WDCS CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2015 TO 2016
Worcester and District Deaf Children’s Society (WDCS) Chairman’s Annual Report for the Year
Jan to Dec 2016
The Committee
Chair: Graham Burgess
Vice Chairs: Carly Buchanan & Kate Hateley
Treasurer: Sarah Jessop
Secretary: Jo Johnson
Special Ambassador: Elaine Wilkins
Other committee members: – Ben and Sam Andrews, Debbie & Nick Atkinson, Andrew Hateley, Joanne Gleeson,, Beth & Mel Nichols, Karen Parker, Sarah Recker, Elaine Wilkins, Paul Stinson and Katrina Walker.
I would particularly like to thank all of the committee for their hard work and commitment to WDCS over the past year without your dedication we would not have a local society for our children and other parents to meet and provide support. I would like to give a special mention to the work of our fund raising committee in particular Carly, Sarah, Debbie and Kate. I have really appreciated the help and support of the entire committee in organising events and keeping the society moving forward.
WDCS Events
All 10 events were reasonably well attended during the year.
We started the year with our annual visit to the Pantomime in January to see Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome starring Lee Mead as Aladdin, Marti Pellow, Julian Clary and the ever funny Matt Slack as Wishee Washee. This event is always popular and great success.
The children enjoyed Ten Pin Bowling at Bowl Extreme in February.
In March the children went to a subtitled showing of Paddington at the Odeon followed by Pizza at Zizzi’s with thanks to Paul for organising this event.
At our AGM in April the children had a visit from The Drumlove Workshop organised by Karen and Jon which they thoroughly enjoyed the hands on opportunity, although the children weren’t quiet they were certainly entertained.
A Multi Sports event at Perdiswell sports centre was organised in May by Adam.
In July Carly, Adam, Kate and Andy organised the “Pump it Up” Water Zorbing event where great fun was had by all trying to remain upright on the lake in very large inflatable bubbles at Chaddesley Corbett followed by a barbeque This was featured in the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) families magazine.
In September Karen organised an information day for parents and junk modelling activities for the children at Perdiswell Young Peoples Centre. This was very informative and a chance for parents to find out about different things on offer.
In October following on from last year’s success of the Mad Science event we had a return visit from the Mad Scientist who brought numerous fun experiments. All the children had great fun, although number of children attending was down on the Mad Science event in 2015.
In November the children had a food at Perdiswell Young Peoples Centre followed by a trip to Pitchcroft to see the round table bonfire and firework display. I am told the evening went with a bang!.
We ended the year with the always popular 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.
WDCS marketing and communication
Again this year Ben has put in a great deal of effort he has continued to develop our web site and our Facebook pages.
Adam has done a wonderful job maintaining the database for us all ensuring contact details and event registration is up to date and text reminders are sent to members.
WDCS and National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) lobbying
During the past year Karen our Children’s Hearing Services Working Group (CHSWG) representative has done a tremendous job in conjunction with David Heap form the National Deaf Children’s Society. Together actively lobbying on behalf of our children to help deaf families’ voices be heard during a time of change within the local authority and the services provided to deaf children the hearing impairment team. Karen has produced a summary for the year as our CHSWG representative.
Donations/ Fundraising in the year
More detail is within the Treasurers report however, it has been stressed that we need to raise more funds for the society in order that the we may continue to provide events and support for families.
During the autumn Kate organised a fund raising fashion show at M and Co in Bromsgrove which was a great success and enjoyable evening for all who attended.
We are thankful to have received donations from Asda in Bromsgrove, Round Table and Pershore High School. . In addition we are very grateful to have been selected as one of the charities for the Co-Op stores on Ombersley Road in Worcester
Donations we received from a number of organisations of raffle prizes for our Christmas Party and would like to thank all who donated to our Christmas raffle.
Fundraising
During 2016 Carly, Sarah J, Debbie and Katie our fund raising committee have been very busy doing a tremendous amount of work organising a quiz evening March and a fashion show in the autumn together with planning the WDCS Fund Raising Ball.
Looking forward with 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 and for us to publicise our activities more widely. Also we will 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 will remain good.
The WDCS Fund Raising Ball at the Mercure Hotel, Habberley Road, Bewdley on Saturday 13th May 2017 promises to be great fun and a chance to dress up for the occasion and to raise some much needed funds for the Worcester Deaf Children’s Society.
Once again thanks to all involved in running the society and we are looking forward to another year providing additional support and exciting and stimulating events for the children.
Jan to Dec 2016
The Committee
Chair: Graham Burgess
Vice Chairs: Carly Buchanan & Kate Hateley
Treasurer: Sarah Jessop
Secretary: Jo Johnson
Special Ambassador: Elaine Wilkins
Other committee members: – Ben and Sam Andrews, Debbie & Nick Atkinson, Andrew Hateley, Joanne Gleeson,, Beth & Mel Nichols, Karen Parker, Sarah Recker, Elaine Wilkins, Paul Stinson and Katrina Walker.
I would particularly like to thank all of the committee for their hard work and commitment to WDCS over the past year without your dedication we would not have a local society for our children and other parents to meet and provide support. I would like to give a special mention to the work of our fund raising committee in particular Carly, Sarah, Debbie and Kate. I have really appreciated the help and support of the entire committee in organising events and keeping the society moving forward.
WDCS Events
All 10 events were reasonably well attended during the year.
We started the year with our annual visit to the Pantomime in January to see Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome starring Lee Mead as Aladdin, Marti Pellow, Julian Clary and the ever funny Matt Slack as Wishee Washee. This event is always popular and great success.
The children enjoyed Ten Pin Bowling at Bowl Extreme in February.
In March the children went to a subtitled showing of Paddington at the Odeon followed by Pizza at Zizzi’s with thanks to Paul for organising this event.
At our AGM in April the children had a visit from The Drumlove Workshop organised by Karen and Jon which they thoroughly enjoyed the hands on opportunity, although the children weren’t quiet they were certainly entertained.
A Multi Sports event at Perdiswell sports centre was organised in May by Adam.
In July Carly, Adam, Kate and Andy organised the “Pump it Up” Water Zorbing event where great fun was had by all trying to remain upright on the lake in very large inflatable bubbles at Chaddesley Corbett followed by a barbeque This was featured in the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) families magazine.
In September Karen organised an information day for parents and junk modelling activities for the children at Perdiswell Young Peoples Centre. This was very informative and a chance for parents to find out about different things on offer.
In October following on from last year’s success of the Mad Science event we had a return visit from the Mad Scientist who brought numerous fun experiments. All the children had great fun, although number of children attending was down on the Mad Science event in 2015.
In November the children had a food at Perdiswell Young Peoples Centre followed by a trip to Pitchcroft to see the round table bonfire and firework display. I am told the evening went with a bang!.
We ended the year with the always popular 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.
WDCS marketing and communication
Again this year Ben has put in a great deal of effort he has continued to develop our web site and our Facebook pages.
Adam has done a wonderful job maintaining the database for us all ensuring contact details and event registration is up to date and text reminders are sent to members.
WDCS and National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) lobbying
During the past year Karen our Children’s Hearing Services Working Group (CHSWG) representative has done a tremendous job in conjunction with David Heap form the National Deaf Children’s Society. Together actively lobbying on behalf of our children to help deaf families’ voices be heard during a time of change within the local authority and the services provided to deaf children the hearing impairment team. Karen has produced a summary for the year as our CHSWG representative.
Donations/ Fundraising in the year
More detail is within the Treasurers report however, it has been stressed that we need to raise more funds for the society in order that the we may continue to provide events and support for families.
During the autumn Kate organised a fund raising fashion show at M and Co in Bromsgrove which was a great success and enjoyable evening for all who attended.
We are thankful to have received donations from Asda in Bromsgrove, Round Table and Pershore High School. . In addition we are very grateful to have been selected as one of the charities for the Co-Op stores on Ombersley Road in Worcester
Donations we received from a number of organisations of raffle prizes for our Christmas Party and would like to thank all who donated to our Christmas raffle.
Fundraising
During 2016 Carly, Sarah J, Debbie and Katie our fund raising committee have been very busy doing a tremendous amount of work organising a quiz evening March and a fashion show in the autumn together with planning the WDCS Fund Raising Ball.
Looking forward with 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 and for us to publicise our activities more widely. Also we will 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 will remain good.
The WDCS Fund Raising Ball at the Mercure Hotel, Habberley Road, Bewdley on Saturday 13th May 2017 promises to be great fun and a chance to dress up for the occasion and to raise some much needed funds for the Worcester Deaf Children’s Society.
Once again thanks to all involved in running the society and we are looking forward to another year providing additional support and exciting and stimulating events for the children.