WDCS Chairperson's report for the year 2013 to 2014
WDCS Chairperson's Annual Report for the Year
Jan to Dec 2013
The Committee
Chair Elaine Wilkins/Alison Hunt
Vice Chair Darren Spencer
Treasurer - Jenny Dinsdale/Sarah Jessop
Secretary – Ben Andrews/Ian Shakespeare
Other committee members –Sarah Recker, Mel Nichols Nairi Gallant, Graham Burgess, Martyn West, Ros Wilder, Debbie Atkinson.
I would like to record a special thank you to all committee members for their hard work over the last 12 months which has meant we have had another very successful year.
WDCS Events
All 11 events were well attended in the year with most having at least 25 families in attendance. Our database of families is the strongest it has ever been with some 90 contacts and 8 new families in the year which is fantastic.
We started the year with our annual visit to the Pantomime in January at the Birmingham Hippodrome starring Brian Conley which as always was well attended.
February and March we had arts and crafts at Blue Roof and a trip to the cinema followed by Pizza making at Little Venice. Thanks to both Sarah and Paul for organising these 2 events.
At our AGM in April Angie from Words, Signs and Vibes came along and taught the children a song to sign and perform which was recorded and shown at the ball later in the month and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
In May we went to Perdiswell Leisure Centre for trampolining and a roller disco followed by McDonalds.
In June Ros organised our annual sports day and the children had great fun playing 'cone tag' plus many more games. Many thanks Ros.
In July we had a great day out at Top Barn and picnic – thanks to Sarah for all her hard work in organising this event.
August saw us run a workshop with Angie from Words, Signs and Vibes as part of Worcester Music Festival, as we were their chosen charity of the year.
September we had Andy Kirk, Magician to entertain the children and I think they all had a lovely time, thank you Ian , Graham and Vickie for organising.
We went off to horse riding followed by fish and chips at Stourport Riding Centre in October – thanks again to Ian for organising.
In November we repeated our successful trip of last year to Drayton Manor where over 100 people enjoyed a day at the theme park on the Saturday after a fun evening on the Friday night with a meal, disco and entertainment from Andy Kirk, magician and a stay in the hotel on site.
A huge thank you to Elaine for all her hard work organising this wonderful event again.
We ended the year with another successful Christmas Party where we had face painting, disco party games, bouncy castle and a visit from Santa – thanks to all committee members for the help in ensuring this event was a great success. I do have to single Debbie Atkinson out for stepping in last minute and sorting out the food for us, thank you Debbie.
Deafinity Events
The Youth Group continues to meet - teenage diaries permitting - and they have enjoyed film nights, pizza night, bowling and a Graffiti workshop which I think they all really enjoyed and made a wonderful new logo.
Thanks to Nairi for organising events with help from both Beth and Kathryn. I believe that we need to continue to offer events for our teenagers in the coming year to support them as they progress to adulthood.
WDCS marketing and communication
Thank you to Ben for all your hard work with the Database and to Ian for now taking on this and organising an update to make sure we continue to effectively communicate with our members.
I would also like to thank Elaine for being our Ambassador for new families of which there have been many this year.
Donations/ Fundraising in the year
In order to continue to provide affordable events for families at our current rate we need at least £5k on an annual basis and so donations and fundraising are key to the success of the group.
2013 has been an absolutely incredible year for fundraising, many family donations were received in the year as well as fundraising events and these will be covered in more detail in the Treasurer’s report.
I would like to record thanks to Asda for nominating us as their Charity of the month, The Coop for choosing WDCS to be their charity of the year, Worcester Music Festival for also selecting us as their chosen charity for 2013 and also everyone who voted for us to be Young Gloves Karate charity of 2013.
I would also like to say a special thank you to Ian for putting up with all my tantrums whilst organising the first ever WDCS charity fundraising ball in April, thank you Ian.
I would like to record a thanks to Donna for helping us to deliver the signed carols at Sainsbury’s which is a great deaf awareness event as well as raising funds for our charities.
All these donations and fundraising events ensure we are able to continue to provide regular events for all of our families and I would like to thank each and every one of them for both their kindness and physical efforts in raising money for the group.
The Future of WDCS
WDCS needs to continue to encourage families of newly diagnosed deaf children to join the group so we can support them through their journey as well as continue to support existing members Also we need to continue to provide a variety of fun activities suitable to all the deaf children and young adults in our care so that attendance at our events remains high.
Owing to increased work commitments unfortunately I cannot continue as Chairperson and am standing down. This isn’t a decision I have taken lightly but feel WDCS needs someone who can give it the time and energy is deserves. I also regretfully have to say that from today Darren is standing down as Vice Chair and also from the committee, thank you Darren for all your support over the years. We are at a bit of a crisis point and need more of our members to join the committee to enable us to run successful events. I would like to thank all the committee for their hard work this year and for all the support I have received, in particular, Ben, Ian, Sarah and Elaine. Going forward it is important that the committee remains strong in numbers and continues to work together for the benefit of our children. Sharing the responsibility and workload amongst many should mean that no one individual is overloaded with responsibility.
Here’s to another successful year.
Thank you again to all involved in running the group.
Alison Hunt
Jan to Dec 2013
The Committee
Chair Elaine Wilkins/Alison Hunt
Vice Chair Darren Spencer
Treasurer - Jenny Dinsdale/Sarah Jessop
Secretary – Ben Andrews/Ian Shakespeare
Other committee members –Sarah Recker, Mel Nichols Nairi Gallant, Graham Burgess, Martyn West, Ros Wilder, Debbie Atkinson.
I would like to record a special thank you to all committee members for their hard work over the last 12 months which has meant we have had another very successful year.
WDCS Events
All 11 events were well attended in the year with most having at least 25 families in attendance. Our database of families is the strongest it has ever been with some 90 contacts and 8 new families in the year which is fantastic.
We started the year with our annual visit to the Pantomime in January at the Birmingham Hippodrome starring Brian Conley which as always was well attended.
February and March we had arts and crafts at Blue Roof and a trip to the cinema followed by Pizza making at Little Venice. Thanks to both Sarah and Paul for organising these 2 events.
At our AGM in April Angie from Words, Signs and Vibes came along and taught the children a song to sign and perform which was recorded and shown at the ball later in the month and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
In May we went to Perdiswell Leisure Centre for trampolining and a roller disco followed by McDonalds.
In June Ros organised our annual sports day and the children had great fun playing 'cone tag' plus many more games. Many thanks Ros.
In July we had a great day out at Top Barn and picnic – thanks to Sarah for all her hard work in organising this event.
August saw us run a workshop with Angie from Words, Signs and Vibes as part of Worcester Music Festival, as we were their chosen charity of the year.
September we had Andy Kirk, Magician to entertain the children and I think they all had a lovely time, thank you Ian , Graham and Vickie for organising.
We went off to horse riding followed by fish and chips at Stourport Riding Centre in October – thanks again to Ian for organising.
In November we repeated our successful trip of last year to Drayton Manor where over 100 people enjoyed a day at the theme park on the Saturday after a fun evening on the Friday night with a meal, disco and entertainment from Andy Kirk, magician and a stay in the hotel on site.
A huge thank you to Elaine for all her hard work organising this wonderful event again.
We ended the year with another successful Christmas Party where we had face painting, disco party games, bouncy castle and a visit from Santa – thanks to all committee members for the help in ensuring this event was a great success. I do have to single Debbie Atkinson out for stepping in last minute and sorting out the food for us, thank you Debbie.
Deafinity Events
The Youth Group continues to meet - teenage diaries permitting - and they have enjoyed film nights, pizza night, bowling and a Graffiti workshop which I think they all really enjoyed and made a wonderful new logo.
Thanks to Nairi for organising events with help from both Beth and Kathryn. I believe that we need to continue to offer events for our teenagers in the coming year to support them as they progress to adulthood.
WDCS marketing and communication
Thank you to Ben for all your hard work with the Database and to Ian for now taking on this and organising an update to make sure we continue to effectively communicate with our members.
I would also like to thank Elaine for being our Ambassador for new families of which there have been many this year.
Donations/ Fundraising in the year
In order to continue to provide affordable events for families at our current rate we need at least £5k on an annual basis and so donations and fundraising are key to the success of the group.
2013 has been an absolutely incredible year for fundraising, many family donations were received in the year as well as fundraising events and these will be covered in more detail in the Treasurer’s report.
I would like to record thanks to Asda for nominating us as their Charity of the month, The Coop for choosing WDCS to be their charity of the year, Worcester Music Festival for also selecting us as their chosen charity for 2013 and also everyone who voted for us to be Young Gloves Karate charity of 2013.
I would also like to say a special thank you to Ian for putting up with all my tantrums whilst organising the first ever WDCS charity fundraising ball in April, thank you Ian.
I would like to record a thanks to Donna for helping us to deliver the signed carols at Sainsbury’s which is a great deaf awareness event as well as raising funds for our charities.
All these donations and fundraising events ensure we are able to continue to provide regular events for all of our families and I would like to thank each and every one of them for both their kindness and physical efforts in raising money for the group.
The Future of WDCS
WDCS needs to continue to encourage families of newly diagnosed deaf children to join the group so we can support them through their journey as well as continue to support existing members Also we need to continue to provide a variety of fun activities suitable to all the deaf children and young adults in our care so that attendance at our events remains high.
Owing to increased work commitments unfortunately I cannot continue as Chairperson and am standing down. This isn’t a decision I have taken lightly but feel WDCS needs someone who can give it the time and energy is deserves. I also regretfully have to say that from today Darren is standing down as Vice Chair and also from the committee, thank you Darren for all your support over the years. We are at a bit of a crisis point and need more of our members to join the committee to enable us to run successful events. I would like to thank all the committee for their hard work this year and for all the support I have received, in particular, Ben, Ian, Sarah and Elaine. Going forward it is important that the committee remains strong in numbers and continues to work together for the benefit of our children. Sharing the responsibility and workload amongst many should mean that no one individual is overloaded with responsibility.
Here’s to another successful year.
Thank you again to all involved in running the group.
Alison Hunt
