

Little Hiccups October Event: Rainbow Factory

It was a cold, wet and generally miserable day. I was certainly glad that we had arranged an indoor activity today but I have to admit that I was a little apprehensive. I had been sent a newspaper link from one of our families showing that the Rainbow Factory had been broken into and ransacked. You can read the article here. We never had any intention of NOT going but were a little nervous about what to expect and from reading the article the damage done was quite large.  We needn't have been. I don't know how hard the staff had worked to get everything back up to scratch but they must have worked relentlessly. One of the parents said to me after that if they hadn't known about it via the newspaper there simply would not have known. The place was impeccable. When we arrived we were greeted at the door by the happiest and smiliest people I think I have ever met! The enthusiasm and excitement of the team at Rainbow Factory, even after what must have been a very challenging week, was palpable and it fizzled in the air.

We started our adventure by being greet by one of the owners, Hazel and our guide for the day, Lydia. We then entered a mystical world through theatrical red curtains and were rewarded with fabulous tales of magic adventure. Our guide bubbled with stories and engaged the children with their interactive stories. We visited goblins and dragons. We found magic boxes, wands and dragon teeth. We searched for emotion stars and collected them in our tubs. 

Once we had found all the emotions we could we moved onto a craft area where we put our emotions onto wish buckets and decorated with colours and glitter. Each of these activities totally engrossed the children. I don't think I've ever seen them sit so still...

Several of the children enjoyed the centre in their own way. The fancy dress and the hidey holes in the tents were particularly popular with some. And there was plenty of opportunity for the parents to relax and take 10 minutes for themselves while the rainbow staff entertained the children. I personally found the time to catch up with parents and actually have a chat instead of running around after my own children! Always appreciated. 

Our wonderful visit ended with a packed lunch for the children in the rainbow room where they tucked into sandwiches and gingerbread men. The adults weren't forgotten either and we treated to buns and some very tasty sandwiches and good old fashioned pots of tea. The proper way!

All in all it was a lovely trip out and we were made to feel so welcome. Even when we left (well after closing time) the staff were still so happy and enthusiastic and after chatting to them I learnt that it had been one of, if not THE, busiest days they had had since opening. Personally...I want to know the secret and source of their energy...maybe it's the magic that is entwined throughout the building? Whatever it was, I can't wait for our next trip.

The Rainbow Factory will be holding lots of Christmas activities in the runup to Christmas including a performance of The Shoemaker's Christmas Wish which will be hosted from 8th -24th December at 11am and 6pm. Join Charlotte the shoemaker for a magical reimagining of the classic fairytale The Elves and the Shoemaker. Featuring live music, song and dance, this Christmas cracker is bursting with fun and laughter for all the family...

To book or for more information, visit www.rainbowfactorykids.com/ChristmasShow

Little Hiccups trip to Cannon Hall Farm - Saturday 19th September 2015

Indoor Play Area

Due to popular demand, we re-visited Cannon Hall Farm and how it has grown! It's been about a year since I last went and about two years since Little Hiccups has visited. Since my last visit there is now a fantastic and interactive Soft Play area where the children spent a happy hour exhausting themselves. We spend at least another hour in the outdoor play area as the weather ended up being absolutely gorgeous (to the point where I regretted not packing suncream!). Exhausted but happy we finally managed to persuade the children that as this was a working farm we really ought to go see the animals and managed to drag them away from the slides and climbing frames. Cannon Hall Farm have also been hard at work updating the areas that the animals stayed in also and the walk way past them all was much easier to navigate in the crowds and we were able to see the very cute piglets and my personal favourite - the pygmy goats!

Sheep Racing

I was dragged by my daughter to see the Ferret Racing where my ferret decided to tease me by pretending to win then turning round and going back the way it came just before the end. We also visited the Sheep Racing twice and we managed to win the raffle one time. The sheep it seems, was much better behaved than the ferret!



We had a fabulous day and I know that all the families I bumped into too did. We certainly all came home very tired!

Enjoying the sun

Our tickets included farm admission, sheep racing, indoor play area, ferret racing, milking demonstrations, outdoor play area and tractor & trailer ride and Cannon Hall Farm also very kindly set aside some of the picnic area exclusively for Little Hiccups families as it can get busy in the cafe.

About the Farm:

Cannon Hall Farm opened to the public for the first time in 1989. Since that time we have added adventure playgrounds, gift shop, farm shop, two restaurants and an indoor playground. It is now one of the largest farm attractions in the UK and the winner of many awards.

Our new £1.5 million farmyard opened in July 2013. Seven new farm buildings designed with the visitor in mind. See the day to day workings of a modern farmyard including tractors and farm machinery during the working day.

Other attractions include a milking parlour with regular milking demonstrations and a Rare Breeds barn. This is the first visitor centre of it’s type in the world!

Cannon Hall Farm was winner of the Best Tourism Experience at The White Rose Awards 2011 and highly commended in the Visit England Awards 2012 in the same category. It was also a finalist in The Best Large Attraction Award at The White Rose Awards 2014 and won the The Innovation award for it’s new farmyard at the National Farms For Schools Awards 2015.

Website: http://www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk

Always time for a quick selfie

Start thinking outside of the box!

We all know about the budget cuts in the NHS but do you know about the positive changes in our Leeds area and how they affect you?

Services have had to take a hard look at their budget and get creative, whilst also ensuring they are meeting the criteria of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This means that we can now be part of the consultation process and ensure we have a voice on how services work.

 

What does this mean to us as parents? 

We now have rights, control and choice for what our children need to help them be included and gain some independence.

We can personalise the care package around our children, what works for them and us as a family – because as we all know, every child is different.

Imagine having a blank page, and listing what your child needs for their physical, emotional and spiritual outcomes.

Nobody knows our children like we do, so working in partnership with professionals we can plan how to reach those outcomes and achieve the very best for our children. 

“My child is NOT a statistic, NOT a number, NOT a diagnosis, but a person with different abilities taking on a difficult world.”

What does this mean to me?

After dealing with the system for the last 9 years it has taken me a good while and a lot of deep thinking to get my head around the changes and what it means for Jack and I personally. Everything has turned upside down, instead of being ‘grateful’ for anything we can tap into, now its about “what does Jack need” and thinking about how we can achieve it.

Its radical, its new and its not what we are used to – but it’s a fantastic opportunity to get a better life for our children. We as parents, can be heard now. I’m not saying for one minute that all our battles are over, but this is change in the right direction and personally, when I look at how far society has come in the last 60 years with their views and treatment for disabilities, children included, I cant help but feel positive and encouraged.

As services are being reviewed, as a patient/parent you will be invited to give your thoughts and input to how it can be improved. If you want to help shape better services for your child, then take the opportunity to be heard.

Written by Linsay Medica, Founder of Little Hiccups

Contact us by emailing us on info@littlehiccups.co.uk if you want the opportunity to be heard.

Special Summer trip to Swithins Farm Soft Play

The Soft Play area

We hired out the Soft Play area at Swithens Farm just for the Little Hiccups families. It's is a lovely little Play area which has a bright and colourful indoor play area and the Barn offers a fantastic combination of ball pools and apparatus providing a safe environment to let off some steam - including a cushioned ball pool too for the younger ones and the less mobile.

Jack meeting the new arrival

It was a nice little catch up during the very hectic summer holidays and the kids played for two hours non-stop. We also got to meet up with a new member of our Little Hiccups family. Massive congratulations to Hiccups Committee member James and his wife Claire on the birth of their son - he's a cutie!

Website: http://www.swithensfarm.co.uk/

Little Hiccups trip to Skelton Grange - Tuesday 18th August 2015

Well despite it being glorious weather the day before and the day after - on the day of our visit to Skelton Grange it decided to pour with rain ALL day. That didn't stop us having a huge amount of fun though as we explored Skelton Grange and all that it had to offer. The lovely volunteers showing us around stuck out the rain with us and their enthusiasm was never dampened.

Skelton Grange is in South Leeds. It's a Charity run organisation that encourages play in the natural environment at their award winning eco-centre and nature area. Little Hiccups worked with Skelton Grange to organise a fun and sensory day out during the summer holidays for our families. We had the following fun activities:

We started off with a welcome to the centre and walk of the grounds to orient ourselves. We walked around the vegetable and herb garden and found interesting plants and herbs that smelt and looked beautiful. We were given some sticky paper and asked to find the most interesting leaves and flowers.

We built shelters in the woods including erecting hammocks. There was a variety of styles from canvas tents to a intrigate wooden wigwam. The children certainly enjoyed building in these and swinging in the hammocks after. We then had lunch in the shelters in the woods. It was pretty wet by this point so we were glad of whatever shelter we had! We think that the rain kept all the bears away.

After lunch we split into two groups. Some stayed outside and took a trip to the herb garden to make potions. The idea was to mix up nice smelling plants with a little water and make a 'potion'. My son took these one step further when he created an Invisibility potion, poured it over his head (yes really) and kept disappearing!

The other group went inside and started making Hapa Zome and/or God's Eyes. If you google these you will see exactly what they are. Hapa Zome is the process where you gather leaves or petals (the more colours the better) and on a cloth you hammer them in then peel them off. Depending on how detailed you do it, it leaves the shape and colour of the leaves or petals on the cloth and you can make patterns using this. Some children then made these into flags by attaching to long sticks.

God's Eyes (or Dragon Eye's as I also heard them called) is the process of putting two sticks in a cross shape then with wool, going around each stick to make a diamond shape which can be changed throughout with a variety of colours.

After this, to complete the day, we all returned outside where one of the volunteers had lit a fire for us. Using a special 'cage' like tool at the end of long pole, the children took it in turns to shake popcorn kernals over the fire to make popcorn. Sharing fresh warm popcorn around the campfire was a nice end to a lovely day. Many thanks to all the volunteers at Skelton Grange for looking after us so well!

Website: www.tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange