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Gifts
Pregnancy
Education
Magazine
Issue 6
Fit for a
Royal
Preparing for the new arrival Tomorrow’s Talent...
Nurtured Today Working
mums Meet some of this years Mumpreneur finalists!
Prepared Parenting With the help of Medpac!
w w w. s n u g g l e b u n d l . c o . u k
Lift your baby safely and gently without waking them snugglebundl
Extra safe head and neck support
“The versatile mummy and baby must have” Jo Tantum– TVs leading baby sleep expert
The lifting loops and extra head support makes life easier for any parent.
Warm, Cosy wrap
Take your baby Not the car seat!
Also great for twins, post birth recovery or when you just don’t want to carry that car seat!
New born to 6months Order on line or Tel: 01273 958703
As feature on: Dragons Den BBC Radio2 Innovation Slot Loose Women The One Show
NOW AVAILABLE IN BOOTS
Easy to Feed
Get yours today with a 10% discount code: ach2 Multi Award Winning Design
European safety compliance Code: 006002788P (lifting loops tested to 30kg) 02
Contents 06
Baby Essentials
44
Mumpreneur Stars
When you are pregnant the key is preparation; for the birth, for you and for when you both come home, preparation can be exhausting but don’t worry, we’ve got the seven essentials covered with these Mumsnet recommended products every new Mum will need.
Get motivated by the most entrepreneurial Mum’s in the UK with our look at some of the finalists and winners of the 6th Annual Mumpreneur UK Awards, including our very own marvellous Mum! Recognising the achievements of amazing Mum’s across all sorts of industries, if you are looking for inspiration
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Fit For A Royal
Music Highlights
We’re looking forward to welcoming a new Royal baby in 2015 so we’ve been on a noble quest to find the best baby products and services out there for every little Prince or Princess; from newborn photography to adorable accessories we’ve got something for everyone that will even make Kate envious!
If you are interested in playing, learning or just enjoying classical music of any kind we can recommend an amazing performance through to the best specialist music schools in the UK. So whatever your classical background (or even if you have none) let us help introduce you to accessible options to whet your appetite for an
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Win a Castle Playhouse!
Win a small Princess Castle Playhouse from Win Green in our fabulous competition! This enchanting Castle Playhouse is perfect for any aspiring princess; with its fairytale lilac turrets, is embroidered with pretty pink blossoms, delicate dragonflies and cheerful bumblebees it’s a magical hideaway for any little princess to play in.
Accessible Adventures
When there’s a chill in the air and the dark nights start drawing in many of us start to dream of next year’s holidays. If you’re looking for a great British break or soaking up the sun in the Algarve we’ve found some great companies who can offer affordable, accessible breaks for those who have mobility concerns.
Company Director: Jenny Cross - jenny@crossproductions.co.uk Editor: Sally Smith - sally@crossproductions.co.uk Head of Operations: Leanne Baker - leanne@crossproductions.co.uk Design: Rachael Bambrough - design@crossproductions.co.uk Editorial Directors: Emily Kirton & Sarah Bladen - editorials@crossproductions.co.uk Media Account Manager: Emily Davison - emily@crossproductions.co.uk Media Account Manager: Emma Cross - emma@crossproductions.co.uk Media Account Manager: Tania Hollingsworth - info@crossproductions.co.uk Postal Address: Cross Productions, 17 Mandervell Road, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 5LR Distribution: Media Matters Direct www.mediamattersdirect.co.uk Published by: Cross Productions Ltd www.achieve-magazine.co.uk Email: info@crossproductions.co.uk Telephone: 0116 2712573
Achieve 03
BABY
Boom
If you don’t love a good to-do list like we do, pregnancy is the perfect time
to start; from preparing for the birth
through to all the essentials such as cots, car seats, carriers (the list is too long!) babies don’t wait until they’re here to keep you busy so let us provide some inspiration to get you started on that list!
Amawrap
The Varioguard with Isofixbase for children from 0 months to 18 kg of weight. The Varioguard is an amazingly flexible car seat with Isofixbase which can be used for many years. It provides you and your child with the latest technology and the highest level of safety. This car seat is ECE 44/04 approved (current car seat standard) and meets all the requirements to transport your baby safe and secure.
phone: 01978 664 362
04
mail: info@hauckuk.com
web: www.hauckuk.com
. . o g it t Le
o g it Let What else could a new mum need! These stunning nappy cakes are filled with useful practical baby products that new parents can use. Makes a stunning baby gift, baby shower gift or maternity leaving gift. Prices start from just ÂŁ33.
www.coochycoonappycakes.co.uk
Lets turn your pregnancy into art... Ever thought of having a treasured memory of your Baby Bump? Ever thought of getting it painted? Designs can be anything you want! Belly painting is a great idea for the creative, fun loving mum to be and we can also include photography and editing to really make it an everlasting presious memory and keepsake...
www.pregnancyart.co.uk www.facebook.com/pregnancyart 07818 411382
Coochy Coo Nappy CakesÂŽ Adorable, affordable nappy cakes and new baby gifts. Our gifts are available in various sizes, so if you want a small gift from yourself or if you are clubbing together as a group, our designs make an ideal present to give as a pregnancy gift, at a baby shower, or as a gift for a colleague that is leaving work to go on maternity leave. www.coochycoonappycakes.co.uk
info@coochycoonappycakes.co.uk 07580 058 471
Achieve 05
Baby Essentials The countdown has begun to your baby’s arrival, so we have pulled together your 7 baby essentials to help you prepare and take some of the stress out of your baby shopping spree with these key items as voted Mumsnet Best. Cot or crib Stokke Sleepi is an evolving bed that grows with your child from 0 to 3 years with a unique oval shape which creates a nest for your baby; and with the additional Junior Extension Kit up to can take your child through the night until approximately 10 years old! Made from durable solid beech wood, pressure resistant and with a hypoallergenic PU foam mattress with removable cover. Nappies For disposable nappies try Pampers BabyDry which have Double Dry-Zones; a new soft absorbing layer, and a core which locks in wetness better than next leading nappy for up to 12 hours of dryness (and a better chance of sleep for Mum!) or if you’d prefer washable nappies Easy Peasy Bumbles offer birth to potty nappies - the ultimate in cost effective nappying;
no messing around with outgrowing nappies and having to buy more, you buy a nappy that fits from newborn right through to potty training.
never been easier, thanks to the City Mini Double. You can glide around town even when you only have one hand free to steer. You can even roll through a standard size doorway.
Pushchair There are so many options out there we’ve picked the cream of the crop from the Mumsnet recommendations dependent on your lifestyle and needs:
Baby bouncer Babies can bounce away the hours with BabyBjorn Babysitter Balance; this is a lovely ergonomic bouncer with a soft and snug design that is suitable right from day one. The fun and natural bouncing movement develops your baby’s motor skills and balance and is available in a variety of colours and fabrics to suit you. Breast pump or bottle steriliser
For urban chic Running errands and getting around with your child has never been easier, thanks to the Baby Jogger City Mini. This stroller is the essence of urban mobility; lightweight, compact and agile. Its sleek and practical design makes it the perfect choice for traversing the urban jungle. For every environment UPPAbaby Vista is designed to transport your baby or toddler in comfort wherever you want to go in; it’s both nimble and light around city centre stores and rugged enough for a walk in the countryside. And, after all that fresh air, the carry cot or spacious seat unit are a great place for a quick nap! For double trouble Getting everywhere with two little ones has
Quick drying super absorbent Turkish towels
If you’ve chosen to breast feed when the little one arrives, have a look at some handy accessories to help you express your milk. For everyday When you are comfortable and relaxed, your milk flows more easily. That's why Phillips created Avent Comfort Electric: Sit comfortably with no need to lean forwards and let the Phillips Avent Comfort Electric’s soft massage cushion gently stimulate your milk flow. For out and about The Philips AVENT Microwave has a lightweight
7% Discount on all orders Use code ACH94
Why would you want anything else? The home for great ideas for Parents, Babies & Young Children We aim to make it easy for parents shopping online to find the right products for them. We offer products that we believe to be the best in their category based on quality, value for money and ease of use!
20% off all Hippychick towels when quoting HCT14 w w w . h i p p y c h i c k . c o m
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4 3 4 4 4 0
01977 663306
www.babe-equip.co.uk
and compact design, which makes it ideal for use in and out of the home. Contents remain sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid is unopened. Car seat and/or sling [depending on how you'll be getting around] You and your new arrival will have lots of trips and lots of fun with these great travel accessories. For in the car The lightweight Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix is easily transferred from the car without disturbing your baby; approved according to the latest European safety standard ECE R44/04 the Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix baby seat allows for longer and safer rearward facing travel. For on the pavement Kari Me baby wraps, produced from high quality cotton/elastane jersey sourced only the UK, are proven to be comfortable, safe and secure for both baby and carer, these baby slings have many carrying positions to aid a successful baby and carer security and togetherness. Baby wipes You’ll get through plenty of these so try something affordable without forfeiting the quality. Tesco’s My Baby's Ultra Soft Wipes are thick, moist and specially formulated with over 98 per cent purified water and a blend of skin conditioners, Pure Newborn wipes are pH balanced and free from preservatives, fragrance and alcohol. They’re hypoallergenic, and paediatrician and dermatologically tested too.
ion
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Demons
trat
b aila av
r. iso
s
studio90two.co.uk hello@studio90two.co.uk @studio90two
Celebrating 10 years of offering great service and advice.
Great savings on a wide range of cloth nappy brands and accessories, including Little Lamb, Charlie Banana, Tots Bots and Motherease.
www.clothnappyshop.co.uk Online advice available.
Free UK delivery. Achieve 07
Get the 4D experience with Insight Scan
Those nine months that your baby grows inside you are some of the most exciting months of
Expectant Mums have a world of new and exciting things to prepare for but as your due date approaches many mums-to-be realise that their hospital bag needs packing and preparation panic sets in. Thanks to Karen Snyder at myHospitalBag the last minute stress of supply hunting can be avoided; as an expectant mother herself Karen spent hours researching the essentials she would need for the labour, post labour, her newborn and what to take home (not to mention her hubby!) and through her meticulous creation of her own personal ‘Baby Bible’ her stylish bags can now cater for your needs and save you a search.
huge! Insight Scan offer a way in which you can
“As a mum of 3, I know how tiring and hard life can be and if I can make having a new born a little easier and bring a smile to your face, I will have succeeded in my aim” says Karen.
between your NHS scans for reassurance or
As a marketing professional by trade, Karen, inspired by her own pregnancy experiences realised the idea for myHospitalBag following the birth of her second child in 2006 and her friends envy over her organisation skills when they were expecting. Taking a break following her third child in 2008, Karen returned to developing her concept once her youngest started nursery in 2011; hosting focus groups and gaining feedback from new and expectant Mums, myHospitalBag was perfected to contain newborn and new mum essentials as well as products to keep you feeling fresh in hospital (and a few treats, after all you’ll deserve them!). Designed to make your 48 hour hospital stay as comfortable as can be and maintaining the ‘Mummy chic’ with a variety of stylish bags in a choice of colours, myHospitalBag provides convenience and comfort when you need it most. With rave reviews from customers and winning a Highly Commended award in the ‘Product’ category of this year’s Mumpreneur awards, this is a bag of goodies every pregnant woman should have. “The bag was fantastic and post labour I am still using the contents now!” - Naomi, (now) mum of 1, London To check out the full range of bags and 35 branded products perfected for your pregnancies go to www.myhospitalbag.co.uk
WIN WIN WIN The baby boom doesn’t stop there; we have 3 Handprint & Footprint Casting Kits to give away courtesy of myHospitalBag! All you need to do is email your name and contact details to competitions@crossproductions.co.uk with the subject ‘My Hospital Bag’ for your chance to win.
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your life, as you ponder what that little seed will look like the anticipation and excitement is take a peek at your little one all safely tucked in the womb ahead of time. Whether you are looking for a dating scan at a time convenient for you, are looking for an extra few scans in simply want a lovely 4D scan as a nice bonding experience, Insight Scan offer the ideal service and with years of experience they are a team you can really trust. Set within a lovely homely environment (as opposed to the more sterile feeling of a hospital) the Insight Scan centre provides a warm welcome to all. One of Achieve’s close friends went along for a 4D scan just recently as was thrilled at the whole experience; “I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to see our baby in 4D, the detail was amazing! You could see features and it really helped us get even more excited about its arrival. I can’t believe how much detail you can see and the scan really lasts a nice amount of time with none of it feeling rushed. We got a DVD of the scan so that we can watch it again and again and some lovely photographs! The team were really friendly and made the whole thing an absolute delight. I really recommend the service and think it would make a lovely experience gift for friends and family!” Tara Fawcett comments. www.yourbabyscan.co.uk Call: 07881 574 124
Catch that dribble the stylish way with the help of Bibbles Bandana Bibs! With their wide collection of bandana bibs made in Nottingham by caring grannies you are sure to find something you will love! Bibbles are made with a quality soft cotton top fabric to absorb wetness and a soft fleece under layer to act as a barrier, preventing clothing and baby’s chin from becoming wet and uncomfortable. Adjustable nickel free press-studs means it’s a comfy fit and being machine washable, your Bibble will last for years! .
10% Off your 1st order with code ACHIEVE
www.bandana-bibs.co.uk
For belly, birth, breast feeding and beyond Gownies - Nighties - Hospital Bags - Bellybands Prices start at £9.99 with FREE UK delivery
See the range at www.theprettycompany.com Silver Cross Balmoral Bespoke - chosen by you and handmade for you The ultimate in luxury, quality, design and elegance. Balmoral Bespoke launces on 4th November 2014, exclusive to Harrods. The handmade personalised baby carriage showcases individual design and style and is available for the first time ever from British pram maker Silver Cross. Balmoral Bespoke promises to be the most desirable pram ever made. The inaugural Silver Cross Balmoral Bespoke Limited Edition pram, is the pinnacle of premium luxury. With exquisite attention to detail, the quality of the Balmoral Bespoke is radiant. Every silver body is individually hand polished and painted with fine line detailing and a shine that has never been seen before. Made to the highest standards of craftsmanship, in a time-honoured fashion, each iconic Balmoral Bespoke pram is truly unique. Silver Cross guarantees that every pram is one of a kind with a selection of details, tailored to individual preferences. Finishes to choose from include: five sophisticated colours of premium leather for the handstitched hood and apron, hand crafted metallic C-sprung chassis available in varying statement colours and a beautifully crafted handle in walnut or white to reflect ones own personal taste. Completing the look of absolute elegance and exclusivity, the child’s name will be engraved on a plaque on the front of the showcase body of the Balmoral Bespoke. Each pram also features a special identification plaque and distinct ‘Bespoke Range’ logo recognising that the Balmoral Bespoke is one of only fifty unique prams in the world. With the attention to detail, Balmoral Bespoke is prestigious and desirable in every way. Every Balmoral Bespoke owner will receive an exclusive hand signed certificate of authenticity with the child’s name, individual number and date of manufacture. Available from Harrods, £5,000
15% off e with cod 2014 Achieve
Feel close and connected to your baby with the AmaWrap. Suitable from newborn, there are many benefits to baby and parent.
Baby
Baby gets skin-to-skin contact. He is able to lay his head on your chest when tired, and is soothed feeling your breathing and heartbeat – like in the womb. Research suggests that this contact benefits baby beyond infancy. Ideal for colic and reflux babies as baby is ergonomically supported and positioned.
Parent
The contact helps with lactation and reduces the likelihood of postnatal depression, and it is ideal for discreet breastfeeding on the go. Your baby’s weight is distributed equally over your entire back, making it the most comfortable type of carrier. It’s easy to tie using our online tutorials, and baby can be easily popped in and out. The Amawrap also helps to avoid the nightmare that is “public transport with a buggy”!
www.amawrap.com Achieve 09
BABY
Rooms
Creating the perfect room for your new baby is the ideal opportunity to satisfy those ‘nesting’ urges, and let’s face it, good fun, but don’t forget if you want
them to sleep through a blackout blind, all fitted with the latest Anti Strangulation safety devices, from our favourites at Countesthorpe Blinds is a must!
Nubie
Sprucing up your nursery or child’s room can be a lot of fun, but as parents you’re always looking to make sure it’s an appealing, functional and safe environment for your little ones to enjoy. Good quality furniture is a must, but if you’re like us you’ll also love to accessorise to make your room individual and that’s where it can be a struggle to find suitable, stylish additions which are fashionable and affordable. If you’re looking for some ideas then perhaps we can help. Why not get a stylish height marker, there are loads on the market meaning there’s something for every budget and taste and they’re fun for you and your baby to see how quickly they grow; or personalised prints such as framed handprints and footprints, they can be homemade and are guaranteed to be unique. If you’ve got a creative toddler they might like some chalk board wall stickers, just add chalk and imagination and they can decorate their room daily! Once playtimes over and they’re (hopefully) ready for sleep you could try a night light decorated in your child’s favourite style or cartoon character to help them drift off gently and hopefully lessen the separation angst so many children get when they move into their own rooms; and to keep them fast asleep, even in the lighter summer mornings, we recommend some black out blinds to stop the dawn wake up calls. Just make sure that they meet all the safety standards, like the ones from Countesthorpe Blinds and they could benefit the whole family!
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Our Favourite Children’s Room ideas!
Bring some fun to a seat or bed with these alphabet cushions, only £36 from www.nubie.co.uk
Cherish & Cherubs for gifts that little bit different
Vintage inspired fabric and wallpaper- ''Ere-be-Dragons' design from www.paperboywallpaper.co.uk (both wallpapers £60 per roll and fabrics £56/m) For more ideas visit www.cherishandcherubs.co.uk
info@cherishandcherubs.co.uk www.cherishandcherubs.co.uk
Achieve 11
Cosy Kids Rooms! Let your child’s imagination sail away with this Pirate Ship Shelf. Brightly decorated in warm red and orange hues and with a skull flag and crow’s nest detailing, this design is going to be a winner with pirate fans.
No cosy kids room would be complete if they didn’t have their very own Snugglesac!
£28.00 from www.beckyandlolo.co.uk
The Snuggle Sac is the perfect cosy sleep aid for toddlers (from 18 months old) right up to teenagers and beyond. Available in a wide range of bright designs, including Harry Potter (which was created after author JK Rowling infamously included the Snuggle Sac in one of her Potter books!) as well as current favourites Pirates and Fairies to name a few.
Mini Owl Cushion
The Snuggle Sacs are machine washable and can be tumble dried at low temperatures overcoming inevitable accidents during toddler years and making them perfect for every night of the year. The collection has designs for toddlers as they transition from cot to bed in the My First Snuggle Sac range and caters for two further sizes in children and teenagers with the Original Snuggle Sac. Not only does this wonderful invention solve the blankets on the floor problems at night, they also provide a great deal of comfort and fun on long car journeys, staying in different environments such as on holiday, sleepovers, or simply whilst snuggling in front of their favourite film or book. They provide a level of comfort and familiarity that children and parents the world over love about the Snuggle Sac.
www.snugglesac.com
£14 from BHS
Bespoke, personalised and decorated teepees Prices start from £120 from www.myweeteepee.co.uk
Farm Store Playhouse
£29.95 from www.dotcomgiftshop.com 12
Vintage Inspirations for kid’s bedrooms I am Caitlin
founder of Cherish
1.
& Cherubs, gifts
1. Vintage inspired fabric and wallpaper - For the plane lover how about Spitfires fabric and wallpaper in white and pillarbox red or if Dragons are more your child’s thing ''Ere-be-Dragons' design from www.paperboywallpaper.co.uk (both wallpapers £60 per roll and fabrics £56/m) or for girls try www.etsy.com or www.johnlewis.com for some great designs.
and interiors for little ones. I’m a
mum to a five year old boy and I’ve always leaned
towards interiors
with a yester-year
2.
3. Personalised touches – no little boy’s room would be complete without a train, this personalised wooden train is just the ticket – all aboard! 4. Or this pretty vintage style door hanger, both available from www.cherishandcherubs.co.uk
avoiding it being too ‘twee’ isn’t as hard as you might think. The key to getting
the vintage feel to a room is not to rush
it. Your child won’t take too much notice
when they are very young as long as their by, the rest is more for our enjoyment, so
2. Antique armchair for bedtime stories; this one is from www.thefrenchhouse.co.uk (around £400 including fabric) or Ebay depending on your budget.
3.
feel. Decorating your child’s room and
bed is warm and favourite toys are close
Here are my top picks for achieving a vintage inspired bedroom:
4.
think of it as a labour of love; enjoy picking out quirky pieces and finding the fabric,
wallpaper, bedding and accessories that suit your taste and reflect your child’s personality.
Keep an eye out for local vintage fairs, they are popping up regularly and are great for finding quirky pictures, ornaments, clothing especially hand knits, cushions and bedspreads, but be prepared to haggle for a bargain! I love my local independent bookshop (much more fun than Amazon). My son enjoys choosing a new book and we enjoy reading it together to wind down at the end of the day…sometimes it’s the old fashioned simple pleasures that are the best! www.cherishandcherubs.co.uk
murals Birmingham based Sweetart Murals create graffiti and mural art for children’s bedrooms, nurseries, homes, schools, community projects and businesses throughout the UK. With professionalism and passion we bring your ideas to life through engaging, eye-catching murals that inspire, educate and fuel creativity.
www.sweetartmurals.co.uk hello@sweetartmurals.co.uk 07795 071296 @Sweetart _ murals Achieve 13
new year New skill It’s never too early or too late to learn
something new, make it a resolution this New Year for you and your little one; from baby sign classes to learning an instrument it’s something you will both love and reap the benefits from, you never know what hidden talents you both may have!
Jakabel
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SWIM SAFELY WITH JAKABEL!!
Including the highly acclaimed Swimsafe floatsuits – the only ones with the anti-tip neck ring, Jakabel has a stylish, eye catchingly easy to spot range of UV50+ swimwear and accessories. High quality, resilient, Chlorine safe and they look good on all the family! Sizes from 0-13yrs plus adults. Delivery 2-3 days all year round! Contact: info@jakabel.com
Tel: 020 8715 2385
www.jakabel.com 14
Improve your skills, improve your world Every New Year millions of us make resolutions (some more achievable than others) but will you be seeing through 2015 with a difference? Instead of giving something up, which feels like you’re missing out, why not teach your little ones something new?
Stuck for ideas? We’ve been looking at some of the fun, interactive ways you and your child can learn something new together because parents need fun too! One skill your child will probably already want to learn and which provides confidence and peace of mind for you too is swimming; it’s nothing new but it is an incredibly useful ability and everyone loves a good dip. Best of all, it’s something you can do with your children, whether it be babies or older children getting your child to love water is beneficial not only for exercise but also for their confidence and water safety and provides countless hours of one to one time. Get yourselves some cozzies and dive into swimming with some awesome accessories so you will be the coolest crawlers in the pool or enjoying a bit of backstroke on the beach. We love these swim fins which look like you’ve brought you’re very own shark to swim with but double up as a vertical swimming aid for children from 2 years upwards; but be careful not to clear the beach on your holidays with this one! For your little surf dudes/dudettes have a look at Jakobel’s range of swim wear with the added benefits of UV protection and flotation aids in designs your children will love. If swimming is not for you, perhaps nature is and it is almost certainly a preferred pastime of many children, getting out and about they can explore with wildlife walks in the sunshine or feeding birds in the snow, learning about animals and their environment; why not make your resolution to get ‘greener’ and show your children how and why? From recycling to using sustainable products you can show your little conservationists how easy ‘green’ can be, from babies using our favourite Funky Monkey cloth nappies and saving on Landfill right through to creating beautiful gifts from natural materials for your home by Greener by Nature, get them going ‘green’ now and they can help to protect their environment forever. Or why not do both? Variety is the spice of life, and essential for maintaining interest so mix your activities up and you can both learn something new this New Year.
Beautiful and unusual gifts and homewares for natural and sustainable living Choose from a fabulous range of natural and organic, ethical and sustainably sourced, Fairtrade and recycled products for you, your home and your family. Shop safe in the knowledge that every item has been selected with as much thought for how it was made as to how it looks. We know that you don't have to compromise on style, quality or conscience if you want to be greener by nature!
www.greenerbynature.co.uk
Funky Monkey Pants is an online retailer offering a range of cloth nappies and other eco friendly products from toys to toiletries for you and your little ones! With an aim to advise people on using cloth nappies and to spread knowledge of alternatives to disposables. The website offers a whole host of advice and tips! Funky Monkey Pants offer excellent and friendly service to all customers!
01326 617171 www.funkymonkeypants.com Achieve 15
Fit for a
Royal
Not to be outdone by our favourite royal couple, we’ve found a huge range of
services and products that Will & Kate will be snapping up when they see this! Just because you’re not royalty don’t let that stop you from getting some inspiration for your welcoming your little Prince or Princess into the world.
Small Prints Photography
INCY WINCY CASHMERE Autumn/ Winter n Collectio ! In w o N
For all your hand knitted babywear, available from early baby to five years, each piece is made using the highest quality merino wool or cashmere. Choose from our traditional Scottish Aran or one of our vintage patterns, there is something for every taste making Incy Wincy the ideal shop to indulge for your own babies or as a gift to friends and family. Discover our hand knitted designs that will be cherished for years to come at: 07928 464020 yoyochildrenswear@hotmail.co.uk
www.yoyochildrenswear.com 16
www.incywincycashmere.co.uk
three’s a crowd With their next baby due in Spring 2015, William and Kate are looking forward to welcoming another Royal baby to the family. Kate has been reported as saying she wants at least 3 children and it looks like she may only need the 2 pregnancies!
The 32 year old Royal has suffered with Hyperemisis Gravidarum (acute morning sickness) with both Prince George and during her current pregnancy so rumours that she may be carrying a pair of Princes or Princess’ may complete her family without another pregnancy to contend with. With Prince Charles hoping for a granddaughter and Prince Harry just looking forward to seeing his brother ‘suffer more’ the Royal family appear eager to welcome a new sibling/s for the gorgeous Prince George. Following a recent ultrasound scan reports have eluded to a Princess duo on the way, although unconfirmed; “When they looked at the screen and saw two tiny human beings, they were completely overwhelmed,” a long-time friend of the couple told one magazine; “Will said Kate’s mouth dropped open and her eyes almost popped out of her head, then she squealed, ‘Oh my God!’ He’ll never forget the look on her face — it must have been priceless!” the source revealed; it has been no secret that both Will and Kate share Prince Charles’ wish for a baby girl in the family, with gossip columnists writing about pink nurseries and girl’s names being at the forefront of the couple’s minds. The expectant Kate has been forced to cancel several appearances due to her morning sickness and was rarely seen for over 2 months during her first trimester; however things seem to be improving; she has been attending official business dates looking as radiant as ever and was all-smiles when she stepped out alongside her husband, Prince William, to welcome the President of Singapore to town in October. Renowned for elegance, Kate has looked stunning at recent engagements where well-wishers were treated to a glimpse of the Royal bump and if these are little Princesses, we hope they inherit her sense of style! The focus for the Royal couple over the next few months will be ensuring Kate and the baby/s are healthy and happy, and not forgetting lots of family time with Prince George before the new arrival/s appear. We wish Will & Kate all the best for the remainder of the pregnancy and birth and we cannot wait to see he/she (or them) when they make their first Royal appearance!
pauccii
Luxury Personalised Baby Gifts Papucci is the ultimate destination for high quality, yet affordable, personalised baby gifts. Exceptional brands, beautiful embroidery and luxury packaging ensure Papucci gifts are perfect for births, Christenings, birthdays, Christmas and more. Luxury brands of exceptional quality and design Fantastic personalisation choices and exclusive motifs Beautiful free gift box with every order Quick and easy online ordering Free and next day delivery options available Visit www.papucci .co.uk and enjoy 15% off your first order by using code ACHIEVE14 at the checkout. Offer ends 31 January 2015.
Achieve 17
beautiful
Baby
Stripe Blanket £16,Hats(pack of 2) £5 Reversible Jacket £14
www.marksandspencer.com
Gilet, T-shirt, and Trousers Set £28
Dungarees and Bodysuit Set £12, Bibs (pack of 3) £6
Hooded Lined Cardigan £16, Tunic and Leggings Set £10
Cord Dress,top and tights wets £18, Suede warm-line booties £12
Exclusive children's boutique clothing brand, offering its own unique, designer clothing collections for boys and girls from newborn to 10 years old.
Florence and Teddy children’s boutique specialise in Organic Cotton ranges and beautiful Occasion Wear. Their award winning website showcases a variety of handmade and organic products from clothing, Christening Gowns, Toys, Nursery Accessories and mum’s essentials. Free delivery and gift wrapping service with every purchase.
Keep up-to date with their competitions and events on their Facebook page and their blog has all their latest offers and features. Everyday clothes from 0-3 years and accessories up to 8 years, you will be guaranteed to find something you love. For things children love visit www.florenceandteddy.co.uk
www.ceremonybywojcik.com
134, Seabourne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 2HZ. 01202 417485 www.facebook.com/florenceandteddy @FlorenceTeddy
All that glitters ain’t gold…it’s Sterling Silver! They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend but we think this beautiful silver jewellery could take the crown; an online, on-trend family run business, Jo for Girls sell cute, colourful and quality sterling silver jewellery and watches for girls from ages 3-14 years old. Our avid ‘testers’ waited expectantly for the beautiful lilac boxes to arrive containing their items, and they were not to be disappointed. Each piece of jewellery came individually boxed with their little ‘Jo for Girls’ care card and beneath each was one of the pretty selection we’d ordered; a Tiara Ring, a Daisy Earring & Pendant set, a Freshwater Pearl Bracelet and Disco Ball and an adorable Birthstone Angel Bangle (complete with birthstone poem). “The girls were so excited when they opened the parcel, they’ve seen my jewellery in boxes so that made them feel grown up; but the actually jewellery itself, I could wear! I’ve got my eye on the Tiara ring as the bracelets are a bit too small for adult hands but they are all beautifully made and have lovely detailing on them”. Emily
Cute and Funky Childrenswear for girls age 3 months to 10 years!
www.mim-pi.co.uk
With a huge range of rings, bangles, earrings and bracelets (including some Pandora style bracelets and beads) Jo for Girls offers something sparkly and special for any little girl and adding to their range all the time you can keep your little diva decked out in (imitation) diamonds for life! To view the full range and add some cute accessories to your Little Miss’ ensemble visit www.joforgirls.co.uk or find them on Facebook and Twitter, because girls just want to have fun! www.joforgirls.co.uk
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www.joforgirls.co.uk Use code now Use codeAC25 AC30 now and save 25% and save 30%
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w w w. h i p p y c h i c k . c o m 0 1 2 7 8 4 3 4 4 4 0
New season’s colours for the new season’s weather
clothes hippy chick fri
Age range 12 months to 4 years Quote ACH4 and get 20% off all Hippychick waterproofs offer ends 31/12/2014
FOR A RIGHT There’s
always Inch Blue. Made with Lo ve Embroidered gift set £32
The Sparkle Club is an online shop supplying beautiful girl's special occasion shoes, bags and accessories from baby to young lady. Our products are designed with beautiful princesses in mind from UK baby size 0 to older girls size 3. In fact the more glitter and sparkle the better as far as we are concerned.
www.thesparkleclub.co.uk
Over 100 original shoe styles fit for princes and princesses.
01495 311 123
www.inch-blue.com
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toy heaven www.marksandspencer.com
Let our beautiful collection of 100% cotton, hand embroidered and appliqued playhouses & accessories create the perfect backdrop to all the fun your children can have...whatever magical tales of make-believe they choose to explore!
Win A Castle
Playhouse! For your chance to win a small Princess Castle Playhouse, all you need to do is send your name and contact details, along with the subject ‘Playhouse’, to competitions@crossproductions.co.uk before the closing date of January 9th 2015.
w w w. w i n g r e e n . c o . u k Achieve 23
w w w. h i p p y c h i c k . c o m 0 1 2 7 8 4 3 4 4 4 0
Decisions decisions
toys - hippy chick
Wheelybug from
Quote ACH4 and get 20% off all Wheelybugs offer ends 31/12/2014
B Bareef autiful oot with y Use p our first o Book nline romo ord co de ‘Ba e refoo r. t’.
Visit op! h our s urday
at ay - S 0pm Mon0dam - 5:3 9:3
Design & Manufacture of Quality Children's Furniture
01558 824755
timberkids.com 24
sales@evestoyshop.co.uk
or visit us at: 1 King St, Llandeilo, Camarthenshire, SA19 6AA
King of the Castle! Nubie is a one stop shop for all things stylish and cool for your little one! From fresh high-quality nursery, playroom and kid's bedroom furniture to gorgeous gifts, toys and gifts! Here are our royalty favourites available at www.nubie.com!
Rocking Horse by Pintoy £70
Prince George is going to have a sibling and will be an energetic toddler by the time his little brother or sister arrives. Between the ages of 18 months and 3 years is a great time to think about adapting the existing Nursery or moving them to a new room especially if you are pregnant with your next baby. It is also a great time to make them feel special about being the
Make it yourself Castle kit - by Calafant £25
older child before attention turns to the Nursery especially if they are being moved to a new room to make way ! The next step from Nursery to Toddler room is quite a different transition and is also where the fun starts ! Toddler are not only on the move so you need to make it safe but they will have also have gathered more stuff! Coping with a new baby and an unsettled toddler is no walk in the park so make it easy on the family and do it well before baby arrives
Palace Garden lac Wallpaper in Li £75
– get them into their cotbed or big bed a few months before hand if you can. Include them in the journey - they will have little personalities by now – love of trucks, fairies, robots so get them involved in choosing their new room décor with you for the walls and bedding. Introduce some lighting that they can use to allow them to make visits to the bathroom at night and sooth night terrors. Bring some fun toy storage into the room which helps coordinates the overflow of toys, they will then know what is kept where and makes tiding a little more fun – well we can hope! www.nubie.co.uk
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7% Discount on all orders Use code ACHFFR
Let our beautiful collection of 100% cotton, hand embroidered and appliqued playhouses & accessories create the perfect backdrop to all the fun your children can have...whatever magical tales of makebelieve they choose to explore!
The home for great ideas for Parents, Babies & Young Children
We aim to make it easy for parents shopping online to find the right products for them. We offer products that we believe to be the best in
www.wingreen.co.uk 020 8295 5413
their category based on quality, value for money and ease of use!
01977 663306
www.babe-equip.co.uk
C hild-F rie nd ly i P ad C ase fatframe U n l ocks C ommun ication C han ne ls For K ids W ith A ddition a l S upport Needs
Kids iPad protection system fatframe answers the needs of children with sensory needs, maximising kids’ life experiences and giving them access to as much as possible whilst taking away the worry for parents. fatframe founder Alison Nicholson originally created a kid friendly case for her own two young special needs children – Hazel 7 and Guy 6. This is a family owned and run business who genuinely care about their products and how they positively benefit kids (and their parents), genuinely designed for kids and 100% tested by kids! Founder Alison Nicholson comments: “We found that many of the apps, games and videos available on the iPad unlocked communication channels and ability within our children that we had not seen before and for the first time gave
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our nonverbal son a voice.” Alison found from personal experience with her children that the iPad opens up a world that would be difficult to access otherwise. Guy is non-verbal and did not communicate until he began to use the iPad; he quickly showed that he could sort and match and even taught himself letters. As parents they were delighted, until the iPad started going everywhere. The first time it smashed it was in a normal style iPad case that got dropped on the pavement outside a restaurant – smashed screen #1 and first expensive repair! They purchased a different iPad cover, but he dropped it again and another smashed screen and this time a badly bashed corner. Researching the market and not being able to get what the family really needed i.e. lightweight and bouncy design with handles to hold and easy to access ports, Alison set about designing her own and fatframe was born! Mum Kayleigh Denholm comments: “fatframe is a great product and truly works. My daughter with autism was at the top of our stairs. She threw it right down stairs and it landed face down on concrete. I was expecting a cracked
screen but it was still perfect. 5 stars.” fatframe is a super protective kids’ iPad case designed to protect your iPad. With cleverly designed handles for little fingers to hold and transport, fatframe gives you peace of mind and super protection for your iPad when your little one is playing with it. fatframe is soft and spongy, hard-wearing but bouncy, lightweight, chewable and easy to wipe clean. More than just an iPad cover, the brand offers an iPad protection system. Made from a high quality EVA, it is a durable material which is non toxic, BPA, lead, latex and PVC free. Available in 2 colours, coral or blue. RRP £24.99, P & P £1.99 available from www.fatframe.co.uk
Let’s play outside!
Children playing outdoors is so much fun. They enjoy the fresh air, learn to climb, swing or hang from trees and play on climbing frames enhancing their motor skills, co-ordination, sharing skills and burns off calories! (Dare we even suggest they might sleep better?) . Loddon Valley Garden Toys will help design, plan your play area, organise delivery and even arrange installation; giving you the time to play with the family creating those childhood memories your children will reminisce about as they grow up. Safety First! A springtime safety check on existing garden games– it will pay dividends • • • • • • • • •
Clear leaves and sticks from trampoline beds, Check for holes in the bed, it’s surprising what a firework can do. Double check springs, they should be tight coiled Inspect wooden structure for splits, metal frames for rust causing failure Check stability. Ensure all nuts and bolts are tight Check ropes for fraying Check slides for splits. Remember your children have grown throughout the winter; is your play equipment still sturdy enough? • We can help you to add something small that will challenge and engage them in further fun activities during the year. Call us on 01256 473546 www.loddonvalleygardentoys.co.uk gill@loddonvalleygardentoys.co.uk
Loddon Valley Garden Toys Specialists in high end traditional outdoor toys - and indoor toys and gifts. From Climbing Frames to Balance Bikes, Trampolines to Trikes, we help parents to create 'Childhood memories through play'
www.loddonvalleygardentoys.co.uk 01256 473546 Achieve 27
IM A G IN A TI V E PL AY WHY IMAGINATIVE PLAY IS AT THE HEART OF FAIRYTALE CHILDREN'S FURNITURE Studies Prove Imaginative Play Increases Cognitive Skills and Emotional Development in Children. Free time spent playing make-believe helps children develop critical cognitive skills. Fairytale Furniture helps build those skills through imaginative play. Today's high tech toys just can't compare.
ACTIVITIES VS. OBJECTS Children's play has became focused on "things" and not activities. Shiny plastic gadgets inhibit children's natural imaginations and can stunt cognitive growth. Fairytale Furniture encourages imaginative play and builds important skills in children. No batteries required! ENCOURAGING READING Reading is the foundation of children's academic careers. That's why each chair comes with it's own story book, charming fairy tales that are just the right length for a bedtime story. Bedtime stories with your kids create precious moments that last a life time. OLD-FASHIONED PLAY BUILDS SERIOUS SKILLS Many psychologists now believe the highly structured and commercialized world kids grow up in today is shrinking their imaginative space - and diminishing critical skills. Turns out simple make believe (like Grandma and Grandpa used to enjoy) works best for growing minds! www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk
Toys for children...from birth to teens!
Beautifully made to treasure for years. Children’s chairs each with their own illustrated story book. Sure to provide hours of fun, reading, rocking and imaginative play.
For 20% special discount until 31st December 2014 quote AM20 Whilst stock lasts
www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk @FairytaleChairs facebook.com/fairytalechairs
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Funky bags at Funky Little Bugs Us mums want a lot from our changing bags don’t we? We want it to be practical, to carry every essential item for babe and us, we want it to be of high quality and be multi-functional, plus it needs to be stylish too! Who wants an ugly changing bag?! Not us! So, now we have established what we want from our changing bags, where can we find all these nappy bag prayers answered? Well, we have discovered Funky Little Bugs, ours and your fab saviour in a world of drab bags! With a range of handmade, bespoke nappy bags which tick all the right nappy bag boxes, in Funky Little Bugs we have found changing bags that are attractive, functional and affordable! Founded after owner and mum of five, Steph (so by a woman who knows what she needs from a nappy bag) struggled to find a bag which was practical, reflected her personal style and didn’t cost the earth. As a result of this struggle and Steph’s love for design and creating, Funky Little Bugs was born and has been delighting customers ever since!
Stylish...
expanded her collections to include Toddler
actually liked the look of! There of course is a
well as many other funky accessories all of
Steph wanted to make bags that parents lot of functionality talk with changing bags but it’s an item you will be carrying around for some time so ideally you want to like the look of it! With collections featuring designs such as the popular Marvel Comic series, Mr Men, Polka Dots, Butterflies and pretty much everything in between, bespoke commissioned designs are also welcomed and if you can’t see it chances are that Steph can make it. What’s more her
Bag, Tote Bags and the unique Jean Bags as which again are fun, colourful and practical too. Creative, unique and truly bespoke the bags and gifts at Funky Little Bugs are perfect for sourcing that tricky gift for the mum to be. Or, if you can’t find what you are looking for purchase a gift voucher and let them choose from the exceptional range!
www.funkylittlebugs.com
designs can be altered to suit an individual’s taste, including bags to suit the Dads, so they make the perfect gift whoever the recipient may be.
WIN! For your chance to win a Funky Little Bug
Functional…
changing set simply visit the Funky website
such as Velcro stick ons so they don’t slip
In which year did Steph launch her first
Machine washable with all the handy extras, down the pushchair handles, all show that their creator is a mum who knows what’s important when it comes to the usefulness of your bag! New designs are always being added as Steph finds inspiration from all over and she has even
to find the answer the following question: collection? Send your name, answer and contact details with the subject ‘Funky’ to competitions@ crossproductions.co.uk before the closing date of 12th December 2014.
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HappyHopperz For family fun hippy chick edit
Quote ACH4 and get 20% off all HappyHopperz offer ends 31/12/2014 w w w . h i p p y c h i c k . c o m
0 1 2 7 8
4 3 4 4 4 0
Make the SMART choice and START playing Searching out the perfect toys for your children with the vast array available can be tricky, that’s why we can offer a helping hand with some of our very own product testers (not all of which are children!); Smart Start Toys offer a variety of quality toys suitable from toddlers to teens; here are just a couple we tested. For your little ones, development of their motor and social skills through play couldn’t be easier with these fabulous Finger Puppets, with quirky characters in a variety of sets these simple puppets can provide hours of entertainment.
Enjoy
15% off
with code: ‘Achieve Royal Baby’
Quality educational toys, puzzles, games and bedroom accessories for children of all ages; perfect gifts for the little princes and princesses in your life! Smart Start Toys offers gift vouchers, a gift wrapping service and speedy delivery.
www.smartstart-toys.co.uk Free delivery on orders of over £60
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“We loved these puppets, all brightly dressed as a royal family we made up stories together and played jokes with the Jester on the King. It was great to play together and I loved how it stimulated both our imaginations, rather than letting a television do it for us. They are made from nice, soft felt with wooden heads so they were not too heavy or too light and seemed quite robust, which believe me, we need!” Jenny Cross, Cross Productions Company Director and mum of three. Not to exclude your elder child from the fun, we had a very creative time testing the fabulous ‘Friendship Bracelets’ book; a hard backed book of instructions and lots of colourful illustrations to guide you through, complete with threads and beads this definitely made us feel nostalgic. “My daughter loves making things so this was great, she read the book and learnt how to make the bracelets and made some really spectacular looking bracelets for me and her school friends.” Jenny added. Shop at www.smartstart-toys.co.uk.
F i v e n e w fri e n d s fi l l ed wit h amour Born from a father’s daydream to create
of bright and cheerful colours
beautiful soft toys with that “je ne sais quoi”
through to the purity of the ‘Zen’
for his son, Kaloo toys is the embodiment of a
collection; soft and delicate,
French fantasy filled with love, quality and style.
drawing its inspiration in a blissful
Established in 1998, Kaloo Toys have built a
Japanese garden; there are toys
reputation over the past 16 years for creating
and accessories to suit every little
enchanting, high-end soft toys and bedding
personality and preference with
accessories made of the finest quality materials
Kaloo’s underlying ethos and love
to ensure they delight any baby’s sense of
of toys running through each.
touch. Special attention is paid to the material, ensuring quality of touch and colour harmony
Taken over in 2011 by Juratoys,
(the Kaloo brand signatures) and with beautiful
France’s leading wooden toy
gift boxes and soft tags, all these details are
manufacturer, Kaloo’s range of soft toys and
signs of the special attention that Kaloo bring to
baby accessories has gone from strength
their creations.
to strength, whilst regaining their ‘savoir
Launching the popular Kaloo “123 range” in
faire’ and extending
2001, parents and children were captivated
their reach across
by the colourful characters and great quality
40 countries.
providing lasting stimulation for those little
wash them and have a spare in case it get lost”. Marie told us.
“A lovely gift for a baby girl; very soft and ears and arms for holding on too”
imaginations to create worlds of fun along with
In 2014, 9 Kaloo
Kaloo perfumes - the perfect accompaniment
products received the Best Toy Awards Gold
composed of four alcohol free fragrances
Seal and 1 was awarded the Special Needs
specially made to stimulate baby’s sense of
Adaptable Product Award by the Oppemheim
smell. As the brand continued to grow Kaloo
Toy Portfolio and this year has also seen another
went on to launch a clothing range in 2006;
new range for Kaloo, a charming delegation of
an easy-going and sophisticated line of baby
fluffy friends to accompany your baby from birth
clothes, allowing the brand to develop entire
onwards and provide some adorable friends for
ranges of products for babies, from soft toys to
the classic and much loved Chubby the Rabbit.
baby clothes and perfumes. “Among the mountain of comforter, this little With 10 collections
rabbit made the top list and then took the
from the ‘Colors’
lead, and is still her favourite. It's very soft and
collection with its
cuddly, and the rattling noise is comforting, so I
colourful cocktail
had to find several of those to make sure I can
These five cute new characters will delight and enthral your baby, these new additions are made up of Regliss the Donkey, Vanille the Lamb, Praline the Rabbit,
Caramel the Puppy and Coco the Cat; all made from by same discerning designers so you can be assured that these lovely accompaniments to your baby’s playtime will be firm favourites throughout their childhood. With lots of advice for expectant Mums through to existing Kaloo customers available online at www.kaloo.com/en Kaloo truly offer a partnership with parents from birth and beyond. www.kaloo.com/en
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Heat, snuggle and cuddle with Jo the Giraffe!! Keep warm and cosy with Cozie Warmer’s microwave heated wheat bags, slippers and soft toys.
www.coziewarmers.co.uk
LOVINGLY HANDCRAFTED
Natural, lasting luxury, using traditional skills. Mandoux
collaborates with artisans from
around the world, to design and
create by hand unique treasures of the future.
10% to readers on all products. Email and quote ACHIEVE Tel: 01225338028
Email: mail@mandoux.co.uk
www.coziewarmers.co.uk
www.mandoux.co.uk
Celebrate in style with the Pony Snuggle Sac! Not only does this wonderful invention solve the blankets on the floor problems at night, but they also provide a great deal of comfort when away on long car journeys, staying in different environments such as on holiday, going for a sleepover and even whilst snuggling up to watch their favourite film or read a book. Snuggle Sacs provide a royal level of comfort and familiarity that children and parents both love!
www.snugglesac.com info@snugglesac.com 01603 881705
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www.snugglesac.com
royal This adorable personalised hotel set features a luxurious hooded bathrobe and the cutest ever hotel slippers, complete with silver crowns! £31.50 from www.papucci.co.uk
gift
Photo by Small Prints Photography
Princess Castle Playhouse, £200 www.wingreen.co.uk
Princess Wall Mural Nursery Wallpaper £59.99 www.nubie.co.uk
Snuggle up between Royal Engagements with this super soft comforter featuring a soft crown, textured ribbons and baby’s name embroidered in silver. £18.50 from www.papucci.co.uk
’’Never give up, never give in and never take no for an answer’’ It’s human nature to want to find ways to preserve the special moments we share with our offspring forever, yet as you cut their hair for the first time, or take a print of their foot, or lose their first tooth, where do you put these items to ensure they can be kept forever, preserved and not in various ‘keepsake’ drawers and boxes around the home? The MyBabylog Keepsake box provides a perfectly fitting home for these very important memory snapshots and makes for the perfect gift to a newborn or at a baby shower. Made from a super strong material designed to protect your special items for the future, it is finished with delicate hinges and a clasp to ensure all your treasures are kept securely inside. The baby memory boxes are a beautiful way to keep precious things that way. A family heirloom in the making, they hold onto your memories forever. It is available in a unisex design, great for that gift when the gender of the baby is to be a surprise, as well as a beautiful design for girls and boys. The boxes feature two storage areas, little storage pots for keeping baby’s first curl, baby’s first tooth and hospital wrist or ankle band, a family tree for you to complete and a sweet poem. There’s plenty of room for those scanned photos of when your baby was glimpsed for the first time, their first photograph and first outfit or even their favourite snuggly toy growing up. What’s even more special is that, precious things can be added over the years for that memory to be made even more special. Made from a robust material, an environmentally friendly rigid cardboard with the hardness and strength of wood, it’s a beautiful gift for all to enjoy for years and years to come. Discover the perfect gift for any newborn at www.mybabylog.co.uk, with plenty of other precious gifts too, it’s a must for any baby shower or new baby gift. Facebook: www.facebook.com/mybabyloguk Twitter: www.twitter.com/mybabyloguk Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/mybabylog LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/barbaramybabylog
ethical and fair trade clothes, gifts and toys
beautiful goods sourced with care
Those precious moments put onto a personalised plaque so you can keep them forever 07540 480165 www.remembertheday.co.uk facebook.com/Remember-the-day
‘Prince’ the Corgi Children’s Fair Trade Slippers by Sew Heart Felt
10%
of Retail Cost Donated to Charity
See our full range of ethical clothes, gifts and toys at:
www.fabandfair.co.uk
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Little Treasures for Little People There are so many companies out there who make baby and child keepsakes for parents, but what about the kids themselves? We’ve come across a great company which combines the two! A personalised & childfriendly washable fabric photo book printed with your special photos & captions. £24.50 including p&p. www.babytreasures.eu
“We’ve got all sorts of keepsakes for us; jewellery and handprint pictures, but Perrie doesn’t really know they’re there or get anything from them so we were looking for something she could enjoy but keep as well for when she’s older, that’s why we were over the moon to try the Baby Treasures Photo Book.” Hayley, Perrie’s Mum (7 months) Baby Treasures produce beautiful, individual photo books made from soft (washable) cloth and are perfect for newborns and toddlers and as a memento for older life; filled with photos of family, friends and fun times your little one can enjoy flicking through their very own album and snuggle down with pictures of their favourite things at bed time.
Peat Pea Luxury Collection Pea print all in one, knotted hat and bib, Peat Pea soft toy and The Little Peas storybook, presented in a beautiful handmade white gift box & tied with green ribbon & a Busy Peas gift tag. The perfect gift! £70.00 www.busypeas.co.uk
“Perrie loves her photo book, she sits on the sofa and points to Mummy & Daddy and the dog and when we ask her who is who she knows where they are to show you, we’ve even got photos of her with the photo book now; we’ll need to get another soon.” If you are looking for something unique, baby friendly and a perfect keepsake for you and your little one a Baby Treasures Photo Book is ideal; each book is made from scratch, offering an adorable and affordable gift for everyone, to find out how to get your very own photo book visit www.babytreasures.eu
Fashion & learning can be two peas in a pod To combine quality, style, education and fun is no small feat; Jayne Liston was renowned for her innovative send of style and an innate talent for creativity in her previous career and had long believed in the promotion of education with fashion. In 2009 she began designing a refreshing collection of clothes for babies and toddlers, themed with fruit and vegetables, affording for a colourful and engaging ensemble for any little one. Bringing fashion and education together, Busy Peas provide clothes and educational books to introduce fruit and vegetables from an early age; with a clear vision and armed with her fruity, functional designs Jayne launched the Busy Peas collection at The Baby Show, Earls Court in October 2010; getting children to eat their fruit and vegetables just got easier! Babies and toddlers can wear, read about and then learn how to grow their own fruit and vegetables in high quality products from a company who are truly passionate about promoting healthy babies who look great!; With adorable designs available for 0-18 months your little ones in the highest quality, each designed with the finest personal attention to detail the cheeky characters and cute slogans accompany storybooks and toys your babies will look beautiful whilst learning all about the benefits of healthy foods and how to grow their very own fruity friends without even realising they’re being taught. Busy Peas have created a collection of gifts for every palate or try their “Pick Your Own” options to fill your basket with your fruity favourites, designing the perfect present; get your five a day (after all, it’s good for your health), online at www.busypeas.co.uk. Contact 0208 7487671 or info@busypeas.co.uk.
A unique gift for your little one: a personalised & child-friendly washable fabric photobook printed with your special photos and captions. Do your little ones like looking at photographs of themselves and their families and friends? Baby Treasures prints your photographs, along with a caption on each page, onto soft, hand washable fabric so your little treasure can enjoy their favourite photographs in their own childfriendly photobook. Ordering is easy – simply visit www.babytreasures.eu and you will be able to upload your photographs and text, choose your font colour & pick a ribbon for a hanging loop. A Baby Treasures photobook costs £24.50 and gift vouchers are also available.
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FINE SILVER JEWELLERY, GIFTS AND KEEPSAKES
Jwls offers a stunning collection of personalised fine silver jewellery. The award-winning website showcases high-quality products featuring fingerprints, handprints, footprints, pawprints and artwork; as well as hand-stamped pieces incorporating initials, names and text. Jwls has built a reputation for beautiful pieces with stunning detail and high shine, as well as first-class customer service.
w w w. j w l s . c o . u k 10% discount to Achieve readers - simply quote ACHIEVE10 at checkout
Whitehouse Photography Portrait Photography by Whitehouse Photography www.whitehousephotography.co.uk 01664 561704
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Our favourite picks from Jwls Rectangular "Words" Cufflinks - £63.50 Duo Of Polo Pendants On Silver Chain - £70.00 Signature Charm Necklace - £64.00 Handprint / Footprint Dog Tag Charm - £65.00
w w w. j w l s . c o . u k
Socia l l y responsib le shopping Many partners might assume nights with the boys simply to be a chance to wind down with friends over a few drinks. But for one group of entrepreneurial Dads, this was the beginning of a business with a difference – a social enterprise built to support the UK’s charities and schools. Richard Morris, a successful business leader and digital start-up entrepreneur, left his career in Silicon Valley to return home to the UK when he and his wife decided to start a family. Rejoining the demanding UK start up industry made it clear to Richard that his time-consuming career would not allow for the work-life balance he and his family craved, and his focused changed from digital mastermind to Dad. Taking a leap into the unknown was not an unfamiliar concept given Richard’s background, so he undertook part time and voluntary work whilst being a hands-on parent. Richard’s entrepreneurial spirit was still aflame however and his urge to return to business got him thinking: what if he could help the organisations he had been volunteering with while fulfilling his passion for building businesses? The idea first began by donating margins made through
product re-selling to charity, but Richard saw an opportunity to change shopping behaviour using this model. Along with his fellow business-minded friends they decided to take their social enterprise idea online, where TheGivingMachine was born. TOP TIP: “Try and find a friend or mentor to help you separate out real problems from fears, as going it alone is scary to begin with” Richard What is TheGivingMachine? TheGivingMachine is a not-for-profit site which fundamentally brings together companies, customers and causes. Using the principals of affiliate marketing and converting 75% of the ‘commission’ sites receive for directing you to one of their 1,500 co-operating stores, TheGivingMachine allows consumers to donate to the causes they care about while they shop online, without it costing them an extra penny.. By changing consumer shopping behaviour TheGivingMachine has generated over 1.3m donations to date, divided across their 6,500 registered local schools and charities. With a growing enthusiasm for opportunities to contribute to social change, big businesses are well aware of the benefits affiliations
with social enterprises can be for their reputations (and essentially profit margins). With consumers benefiting from the ‘feel good’ factor and the causes they support receiving much needed funding to continue their work, TheGivingMachine creates a ‘Win, Win, Win’ model! Making giving into a commercial model has proven to be simple, lucrative and gives TheGivingMachine users that feel-good feeling while they shop.. If you’d like to register to shop and donate, or if you’re part of a UK registered charity or school you can register simply online at www.thegivingmachine.co.uk. Find out more about ‘give-e-nomics’ at www.givenomics.com and get inspired! TOP TIP: “Try to get someone to buy or use your product or service as soon as possible so you’re “in business” - that way you can get a real feel for demand and some constructive feedback on where to take the business. TheGivingMachine is a perfect example of an idea evolved from feedback.” Richard www.thegivingmachine.co.uk
You shop They benefit The amazing, simple and free way to raise money for the schools and charities you care about from your daily online shopping. Simply click through to your favourite shops from TheGivingMachine.co.uk. Those shops then make a cash donation to your nominated schools or charities every time you shop online.
Join us for free and start giving today.
Find out more at
www.thegivingmachine.co.uk Achieve 37
Butterfly Domes gifts for
Mum
Mum’s are awesome, we all know it and we all love them; 99% of their time they are giving something whether it be time,
love or material things so when we get the opportunity to give something back we embrace it and with plenty of ideas for exquisite pressies galore we won’t be waiting until Mother’s Day.
Collections of butterflies in glass domes made to order.
www.butterflydomes.co.uk 07951 110147 Here at Achieve we love a bit of luxury, but even more than that we adore unique, enchanting, affordable luxury; founded in 2013 by Julia Lewis, after discovering a talent making jewellery for herself, Jwls is the epitome of a Mumpreneur success story and provides exceptional quality, handcrafted silver keepsakes to immortalise your special memories in a wearable, beautiful and intimate statement piece. It was never the intention for this to become a ‘job’ but when leaving her teaching career to support her family’s relocation to the remote north of Wales, she saw the opportunity to spend more time with her young children and being a non-Welsh speaker, although a natural linguist, struggled to identify any teaching opportunities which would suit her children, her ambitions and allow her the flexibility to care for her children every day; and thankfully for us Jwls was born. Tucked away in her home studio in the remote Welsh countryside, Julia can be found firing her exquisite designs after the kids are in bed and enjoying the ever important work-life balance so many working Mums yearn after. Each item is meticulously crafted, using silver clay and to a superior quality providing customers with a piece of jewellery to cherish and a perfectly captured memory to behold; in August this year her dedication and abilities to maintain the highest quality products led to her being acknowledged by the Guild of Master Craftsmen, a remarkable achievement in just 1 short year. The focus for Jwls is family, her own and her customers; providing the opportunity for relatives to signify their affection for loved ones with these individualised mementos, whilst enjoying the indulgence of wearing or giving something truly beautiful; keepsakes include charms and charm beads, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, key rings, cufflinks and prints affording all tastes and budgets can be catered for and any event can be celebrated in silver! From drawings to fingerprints most attributes and illustrations can be depicted (fingerprinting is recommended for 1 year + as the prints not fully developed beforehand); standardised designs are available for inspiration or custom made pieces can be commissioned, you can even carry out an imprint at home and send this across; meaning wherever you are, whoever you are these impeccable keepsakes are accessible.
10% 38
discount to Achieve readers - simply quote ACHIEVE10 at checkout
As a wonderful gift for any occasion, a special treat for yourself or even as a touching memorial, Jwls can advise and perfect any piece for you. www.jwls.co.uk
cook up a storm this christmas
Giani Cucina 0.8L Food Processor and 1.5L Blender in White - the all-in-one unit ensuring you save space on storage. £53.81 from www.wayfair.co.uk
Stylish set of wooden bookends made of sustainable Sheeshamwood and made by Artisans for Asha Handicrafts in India. £29.95 from www.greenerbynature.co.uk
Prestige Eco 4 Slice Toaster in Black £40.03 from www.wayfair.co.uk
These simple yet elegant Kibibi candle sticks extenuate the beauty of the natural mango wood with their soft curves and shapes. £14.95 from www.greenerbynature.co.uk
Sabichi Aspire 1.7 Litre Concierge Kettle £27.84 from www.wayfair.co.uk
Glass domes with your choice of butterfly. This dome is with a Papilio Ulysses. 19cm high x 16cm diameter. £90 www.butterflydomes.co.uk
ElectrIQ Frozen Fruit Healthy Ice Cream Maker - Create guilt free mouth-watering desserts made from 100% fruit that are fat-free and dairy-free. £29.98 from www.appliancesdirect.co.uk
Caralicious is a blend of natural caramel and finest vodka, and although originally designed to be an after dinner liqueur, it has proven to be extremely versatile. £20.00 www.fabulousvodka.co.uk
This chic throw pillow adds style and personality in your space. Pillow Collection Harmony Cushion £26.65 from www.wayfair.co.uk
Add a hint of style to the interiors of you home with the Coronet Cheval Mirror. £95.99 from www.wayfair.co.uk
Last minute gifts for kids!
All I want for Christmas is…..Pass the Pud – RRP £17.99 The ever-so-cheeky word game that will have the family in stitches! Available from a range of good toy and gift shops around the UK.
Fancy more of a silent night? Wind down with a few glasses of sherry and our Christmas Market Limited Edition Puzzle – RRP £14.99, Available from a range of good toy and gift shops around the UK.
Wicked Carbon is a premium range of proudly British made flying toys which includes the world’s most expensive production boomerang and flying disc. RRP £300, from Harrods, Hamley’s & wickedmania.com.
UKick is a fun fusion of badminton and street football which was voted Best New Toy at London Toy Fair. RRP £7.99, available to purchase from Toys R Us, Amazon, Harrods, Hamley’s & Debenhams.
Wicked Micro Riderz. Measuring just 4.5cm in length, these mighty, mini motorbikes whizz off at super scale speeds of up to 470mph! A great stocking filler! RRP £3.99, available from Tesco, Smyths and Amazon.
Lanka Kade Dinosaur 1-10 Jigsaw. Fun, colourful and chunky fair trade 10-piece counting jigsaw helping your child learn to count whilst having fun! £10.99 www.fabandfair.co.uk
A very cute pony indoor sleeping bag made from super soft coral fleece outer with a 100% cotton lining from SnuggleSac. £45 from www.snugglesac.com
Tornado and Hurricanes (RRP £26.99) Suitable for 8+ This amazing kit, created in conjunction with the Science Museum, helps children learn about the incredible force of nature. Stocked in Toys R Us, Smyths and Argos.
A personalised & child-friendly washable fabric photo book printed with your special photos & captions. £24.50 including p&p. www.babytreasures.eu
Soft Sole Crib Shoe - Spring Birds and Spots. Handmade with 100% cotton with faux suede bottom for grip. Available in various designs and sizes. £10.00 with free delivery. As seen in Vogue. www.florenceandteddy.co.uk
Achieve 39
Little fashionista
If you are looking for something stylish for your mini style-icon you cannot go far wrong with some cool accessories;
simple, practical hold up solutions such as belts and braces, cute leggings or hats and scarves all add a bit of individuality to any outfit and in bright, fun designs they’ll be firm favourites with your little fashionistas.
Hector and Queen
HECTOR &QUEEN
Saving the world in the comfort of your slippers! Recently spotted from Hector & Queen are these cute felt slippers; available for babies through to 4/5 year olds and come in a variety of loveable characters. But it’s not only their quirkiness which makes them stand out from the norm; each pair is handmade including Rhinos and Pandas and supporting Tusk.org. Practical is key for kids but when you want something stylish, maybe a keepsake, or something for a special occasion you cannot go far wrong with some cool accessories and so armed with some adorable elephant slippers, Cross Productions’ Company Director Jenny’s daughter, was the proud tester of her very own pair. “She loved the elephant design and they were good quality, which I liked! My elder children wanted to try out some of the other characters we’ve seen.” Jenny comments. Made with organic wool and practical non-slip suede soles, all the slippers are hand-washable so they don’t start to take on a life of their own! “Every Mum knows how quickly their kids get through clothes and shoes and I wasn’t sure whether a wool slipper would be practical and durable but we’ve washed them once and they are still elegant looking elephants so I’d definitely look at another pair once she grows out of these.” Jenny added.
Award winning handmade furniture, sleepwear & slippers for kids who love to have fun!
www.hectorandqueen.co.uk Tel 01285 800085
40
Hector and Queen are based just over the way in the heart of the Cotswolds and are dedicated to producing high quality, ethically sourced and innovative products for kids; from slippers to furniture these individually crafted items add to the wonderment and play of any childhood. To shop their full range visit www.hectorandqueen.co.uk
' T h e majorit y of pare n ts are rebe l l i n g agai n st ge n der specific co l ours for t h eir c h i l dre n ’ s c l ot h es . ' A survey of 843 parents of 0-3 year olds showed that the majority of parents are happy to dress their children in non gender specific colours with 82% of parents saying they like blue clothing on girls and 47% saying that they like pink clothing on boys. 'We have found a huge trend in parents moving away from simply dressing their children in gender specific colours. Parents are looking for more variety when it comes to their children's wardrobes and want clothes that will express their own personal taste and style.’ explains
Nicolas de Rosen, one of the 3 founders of Box
“Children need the freedom to develop their
Upon a Time, an innovative subscription box
full potential without preconceptions about
service offering parents a brand new personal
what girls or boys should do or how they
shopping experience.
should behave. Studies show that adults treat
‘With so much choice now available to parents
children differently when dressed in gender-
they no longer feel they have to dress their
sterotyped clothing so the move towards less
children in stereotypical pink and blue. Gender
gender-sterotyping in clothes as well as in
neutral colours such as white, red, yellow and
toys and other areas of children’s lives is to be
grey are very popular amongst our customers.
welcomed.” Says Dr Amanda Gummer, child
In fact, we have found that when parents were
psychologist and founder of Fundamentally
given a choice of 12 colours, pink comes up
Children
as one of the least popular, only followed by
(www.fundamentallychildren.com)
brown. The most popular colour is white, with 95% of parents selecting this as one of the their
So forget the stereotypes, get with the 21st
favourite colours of choice. The survey has also
century and dress your kids in a rainbow of
shown that red, yellow and grey are big hits
colours!
with parents.’
Achieve 41
Wrap up
Warm www.monsoon.co.uk
Achieve 31
S i x -year - o l d in spires g l oba l S uper h ero G irl D o l l
UK toymaker, Arklu, is helping to end the dearth of female superheroes available on toy shelves, with the introduction of a NEW superhero outfit, which has been designed by a child for the multiaward-winning Lottie™ doll. The ‘Super Lottie’ outfit is the inspiration of six year old Lily, from Ohio, USA, who created the winning design as part of a global competition, independently judged by the Brave Girls Alliance, earlier in the year. Uniquely, the set marks the first time that a crowd-sourced design by a child has gone into commercial production. As part of her entry, Lily was asked to define Super Lottie’s abilities. Lily’s response was one designed to inspire girls who play with Lottie dolls, to acknowledge and embrace their potential, and accept who they are: ‘Super Lottie has the power to be anything, to do anything, and to make the world a better place. She is unique and special in her own way’. The competition was a result of a campaign launched to demonstrate that girls can be superheroes too. A poll¹ conducted among parents, demonstrated a severe lack of female representation in the world of super-powers, where, of the top female superhero characters popularised by comic creators and film-makers, not one could be identified by 100% of respondents. In stark contrast, four male superhero characters could be identified by 100% of respondents; Superman, Spiderman, Batman and Hulk. Lottie dolls became the first fashion dolls to display childlike characteristics; a healthy childlike body shape, childlike clothing (no make-up, high heels, tattoos, etc) and wholesome activities. In 2014, Arklu took things a step further by introducing a range of dolls exploring gender empowering, adventurous themes. Commenting on the winning design, Lucie Follett, Creative Director at Arklu, says: “It’s great to see how the Lottie™ message ‘Be Bold, Be Brave, Be You’ has been listened to and interpreted by kids all over the world. Girls WILL be superheroes in 2014!” Nancy Gruver of Brave Girls Alliance says: "All of the entries showed the strong voices and powerful ambitions girls have, and we are very excited to see the awesome winning outfit available to purchase globally!" Lily’s mother, Greta, continues: “Lily loves superheroes and art! She likes to play superheroes at recess… usually with the boys because the other girls won’t. We’re excited to see the reaction by other girls to Lily’s creation and hope that it brings great fun and enjoyment, as well as open their minds to the world of superpowers”.
Funky, Functional & Fun Running around keeping little people presentable can be a full time job but there are ways to lessen the running and funk up an outfit with simple, practical hold up solutions such as belts and braces which are invaluable for young children and can add a bit of quirkiness to any outfit. Available plain or in a selection of cool patterns, Hold Them Up produce quality, colourful stretch belts and braces suitable for kids of all ages. “My daughter tried a pair of the tartan braces first and they looked so cute, she absolutely adored them and didn’t want to take them off; I think she’d have happily worn them with every outfit every day!” Cross Productions Company Director Jenny Cross told us. No matter where you are, keep your kids kitted out with some functional, fashionable accessories (and don’t forget the bow tie!). With fun designs you and your little ones can choose a theme for the day and you can be assured that they will be smart, stylish and sensibly dressed for any occasion.
www.holdthemup.co.uk
To check out the full collection visit www.holdthemup.co.uk
Call 01963 31825 for information or use the contact form on the website.
Achieve 43
Mumpreneur Conference and awards 2014! Celebrating inspirational parents in business across the UK We’re so excited about the 6th Annual Mumpreneur awards, held on the 7th November 2014, with our very own Jenny Cross shortlisted as a Finalist in the ‘Spark’ category; the Achieve ladies were in attendance alongside some of our lovely clients. When the founders of Mumpreneur decided to offer just a conference to cater for mums in business, little did they realise the full extent of the demand out there and how many inspirational mums (and dads) the UK boasts; and so Mumpreneur UK became a full time enterprise offering support, community and recognition for remarkable parents and business people across all manner of industries. The Mumpreneur awards celebrate the achievements of just some of the parents out there and recognise many different accomplishments across the 12 award categories including the Inspire award; an award which all shortlisted nominees will be put forward to win, looking for the most inspirational and amazing Mumpreneur and Dadpreneur out there who are ready to fly the flag for the UK’s dedicated parents running businesses, inspire more to start up in business, and be an inspiration to every parent in the UK. With sponsorship from the likes of Anna Kennedy OBE and Amazon these awards are sought after in any industry and are set to continue to take the business world by storm. If you know any inspirational Mum or Dadpreneur’s make sure they get a nomination next year; to find out how visit www.mumpreneuruk.com and get involved. For all the lovely ladies and gents who attended the 2014 awards we hope you had a fantastic, glamorous evening with lots of like-minded mums and dads and congratulations to all you Finalists!
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Achieve work/life balance by
starting your own business today Starting a business in your 50s is a growing trend. Is it time for you to find the courage to put dreams into action? Karen Kelly, Founder and Managing director of Cleanhome, started her first business offering residential cleaning services shortly after turning 50 when she was keen to achieve a better work/life balance. Karen knew that giving someone access to your home and possessions can often be a leap of faith so she started offering cleaning services with a difference ensuring all Cleanhome clients are given the opportunity to approve their cleaner and develop a trusting working relationship. Following the success of the first Cleanhome branch, she decided to franchise the business model so others could benefit from it. Once a Cleanhome franchise is set up, the average net profit is 80% of turnover and the working capital is minimal as the required equipment is limited to telecoms, a PC and a printer. Karen also knows it’s important for franchisees to work flexibly to fit in with their family commitments. Cleanhome franchisees can run the business from home and they can schedule meetings with clients and cleaners at their convenience. Having previously held senior positions as Head of UK and Ireland Sales at Virgin Atlantic and as a Country Director for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in the UK, Karen has applied her experience in sales and recruitment to help other people run their own business. She knows that some of Cleanhome’s franchisees haven’t run a business before so she has built a robust training programme to make sure they understand the ‘back end’ (the administration, legal and finance and technical functions) but also are confident enough to liaise with clients. Despite being a franchisor, Karen still runs the first Cleanhome branch which means she understands the pressures and challenges her franchisees face and can offer support when they need advice.
Everything you need to read We all love a good magazine and none more so than our very own Jenny Cross; with over 15 years’ experience in the publishing industry, Jenny is now the proud owner of 2 successful independent magazines: Niche and Achieve. Covering an array of topics across the 2 titles from weddings to SEN, Jenny’s passion and vision has seen the readership figures soar and Niche magazine double in size in just over a year winning Cross Productions acclaim locally and nationally as well as securing Jenny a Finalist position at this year's Mumpreneur awards in the ‘Spark’ category.' TOP TIP: Adverts sell more than just your products they sell values, images and a concept of worth and success – seen in a quality magazine people think you are a quality company. As a Mum of 3 herself Jenny knows all too well the art of juggling business and family and is committed to supporting fellow entrepreneurs to achieve their business goals. Her dedication and enthusiasm for all things business has led to her recent appointment as Sales and Marketing Director for the Midlands Leadership Experience where talented, successful and ambitious leaders gather to inspire and be inspired, learn and connect. TOP TIP: Did you know that if each of us spent £100 a year or more on local businesses instead of chain stores it would put an extra £3,000,000 a year into our local economy. Sharing her expertise is something Jenny has a flair for and can often be seen sharing her knowledge across social media and at local networking events, including our very own Cross Encore quarterly networking event in Leicester. TOP TIP: We ensure your message has the right mix of marketing approach in place so that you bring your sales and marketing activities together effectively.
www.cleanhomeuk.com
Let the experts at Cross Productions help you to grow your business, visit www.crossproductions.co.uk
Boost
Spark
Fun activities recommended by
parents for parents in your area! Any parent will tell you how much their children enjoy the extra interaction and stimulation clubs and classes can provide, but it is difficult sometimes to know which providers are trustworthy, reliable and safe (not to mention fun!). That is where a service such as KalliKids has been much needed and will no doubt prove invaluable for many families. This relatively new service, supported by some high achieving ambassadors including Joanna Rees & Mike Yardy, is unique in that it’s run by parents for parents offering a one stop shop to find recommended family activities local to you. The key to KalliKids is providing parents with lots of information about the service providers in their area to help make informed choices on where to take your kids. Simple! Service providers are able to apply for an accreditation whereby KalliKids will carry out quality checks and take up references from fellow parents already using their services; once the ‘KalliKids tick’ has been awarded those providers also then benefit from increased advertising and support as well as community confidence; with expansion across the UK KalliKids are looking for parents and children to join them as ‘Champions’ and future ‘Ambassadors’ to continue their success, helping locate services for parents recommended by parents by sharing their experiences to date achieving over 20,000 visits to the website each month and have over 14,000 social media followers. From baby and toddler groups through to learning Spanish or a Martial Art, parents can simply log onto their free service at www.kallikids.com and find what they need, and thanks to their dynamic search function you may even find some extra inspiration. KalliKids is enabling parents to find accessible activities for kids to enjoy and learn from as well as championing service providers dedicated to high quality, engaging development for your children. www.kallikids.com enquiries@kallikids.com 01273 507103 Pillar
Achieve 45
Spark Highly Commended – Stephanie Turner & Toni Thorne – My Children’s Boutique Winner – Louise Harrison – Coco Libre Ltd
The Warwickshire Outsourcing Centre
Wired Highly Commended – Christine McRichie – Earthwise Trading Ltd Winner – Jenny Adjene – Hip Hip Horray
Pillar Highly Commended – Lucy Rocca – Soberistas Ltd Winner – Polly Buckland – The Typeface Group
Boost Highly Commended – Amy Spearing – The Beauty Boutique Winner - Lisa Long – More Than Words
Reach Highly Commended - Julie Batten – Mini Moo & Co Winner -Tajinder Banwait – Urban Apothecary London
Champion Highly Commended – Naomi Marek – Sky Badger Winner – Aysha Julie & Jermaine Julie – The Gifted Organisation
Courage Highly Commended – Sophia Wyatt – Sophia Wyatt Hair and Makeup Artist Winner – Lorena Oberg – Lorena Oberg Skin Clinics
Engage Highly Commended – Angela Stirling – Lingotot Winner – Donna Gray – Small Print Photography
Unique Highly Commended – Joanna McLaughin – Runamokka Winner – Jo Bevilacqua - Serenity Loves
Product Highly Commended – Amber Bamford – Project B Highly Commended – Karen Snyder – My Hospital Bag Winner – Bernice Hewsdon – Babycademy
Voice Highly Commended – Lyndsey Elizabeth – The Welsh Blonde Winner – Rochelle Bathew – Baby Blog & Me
Future Star Highly Commended- Victoria Robinson – By Victoria Winner – Kate Hope – Hope & Rainbows
Inspirational Mum 2014 Natalie Lambert – Nyla Rose
Celebrity -(new award) Caprice Bourret – By Caprice
A Mum of Many Talents Kerry Field knows how to multi-task; coming from a career as a Personal Assistant/Legal Secretary to a Senior Partner of a UK Law Firm, with over 15 years PA experience and as a working Mum, juggling tasks was not an option but a necessity as many of us can empathise with. As her own family grew, Kerry took the leap into self-employment as a Virtual Assistant (VA) to offer her the flexibility she now needed and she hasn’t looked back since! Founding The Warwickshire Outsourcing Centre in 2007, Kerry and her team have offered award winning Virtual PA services to businesses large and small throughout the UK; from inventory clerks and HR consultants to social media specialists they collaborate with a selection of UK professionals to provide business support in all its many guises. Not content with being the super VA herself, Kerry began to offer training services to aspiring VA’s and in particular focusing on the property industry where she knows there is an issue with untrained VAs causing poor quality. Now the proud owner of an award winning business, including nominations for this years “Working Mum of the Year”, “Bizmums” and “Mumpreneur” awards; Kerry has her sights set on expanding her empire with the recent addition of a business hub – a platform enabling UK individuals to start, learn and develop a business by tapping into pre-tried and tested methods of advisors already in business. “The internet is an amazing tool to learn and develop yourself but how do you know what you’re using works and who can tell you if you’re on the right track? I wish to create a valuable resource enabling UK businesses to save time and energy whilst building strong relationships with others who can help them expand their business.” Kerry told us. To find out more about VA training, business support or the resource hub visit www.thewarwickshireoutsourcingcentre.co.uk
Unique
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Beautiful babies in stunning print Capturing those precious first moments with your baby is something to be cherished and in order to commemorate these invaluable memories a superb photographer is a must; based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland Small Prints Photography offers an exceptional and personal multi award winning opportunity to capture the individuality and beauty of your newborn. Always of an artistic persuasion, Donna Gray, originally trained as a Florist; was inspired to pursue her growing interest for photography after struggling to find a specialist newborn photographer in her area and so in 2010 Donna established Small Prints Photography, the first exclusively newborn photography studio in her locality; preserving the most special and shortlived moments in your babies development. Donna’s passion and commitment to providing the perfect service for new parents has inspired her continued development resulting in numerous commendations from clients and professional bodies alike, winning the ‘Engage’ category at this year’s Mumpreneur Awards. “Donna is truly exceptional at what she does. From our initial enquiry to delivery of our precious memories she was brilliant.” Candice, Findlay’s mummy. What differentiates Small Prints from the multitude of photography services out there is Donna; she has created a haven for parents to bring their children and promoted a fun, relaxed and unpressurised environment for an enjoyable family experience. “It’s a lot more than a photography session. It is an amazing experience with your baby that will stay with your forever” Mayans’ Mummy. “Part baby whisperer, part photographer and completely amazing!” Paul, Noah’s Daddy. A self-confessed perfectionist, Donna has made it her mission to perfect her art; along the way she has been mentored by many of the best newborn photographers the USA has to offer and been awarded her Master Craftsman and being named ‘Top Tog’ by Europe’s largest online photography training site from The Photographers Academy; on the horizon for this year are plans to further diversify into training fellow aspiring newborn photographers to enable this unique and quite remarkable service to become accessible far and wide.
Bundles of baby treats from Coochy Coo Nappy Cakes It can be hard to find a gift for new or expecting parents that’s practical yet fun and something a bit different but that is why we were so excited to see Coochy Coo Nappy Cakes. These unique gifts are high quality, contemporary and practical; they are the perfect multi-tasking gift for soon to be multi-taskers! Established in 2012, initially as a more of a side line for Lorraine, the founder; her innovative and adorable gifts were an astounding success at local events and so her small stall rapidly developed into this now award-winning business delivering perfect presents throughout the UK and Europe. These novel nappy cakes come in all manner of themes, sizes and prices offering a personal and affordable alternative to the clichéd gifts of the past. Cakes are made in a range of popular standard designs if you want some inspiration or can be tailor-made to suit any new baby occasion or theme for a truly personal and distinctive gift or treat. Ranging from only £20.00 for a mini cake through to larger threetiered options Coochy Coo offers something to suit every budget, every personality and every event and if you don’t want the temptation of a ‘cake’ they can diversify to baby clothes floral bouquets, cupcake gift sets and more. Recently nominated for yet another award by the Mumpreneur Awards 2014, despite her remarkable growth Lorraine has achieved 100% customer satisfaction and continues to bloom alongside her expectant Mums. “Thank you so much for the nappy cake and brilliant delivery service too ...The gift went down so well at the baby shower everyone asked where I got it from. It stood out from all the other gifts and the mum to be absolutely loved it. Thank you. I can’t wait to order again”. Sophia, Essex www.coochycoonappycakes.co.uk (including LIVE Chat) info@coochycoonappycakes.co.uk
Pimp Your Chair! Why shouldn’t your wheelchair get the fancy treatment? Pimp your Chair is a company whose mission it is to help your chair be the best it can be with bright designs and often tailor -made upholstery work, specialist backrests, seat slings and cushions, bags, straps, guards and even full chairs. Zoe, Pimp your Chair’s founder, started the company to fulfil a gap in the market that affected so many people. With a background in clothing and dress making as well as many considerable years spent at a wheelchair manufacturers. Wanting to provide a service made entirely in Britain Zoe set up Pimp your Chair with a drive to provide well-made accessories that were affordable, attractive and comfortable. Drawing on over 30 years of experience as a seamstress, Zoe and her skilled team delight in providing chair accessories that reflect you and your tastes; “I have wondered why for so long that existing chairs on the market don’t offer a more tailored approach to what their customers would like. Why shouldn’t an individual have a chair that reflects their tastes and design choices? I am thrilled to be able to offer the service that we do at Pimp my Chair, customers seem so delighted when they receive an accessory for their chair that they love, or as their old chair gets a new lease of life!” Zoe told us. The order process couldn’t be simpler, all you need do is pick out your designs online and they take care of the rest! There is even a custom requirement option for you the customer to be able to choose further specifics; this option has resulted in specialist designs such as a chair fit for a bride on her wedding day and resurrecting a chair that was nearly ready to bow out! So, what are you waiting for? Pimp your Chair at www.pimpyourchair.co.uk today! Call: Tel landline: +44 (0) 1543 306 644 Tel mobile: +44 (0) 7788 464 129
www.smallprintsphotography.co.uk Engage
Boost
Unique
Achieve 47
Cosy cushions and cool creations
Born almost by accident By Victoria is the
as those first Kidston-inspired cushions; By
been plain-sailing but this resourceful Mum has
result of some friendly encouragement and an
Victoria now offer a wide range of beautiful
survived and flourished against the odds and
exceptional talent. Pregnant with her second
personalised, handmade gifts for any occasion
nor in addition to her gift businesses she has
child By Victoria founder, Victoria Robinson
or recipient, from soft
suffered the strain of redundancy and job-
toys and comforters to
seeking in the volatile UK employment market,
housewares, clothing
unsuccessful (thankfully) Victoria gave birth to a
and bags (even
beautiful son and it was whilst caring for him she
catering for your dog!);
rediscovered her childhood hobby, knitting and
Victoria prides herself
sewing on her aunts borrowed sewing machine.
on creating quality
“quality products and bespoke items that will delight every budget and taste”
recently started a very different Facebook group (Autism & ADHD Parents North Down) for local mums and dads who have children with Autism and other special needs; “I am
products and bespoke items that will delight
a great believer in things happening for reasons,
“I used to knit and sew with my Grandmother
every budget and taste (and she has some
over the last 3 years of launching and building
as a child and felt like doing something creative
celebrity fans to lay testimony to that!).
my business my youngest son was diagnosed
again.”
with autism, it has meant a lot of sleepless “My soft toy and clothing range became
nights, strict routine as well as endless hospital
Armed with a copy of Cath Kidston’s book and
incredibly popular which resulted in me
and therapy appointments.” ; offering support
her creativity Victoria started to sew cushions
providing items for Emily Blunt’s new baby, Tom
and a community for like-minded parents in her
and unbeknown to her the demand for these
Cruise and Katie Holme’s Daughter, Siri and for
local area.
charming cosy creations was set to sky-rocket!
Kim Kardashian’s new baby!”
“Friends started to comment on my cushions
The proud winner of a gold website award
meant to do, the redundancy and job knock
and encouraged me to start a Facebook page
from Mumpreneur UK last year this inspirational
backs were all part of this plan for me to be
and basically the madness began, within hours I
business woman/ Mum was Highly Commended
where I am today and I couldn’t be happier
had sold cushions to local customers.”
in the Future Star category at this years’ awards;
about it!” Victoria Robinson.
“I know now that I am now doing the job I was
and bitten by the Mumpreneur bug is now busy With the success of Facebook sales and
launching a second website
her revitalised passion for sewing, Victoria
(www.thequirkytreehouse.co.uk) which will be
expanded her products and services,
non-personalised quirky gifts. But Victoria is
achieving the same remarkable success
not stopping there!; The past 3 years have not Future Star
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Website: www.byvictoria.co.uk Email: contact@byvictoria.co.uk Tel: 07788 248542
There’s talent by the ‘Tyne’ There’s no mistaking Newcastle’s got talent, think Ant & Dec and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, but not all of its stars are on the small screen; look around the area and there is an abundance of talent by the ‘Tyne’! For all you Yummy Mummies There are some Marvellous Mums out there in Newcastle and plenty of things to do; if you think you’re too busy be a star for the day, never fear we’ve found some treats which will be hard to beat! Whether it’s struggling to get into your jeans, let alone a red carpet gown, or you suffer from the classic saddle bags to cellulite the wonder of Lipo Wave can make a much needed difference helping to restore your body confidence, with additional non-surgical treatments including IPL and anti-ageing facials, Emma Alcock at the Lipo Wave Clinic is a saviour for the self-conscious and giving everyone the VIP treatments to make them leave feeling like a superstar. “I love the fact that whether it is losing a few centimetres after a treatment, reducing wrinkles or removing unwanted and embarrassing hair, my clients leave feeling happier and more selfassured.” Emma enthused. Contact Lipo Wave and make a change today; visit www.thelipowaveclinic.co.uk or call 07572 246 441 So, you like the idea of a good pampering but you’re not sure how much fun waiting for your transformation will be for your toddler? Remember The Splat Centre? Drop your little one off and have 90 minutes of me time, or show off the new you and enjoy a coffee in viewing lounge whilst your little one gets a treat too; from classes and stories to just good fashioned fun enjoy their entertainment like a VIP. “The most fabulous place to take your children! We LOVE it!” Deborah Find out and join in with the fun at www.splatcentre.co.uk or call 0191 4479194
A perfect combination of fun and freedom; Splat can do that!
Lipo Wave Clinic: Waving goodbye to unwanted fat
Every parent needs a break, but during the hours the kids are awake that’s quite a feat which is why Achieve loved The Splat Centre in Tyne & Wear; not your standard play centre, The Splat Centre is an assortment of play, education, sensory and communication activities to delight and develop your toddlers, with or without the parents.
The Lipo Wave clinic was born from experience. Owner and Biological Science graduate Emma started the company after having two children led her to discovering that this method of lipo cavitation was highly effective at shifting her stubborn post-natal pouch (I am sure most of us know this well!). The results, combined with a healthier lifestyle, impressed her so much that she went on to qualify and receive extensive training to deliver ultrasound cavitation and IPL laser hair removal treatments.
An enthusiastic and experienced team are able to offer you and your children the opportunity to experience their facilities with the peace of mind any parent necessitates; for 90 minutes you and your children can enjoy the variety of the play frame, sensory areas, toddler centre, storytelling, arts and crafts or their Eduplay sessions; something to satisfy any little ones curiosity, whilst helping to stimulate their development. Parents and children can choose to visit the play centre, making the most of the play frame with aerial glides, slides and tubes to play with punctuated with storytelling at regular intervals and arts and crafts to join in with, or parents can choose to ‘Drop & Shop’ allowing their children to have all the fun whilst they go shopping or relax with a coffee in the viewing lounge; the centre lays claim to the talents of qualified teaching and nursery staff offering the Splat Academy a diverse collection of development through play activities, Eduplay, which offers toddlers from 18 months invaluable preparation for starting school; promoting decision making and independent play and covering topics from baking to letter formation, and don’t worry if yours are a little younger the Splat Academy have a range of classes from baby massage for newborns upwards; catering for every personality or age! Once you and your toddler discover the benefits of The Splat Centre you may even get some regular time to play yourself. www.splatcentre.co.uk academy@splatcentre.co.uk
Engage
Lipo Wave uses the latest in slimming technology, lipo cavitation, which targets those stubborn areas of fat that remain which don’t seem to shift no matter what you do! Whether it’s the classic saddle bags, muffin tops, post-natal pouch, love handles or cellulite the wonder of Lipo Wave can make a much needed difference helping to restore your body confidence. The process for you the client couldn’t be easier, as it is a non-surgical procedure there is no surgery and no anaesthesia, there is no hospital stay, no time off from work and no recovery time. Results can be immediate and it’s painless and effective at targeting the areas that you simply can’t shift alone! The clinic itself is warm and inviting and offers other confidence boosting treatments such as IPL laser hair removal and anti-ageing facials. Emma’s focus is on helping people regain their body confidence; “I know from first-hand experience how body changes as you grow older can sap your confidence. I love the fact that whether it is losing a few centimetres after a treatment, reducing wrinkles or removing unwanted and embarrassing hair, my clients leave feeling happier and more confident.” Emma enthused. So, what are you waiting for? Why live with those stubborn bits that you ordinarily cover up and hide? Contact Lipo Wave and make a change today! www.thelipowaveclinic.co.uk Call: 07572 246 441 www.facebook.com/thelipowaveclinic Future Star
Achieve 49
Lovely leggings for little legs!
Protecting your Precious Cargo
Sometimes you stumble across a product or company that you just need to share; Blade & Rose is one of those. A children’s fashion brand, specialising in high quality babies leggings, these are definitely one to watch, already spotted by several major mother and baby groups, these fantastically designed items are rapidly increasing their popularity. Founded in 2010 by Amanda Peffer and based in the UK, Blade & Rose are the creators of some of the cutest, funkiest leggings for your baby or toddler. Taking the baby clothing world by storm Amanda now has stockists across the UK as well as in Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Japan, US, China and Dubai.
Any parent will tell you that looking after their
“Designed by myself "mum" inspired by my little girl who always has her bum on show” – Amanda. This creative Mum was inspired to develop a range of adorable leggings whilst on maternity leave to provide functional, yet funky and exceptional quality leggings ideal for covering up nappies and gussets while your baby is exploring. Both children and Amanda’s husband are all now involved, from modelling to business, making this the archetypal family business, with a contemporary product twist. Nominated for Mumpreneur of the Year 2014, Amanda is committed to creating a range of innovative leggings made of the highest quality yarns, able to withstand the tumbling and crawling of little people, with a character and style you’d be hard pressed to find on the high street. Available in a multitude of different designs and 5 sizes, these are colourful and cute for both boys and girls, including themed occasion wear. Available with matching socks and hats for any personality these items really do make the perfect outfit or gift. You’ll be waiting for your little one to crawl away just to show off their fashionable bums to your friends!
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children and keeping them safe is their main priority in life, not only is it a natural instinct to keep them safe but it also feels part of our job. Rear facing car seats are 5x safer for young children than front facing car seats and so for us and an increasing number of parents UK wide they seem like a natural choice when choosing car seating options for our transport needs. My Precious Cargo provides much needed advice, rear facing car seats and accessories in an area which is growing but which many of us still don’t know a great deal about. Paula, a qualified and practising physiotherapist and Colleen, a mum who discovered the merits of rear facing seats and hasn’t looked back, started My Precious Cargo to fill a large gap in the UK market and to share their findings with a larger audience. By providing expert knowledge to assist you in choosing a rear facing seat that is correct for your vehicle and for your child, the duo aim to increase awareness of the safety benefits of keeping your toddler rear facing. The service the experienced mothers provide is driven by a strong desire to ensure your child enjoys the comfort of travel and you the peace of mind that they are as safe as possible. This commitment to providing parents with seats that will give their children a safer ride extends to offering viewings and demonstrations of their extensive range of rear facing seats on an appointment basis, as well as of course answering any questions you may have. Shop the range at www.mypreciouscargo.co.uk and call
07967 154885 (Colleen) or 07876 033871
www.bladeandrose.co.uk Email: info@bladeandrose.co.uk Call: +44 (0) 7920752260
(Paula) if you have any questions!
Reach
Unique
Transform any room with adaptable, affordable wall decals The pursuit for perfection in our homes is known all too well, so what if we told you there is a way to add an instant lift to your interior design, hassle free and easily affordable; okay so now the shock has passed let us introduce an accessible and achievable solution with Nutmeg Wall Stickers. Pioneered by Adele (not the singer!) these innovative graphic and quotes are the perfect way to spruce up anywhere in your home or office; Adele, originally a traditional sign writer with over 8 years’ experience working for signs and graphics companies, began working freelance after the birth of her first child and as with anyone with artistic tendencies will relate to, some of her ‘work’ came home; helping her children put a personal touch on their own rooms Adele created stickers for their walls diversifying from the traditional decorating techniques to rejuvenate and individualise their bedrooms without spending a fortune providing updates for their ever-changing trends. Attracting admiration from house visitors Adele began designing bespoke wall stickers for some of their homes and offices and recognising a market for affordable, personal decorative wall accessories she established Nutmeg Wall Stickers; from existing designs to adaptations or original artwork Adele caters for everyone; the stickers themselves are high quality, durable, mess free and easily removed making them perfect for any home or rental property where a full redecoration may not be practical; from quotes to skylines or chalk boards there is something for every room, my personal favourite being the ‘To Do list’ for your bathroom mirror, something I’d love in a morning!; but whilst these contemporary stickers grow in popularity Adele also retains her skills from her roots in traditional sign writing creating house signs and numbers through to wedding signs, thus encapsulating all sign writing needs at www.nutmegwallartstickers.co.uk www.facebook.com/nutmegwallstickers @NutmegDecals
Best Product
The sisterhood of motherhood
A Writing Wonder Woman
Becoming a Mum is one of the most rewarding experiences a woman can have and we wouldn’t change it for the world. Every new parent is warned about the sleepless nights, the expense and the worry, but being a parent can also be incredibly lonely at times, as Aimee Foster discovered when she had her first child. When Aimee discovered she was pregnant she had a full and busy life including a full time job and a vibrant social life; Aimee was the first of her social circle to have a child and when her daughter (now 5) was born she could not have imagined the transformation in lifestyle and admits motherhood was difficult to adapt to at first.
We love an early start, but Martina Mercer has been in the business world since the tender age of 14; opening her own bookshop which is where her passion for writing began; “Owning a bookshop I realised I wanted to be on the shelves not behind them” When Martina’s father passed away, she decided to follow his advice and she followed her dream and took her first steps into writing professionally by blogging her life!
Aimee’s hopes to find a group of like-minded ‘Mummy’ friends were not achieved as easily as expected and after numerous playgroups and baby classes she decided she needed to try something new. Keen to find something easily accessible for any Mum she decided to offer a service online, giving Mums the chance to meet one another, and the concept for Mum Amie was born. Enlisting her lifelong friend and firm supporter of all things networking, Gemma, they joined forces and together they took action. After finding her first ‘Mum date’ 6 months in, Aimee rediscovered a social life that worked with motherhood and offered invaluable support and advice from women just like her. Mum Amie is a free to use “Meet a Mum” website, which has connected many Mums with friends in their local areas in a simple and effective way; Mums just need to register at www.mumamie.com, complete a profile and get matching with other local Mums (a bit like a dating site!). “Well feedback on today's 'blind date' brilliant. I may have just met my new best friend because of you.” Mum Amie User.
20 years later and Martina is a multi-award winning copywriter, also owning a digital publishing house which publishes 8 magazines (including Sunday Woman and The Consumer Voice) in the areas of food, mumpreneurs, gardening, ecommerce and consumer advice; “Today I am the Editor for many of my magazines and write daily on the subjects that really interest me. I still have a passion for copywriting though and helping businesses succeed. With an English degree, writing certificates and a psychology HND, I produce copy that simply sells”. Martina; and it’s not surprising that this year she is a Finalist in the ‘Super Achiever’ category at the Mumpreneur 2014 awards. Martina can provide an array of professional writing and digital marketing services for any business, and with a wealth of experience she can advise you on how to capture your audience and retain them. “Martina really got behind our business and her passion was evident from the beginning. Through her advice, marketing and copywriting, we’ve managed to achieve our dream of taking our business global, winning many awards and becoming a household name!”
www.mumamie.com info@mumamie.com
Whether your business is big or small, Martina can cater for any budget from a one-off blog through to providing a full package of support to market your business the right way, she has an abundance of happy customers’ testament to her abilities, to find out more about how Martina could boost your business check out her website at www.martinamercer.com
Unique
Courage
Exquisite chocolate treats for any tolerance As most ladies will understand, chocolate is essential! Much to my own dismay I was diagnosed with a dairy intolerance some months ago and I thought I would never be able to enjoy a good piece of chocolate again, which is why I was ecstatic to come across Cocoa Libre. For dairy, wheat, gluten and nut free chocolate which tastes amazing these are the answer to any sweet tooth. Founded in January 2014, Louise was inspired to find a tasty, attractive alternative to chocolate when one of her own sons developed a dairy intolerance. “I wanted him to continue to enjoy food and the same kind of lovely chocolate treats my other child enjoyed on occasion. This was especially the case around certain times of year and I couldn't find products which tasted fantastic and were exciting to receive or see on the shelf at the shops.” Cocoa Libre creates beautiful, handmade artisan chocolates for all occasions and tastes made instead from Rice Milk which creates an exquisitely creamy milk chocolate and is all sourced sustainably, so you can bask in the pleasure of these sweet treats guilt free! To date Louise has made astonishing progress in procuring stockists and launching the online shop, securing her a much acclaimed win at the Mumpreneur 2014 awards in the ‘Spark’ category, for making an incredible difference in such a short space of time. With stockists rapidly coming on-board, Cocoa Libre products will be available throughout the UK in time for you to add them to your Christmas list, or if you’re feeling generous to gift to someone, but when you see them you will realise that person needs to be very special before you can part with them! www.cocoalibre.co.uk info@cocoalibre.co.uk
Spark
Achieve 51
Make your gifts and photographs truly
magical with KJD
Fairytale Creations
We love it when we come across something extra special and this company offer some truly magical creations (and that is not just a witticism!). KJD Fairytale Creations is a haven for all things enchanted and provides photography, gifts, editing and artistic services for your little stars through to actual stars! “Photography editing of my daughters for a Christmas card design. ‘Kayleigh was very accommodating and lovely- even with us changing our mind and making lots of changes. She gave us lots of options to choose from and the finished product was great. I would not hesitate to use her services again.’” Amanda Holden.
A real-life fairytale
From humble beginnings Kayleigh has grown her business from undertaking a basic Photography course at her local college to starting an inspirational story of the quintessential Mumpreneur; making gifts for and on behalf of friends and family her talents soon began to attract the interest of customers further afield and ones who were willing to pay for her expertise and passion, and so she nervously took her first steps towards entrepreneurialism with a little encouragement from her partner and her £50 savings Kayleigh stocked up on plates and glasses and began gift making and editing in earnest!; her distinctive style and enchanting
craftsmanship make KJD Fairytale Creations
seen fairy tale edits until I came across the
strikingly different from the run of the mill and
lovely Kayleigh’s page! Highly recommended!”
with every magical creation available in one
Sammi. “Very talented. Gorgeous creations.
place her photo editing and gifts will leave you
Unlike anything else.” Hanna.
spellbound. Established in 2013, Kayleigh Dixon has taken a “I take a lot of my photography inspiration
passion for photography and some inspirational
from Anne Geddes and Charlotte Bird who are
thinking and developed a range of services and
truly amazing and I aspire to be like them one
gifts which are truly beyond the realms of this
day. I love all things fairytale and I love being
world. Kayleigh specialises in Fairy Art, Fairy
creative. With my crafts and other products I
tale and Fantasy photography as well as unique
just do what comes out of my own imagination
gifts from typography to glassware and each
and customer’s brief, they give me a theme
creation is bestowed with the same passion
or an idea of what they want and I get to work
and imagination as the first or if you prefer
on designing whatever it is that I’m doing.”
traditional portrait photography Kayleigh is able
Kayleigh told us.
to cater to any taste, providing results no less spectacular, or can even edit your own photos
“Love this page the Alice in Wonderland range
to add an extra dimension to your snaps; her
is simply amazing!!!! The picture edits are
determination and approachability are notable
also very good and very unique I have never
and whether online or on her weekly market
Courage
52
stall at Sandbach Indoor Market in Cheshire,
town. The two favourite parts of my job are
Kayleigh is renowned for turning her customers
seeing my creations come to life, especially
dreams into charming realities.
my fairy photography and edits and also the customer satisfaction I get when they receive
“I specialise in fairy art and fantasy/fairytale
their items.” Kayleigh told us.
photography, but I also enjoy taking photos of adults, children and pets in natural situations
“Very talented lady; bought many presents
and working with them to make the photos come
from her for lots of different occasions and
to life. Alongside this I can also edit individuals
all have been very pleased. High standards
own personal photos to get the same effect so
and very reasonable and affordable prices.
you in turn become the photographer, which
Always willing to try new designs to my
makes it even more special. Alongside this
taste” Ellie.
I hand paint plates, teapots, mugs, bowls, glassware etc. which are personalised and
With the majority of Kayleigh’s customers
to whichever theme or design is requested. I
coming via referrals and repeat business
make canvas tote bags that can have a design
(including Amanda Holden’s second order
painted onto them and they are lined with
and continued support as testament) you can
beautiful quality fabric, and you can choose the
rest assured that the quality and commitment
colours that I use to make them. Personalised
provided to each order is second to none and
painted canvases and wooden memory boxes
notwithstanding their ability to cater for any
are also on my list of products. All my items
budget; we’d class that as magic!; Kayleigh is
are completely bespoke and tailored to suit
now beginning to see her own dreams come
the customer’s needs. I sell most of my items
true, offering her artistic and beautifully crafted
through Facebook and my Stall and Craft
take on gifts and photographs to an ever-
Collective stall. I also take part in the Artisan
widening audience; with aspirations to open
market that is held the second Saturday of the
a shop stocking her products and providing
month in Sandbach, Cheshire which is my home
customers with a ‘make your own’ area which
would be a fabulous area for kids and parents to try out their imaginations, coupled with a photographic studio out back, this entrepreneur has only just started her fairytale. In the meantime you can journey with your imagination to her website http://kayleighdixon.wix.com/ fairytalecreations or find her on Facebook to explore her range or enquire about bespoke pieces; catering to all budgets and dispositions Kayleigh’s making exclusive inclusive! kayleighdixon.wix.com/fairytalecreations Email: kjd-Fairytale-creations@hotmail.com Tel: 07703 743087
Achieve 53
Get brushing with BruzZ!
From little to growing bigger…
A flair for childcare
Every once in a while we come across an invention that we have to share with our readers and the BruzZ by Emma Myers is one such invention! Emma’s invention is revolutionising the nail grooming market with her nailbrush for the 21st Century! Gone are the days of the soap spray back and the less than hygienic mouldy wood action and here are the days of truly hygienic nail and hand washing!
The Little British Company was launched
For busy families throughout the UK & abroad The Childcare Specialists could be your saviour in the search for professional, trustworthy childcare provision; from maternity nurses to full time nannies or an exceptional governess, these highly accredited and customer recommended childcare specialists will help to find the perfect candidate to care for your kids or find the perfect family for you to progress your career. Open 7 days a week the agency recruits and places candidates across the UK and abroad for childcare roles from night-nannies through to exceptional Governesses.
The BruzZ was launched in the UK in November 2013 and is growing rapidly as more and more households discover the brush not only works but is easy to use and far superior to its older counterpart. When using with water and hand wash the BruzZ cleans the top, underside, and tip of the nail in one action making the whole process a lot more effective. It also doubles up as a finger cleaner to ensure the cleanest hands you’ll ever have. It provides an enjoyable and pain free cleaning experience for the all the family, including those times when your nails and hands look particularly grim; like when you have just been gardening, working hard or for tackling your toddlers play time hands! “There were so many times that my whole family needed a good nail scrub and the existing brushes just never seemed to complete the job, soap debris would spray everywhere and after only a couple of uses the bristles would become misshapen and even go a bit mouldy! I invented the BruzZ to bring the nail brush into the 21st Century and I think that’s exactly what it does!” Emma enthused. The unique shape, the three dimensional bristles and vanilla scented antibacterial bristles make the BruzZ the top nail grooming out there … BruzZ really is the most hygienic, innovative and convenient nail brush in the world! www.bruzz.com
Best Product
54
independently in 2013 by Jacky and has been growing steadily ever since as people discover this mecca for great, unique gifts. With a mission that has never wavered to develop a place where people could buy British made, high quality goods that supported UK traders Jacky is enjoying reaching a larger and ever growing audience with the online boutique; “Even before we started the company I knew that whilst I wanted to reach a wide audience with our products I wanted the ethos to remain personal and small company in style. I wanted to support makers on British shores, to bring products to an audience that I knew would love and appreciate the quality in each item. As the company grows I would absolutely love to see the business go global, but I will never stray from the reasons I started the company in the first place.” Jacky told us. The range of great gifts on offer is extensive with the ethos the same whichever the product; it needs to have a quirky edge, be different from what you might usually find (no run of the mill stuff here!), be well made and not cost the earth. As a result of their ethos you will find a whole host of delightful gifts for your friends and family that they will be thrilled to receive (perhaps you could even pop in a gift or two for yourself, we won’t tell!) you can find candles, ceramics, quirky signs, stationary, gifts and toys for the little ones and even jewellery and men’s grooming products too. This award winning company are driven by their passion to support British made goods and ultimately delivering them to you for you and your gifts receivers to enjoy! www.thelittlebritishcompany.co.uk
Courage
For Parents Leaving your children in the care of someone else, no matter the length of time, is a nervewracking experience for any parent, helping to provide peace of mind for you are the experts at The Childcare Specialists; with years of experience and recommendations in sourcing the perfect nannies and maternity nurses the team only recruit from the highest of calibre and carry out rigorous checks on all their applicants from references and collecting evidence of qualifications through to an in depth interview with every one of their potential candidates; at short notice or for long term childcare arrangements contact The Childcare Specialists for impartial advice at www.childcarespecialists.co.uk For Candidates Committed to providing the very best for parents means The Childcare Specialists are constantly seeking out the very best childcare professionals; minimum requirements include CRB /DBS checks, first aid and qualified to NNEB equivalent or NVQ Level 2. If you have a passion for providing exceptional care to the children in your charge and are looking to undertake the next steps in your career, The Childcare Specialists can offer you a choice of potential pathways and will always strive to find the best positions for you, no matter if it’s for 1 day or forever. www.childcarespecialists.co.uk Tel: 07948 606472 Email: info@childcarespecialists.co.uk
Future Star
Own a bit of magic… Sometimes something really unique catches our eye that we know our readers will love and with the fairy creations from Kara Henderson at The Fairy Maker we knew we had found something we had to share. Mum of three Kara started her collection of customised fairy sculptures in March last year and has seen her business grow extensively ever since! With waiting lists to try and meet demand Kara is working exceptionally hard to create and give these special sculpted fairies a home. Born from her love of the fantasy world a Fairy Maker piece gives you the opportunity to bring a little bit of magic into your home. Each sculpture, made from resin and lovingly stored in a glass jar, is truly bespoke with the customer able to choose the colour scheme, hair colour and much more besides; “Each and every piece is unique and made by hand, intricate detail goes into each and every one and so many of my customers tell me how delighted they are with their customised piece. I love the fact that I can bring a little bit of magic to someone’s home and delight in the idea that all the fairies and fantasy figures are so loved by those who give them a home!” Kara enthuses. All this work is worth it for the busy mum of three who simply loves being able to do what she loves.
Get their little feet a tappin’ with diddi dance…
Does your tot love to dance? Looking for something that will bring them lots of fun and get them moving too? diddi dance was started by Anne-Marie Martin, a professional dancer with over 20 years’ worth of teaching experience, accessible for all ages the classes, workshops and parties now bring the joy of movement and rhythm to tots all over the UK. Having been running sessions for over 11 years in London diddi dance now have nearly 40 locations all over the UK and with many more opening up all over the country all the time diddi dancers are getting the nation’s diddi feet moving! Classes are suited for both boys and girls between 2-4 years, and with a free trial you and your tot can see if a diddi class is for you. The even better news is you as the parent or carer get to join in too! Everyone knows the merits of dance and for children these benefits are even more prolific; their confidence will grow, they will mix with other children and discover the joys of movement and music in their life! If you love your free trial session (which we are certain you will!) bookings are then taken in half term blocks and you and your tot can enjoy sociable, fun classes or workshops that are affordable and will set them on the path of dancing greatness!
Kara is able to create whatever your imagination can conjure up whether its fairies, dragons, mermaids or spirits and welcomes your ideas; “You can choose your customised options on my order form online but if there is something you have in mind that you can’t find on my webpage then please do get in touch and I will try to help bring your ideas to life!” Kara explains.
“I love creating all our lessons, we now have 14 different dance styles including Bollywood, disco, Charleston and ballroom with an emphasis on keeping all the sessions fresh with new exercises and original songs always being introduced. Now with ten year’s experience diddi dance is the original pre-school dance class to try and I am so proud of all the franchised classes now up and down the country!” Anne-Marie Martin
So, what are you waiting for? Bring a little magic into your or someone dear’s life with The Fairy Maker.
Find your local class at : www.diddidance.com
Leadership is a word we hear and see used a lot today. Great leadership, or the lack of it, is often discussed in relation to organisations and businesses, politics and economics. Many of us associate the word with institutions of power - we rarely think that it applies to us. But leadership is a vital, personal attribute that each one of us possesses, which can transform our lives from the inside out. Nina Farr Coaching was founded after Nina became a single parent with a toddler, while pregnant. During the transition to lone motherhood, she was inspired by the support she received from a personal life coach who challenged her to create a life she was proud of living. Recognising that many other families could benefit from this positive future focused support, she embarked upon a life-changing journey to create accessible and affordable coaching programs for the parents and young people she met. Now a qualified Personal Performance Coach and member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, Nina Farr’s Coaching practice offers tailored coaching, training and mentoring to individuals and organisations. Nina has worked with businesses, charities, teenagers, parents and families inspiring them to realise the possibilities open to them with Vision, Purpose and Passion. Developing a mind-set of self-leadership is the foundation of each of the courses Nina Farr Coaching offers. Recognising that it is one of the most radically life-changing and empowering steps an individual can take. ‘Get up and Grow’ a self-leadership program developed for 16-24 year olds; ‘Family Vision’ a 12 week course for lone parents who have experienced Domestic Abuse, and ‘Illuminate’ is a bespoke package for organisations. A limited number of one to one sessions are offered. Get in touch to discover your unique Vision, Purpose and Passion today. www.ninafarr.com
www.thefairymaker.com
Wired
Be inspired and go Farr
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Child development just got dandy!
Your perfect home, just a few clicks away!
The Sleepytot Bunny…every parent’s dream!
As a full time teaching professional you’re ideally placed to help develop children, but when you’re a Mum of 2 as well it’s hard to find the work-life balance to allow you to do justice to both roles and provide the care you want for your own and your school children. When Dandy Developments founder, Nikki Sayers, became a Mum for the second time she experienced just this dilemma; juggling the demands of childcare and a Deputy Head role Nikki made the decision to leave her successful teaching career and focus on her little ones, but once her youngest joined pre-school she could no longer restrain her teaching passion, which worked out well for the Mums of Warwickshire!
There is no place like home. It is where we all spend most of our time, and its functionality is key for a happy and harmonious living space. Achieving the balance between practicality and aesthetics is tricky and often people think they must sacrifice one or the other, which is where My Bespoke Room can help! With over 18 years’ experience in visual merchandising and store design, the team provides an online design service with expert advice to help you achieve your dream home at an affordable price.
Any parent whose baby loves a dummy will tell you of its blessings and curses to their life! A great soother and settler as they get tired or simply need a comfort, the dummy has provided many extra zzzz’s for parents the world over.
Nikki’s own experience with her children exposed the shortage of services available for Mums during their child’s early, yet most informative, stages in their development; using her teaching experience Nikki began formulating a plan to fulfil babies and parents needs in April 2011, launching Dandy Development in September, this Mumpreneur does not mess around! Dandy Development now offers classes within Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire which combine baby sign, music and sensory stimulation into one fantastic fun-filled class; classes are limited in number to ensure each child receives one to one attention from Nikki or one of her team but what makes these classes unique are the extraordinary benefits it also has for parents, combining a variety of development techniques and activities into one class and with babies learning sign from as young as 9 months old offer a magical insight into your babies world, whilst they are learning the key skills of communication and having a ball. Nikki’s original idea has flourished winning them a Networking Mummies 2014 award and a Finalist place at the Mumpreneur 2014 awards in the ‘Engage’ category, not forgetting several local awards; she is expanding her team in January to grow her repertoire to 19 classes across the 3 counties and keeps hands on running classes herself each week, although that may be for her own enjoyment mainly.
My Bespoke Room’s talented duo Laura and Diana met whilst working at L’Oreal, from which sprang a natural friendship and later a formidable business partnership. They quickly discovered a shared passion for interior design, evident in their own homes and working wonders achieving designer looks and high end finishes without the designer price tags. Laura and Diana suddenly found themselves in high demand with friends desperate for their design help and 11 years later, at 7 months pregnant, Laura decided the time was right to channel this passion into a business. Struggling to achieve a work life balance herself, Diana jumped at the opportunity to pursue this career dream with Laura and together they set up My Bespoke Room in June 2014. Innovative in their approach, Diana and Laura wanted to bring interior design into people’s lives, offering a service that was affordable. Their unique online service helps people create their dream interiors. After filling out a simple online questionnaire advising your brief and budget, My Bespoke Room does the rest, creating a virtual ‘Mood Board’, sourcing a range of products (from big retailers to small independents) to choose from to achieve your desired look and within your budget! At just £75 a room, it provides the inspiration, expert tips and shopping list to realise your interior design dreams and your perfect home! www.mybespokeroom.com theteam@mybespokeroom.com
www.dandydevelopment.co.uk Engage
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Spark
However, it doesn’t come without its pitfalls as the inventor of Sleepytot found out for herself; “When my son Laurie reached about 5 months old we found that whilst he was sleeping better through the night he still woke every time he couldn’t locate his dummy instantly which meant I had to wake and find it for him! The hunt was on to find a safe way to keep the dummy close which meant we didn’t all have to panic when it disappeared from sight!” Lucy’s search was fruitless though and when she couldn’t find what she was looking for decided to create her own! The Sleepytot Bunny was born! The Sleepytot Bunny Baby Comforter is owned And managed by Julie from Mini Moo & Co. The gorgeous little bunnies have Velcro paws which can hold onto dummies, soothers or teethers. They provide the perfect solution to the problem that so many parents face and have been grabbing the attention of the judges out there, winning an array of awards, including being Highly Commended at this year’s Mumpreneur Awards in the ‘Reach’ category. A favourite with babies, parents and critics alike; the cute bunny can hang onto cot bars, so he can comfort baby safely and soundly, right from birth, the perfect soft companion when out and about holding on to dummy so it’s easily grab able! All you need do is open the paws, attach the soother and reattach. Available in two sizes and a variety of colours this little Bunny is a lifesaver for tired parents everywhere! www.sleepytot.com Call: 0845 009 4405
Reach
mumpreneur Conference and awards 2014
Photos by Kayne Jackson
Achieve 57
Parent friendly play-time Bringing Welsh Bach Music and language skills are all fundamental in helping your baby develop and enjoy themselves in the process; what makes Babi Bach extra special is their bi-lingual focus (yes bi-lingual babies!). Penni Carr, a seasoned performer of 11 years, and now proud Mum of 2, is a lady who loves language; her love for the stage was transitioned by the birth of her children as her focus changed. Moving back to Wales following the birth of her youngest she understood only too well the struggle parents face to find stimulating, fun and educational classes for young children.
www.totsplay.co.uk
Spending quality time with your babies in their early years is a time parents want to treasure, a time when they want to help their babies grow and enjoy watching them turn into little people; it’s also a time which has inspired some highly successful businesses who recognise the needs of parents and young children and are keen to help parents help their children develop together. Music and play have long been recognised as effective and fun ways to help a child’s development from a very early age and which adult wouldn’t relish the excuse for a good sing-a-long or an excuse to dance before it embarrasses the kids!? Who better to deliver these sorts of activities for you and your children than professionals, and with Babi Bach and Runamokka you can combine play and learning with the expertise of exteachers; both set up after recognising a need for parents and child activities in their areas, these enterprising educators quit the classroom to fulfil those gaps in the market. Providing the chance of bi-lingual babies via Babi Bach or a magical insight into your child’s world via baby sign classes at Runamokka, parents have the opportunity to stimulate their baby’s senses, develop their skills and have a much needed cuppa all at once, perfect! Offering a unique mix of music and language skills with an emphasis of introducing English and Welsh to your little linguists Babi Bach is taking the ‘valleys’ by storm; further North and you’ll find Runamokka, a perfect combination for parents and children of food, fun and learning; offering a variety of classes, a drop-in centre and a relaxing coffee shop to enjoy whilst your little one listens to a good story. To find out more about either of these providers please visit their websites at www.babibach.co.uk and www.runamokka.co.uk
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Following her first child, Penni had worked for a national franchise of baby music classes and loved every minute. Aware that parents in her community wanted to send their children to Welsh speaking schools she was inspired to combine her expertise and a passion for the Welsh language, amalgamating all her performance and educational skills to provide a bi-lingual pre-school education using music. Catering for children from birth up to 3 years, Babi Bach is suitable for non-Welsh speakers through to those already fluent and each 30 minute class is designed to introduce English and Welsh from an early age; learning is a lot easier at this stage of a child’s development. But not only are the classes educational they also help to build confidence, social skills and are just good fun! Babi Bach is taking South Wales by storm, with Penni on hand to lead each class. Her achievements include nominations for 3 “What’s on for Little Ones” awards (the first Welsh language class to EVER reach the finals), a “Networking Mummies” nomination and a “Women in Business” award; Welcome your child to the beauty of language and find out more about Penni’s classes at www.babibach.co.uk
Located in the seaside resort town of Whitley Bay, Joanna Leslie-Love has a parent’s paradise you and your children should really visit; Joanna is the proud new owner of
Runamokka, a coffee shop with play centre, filled with activities for the under 5’s and a steady supply of cake, coffee and chatter for the adults.
A Primary School teacher in her former life, Joanna spotted a lack of services available for parents with young children which were fun, sociable and educational (and that’s just for the parents!); in her search she happened upon Runamokka and the concept behind the combination coffee shop and play centre sparked her imagination, luckily for her (and us) Runamokka was up for sale and the story for her began. Following a renovation and some ‘TLC’ Runamokka is now winning back customers and showing them the benefits they can bring for both parents and children; with regular classes including dancing and sensory stimulation through to one to one sessions for older children or pre-school preparation; Joanna’s repertoire is rapidly expanding as sessions and attendance grow. Sessions are operated on a walk in basis primarily, with only some sessions bookable if they are run by an external company, meaning parents can pop in for a coffee and a catch up in the café while their little one has fun learning through play in the play centre, sensory room or one of the classes including Mini-Movers, Story Time, Let’s Get Crafty, Baby Discovery or Sing & Sign; Runamokka is fast becoming the first port of call for the parents of Whitley Bay but with such a remarkable success story, don’t be surprised to see a Runamokkas popping up across the UK! To find out more about the classes or parties available at Runamokka visit www.runamokka.co.uk
Every Class Your EveryChild Class Needs In One! Your Child Needs In One! Tots Play is a Unique, Multi-Activity Play Programme designed especially for Toddlers. TotsBabies Play isand a Unique, Multi-Activity
Play Programme designed especially Combining the Toddlers. Developmental Benefits for Babies and of Massage, Yoga, Music, Signing and Sensory Exploration into one exciting, Combining the Developmental Benefits interactive means thatand of Massage,programme Yoga, Music, Signing there is so much to engage inspire Sensory Exploration into oneand exciting, both child and parent alike thatthat smiles, interactive programme means cuddles and lots to of fun are guaranteed! there is so much engage and inspire both child and parent alike that smiles, Bring tofun Your Area cuddlesTots and Play lots of are Local guaranteed! The Tots PlayPlay Franchise Programme Bring Tots to Your Local Area offers a flexible, affordable, family friendly opportunity, where The Totsbusiness Play Franchise Programme you can earn what you are worth offers a flexible, affordable, familyand have time for youropportunity, family too. where friendly business
you can earn what you are worth and Why touch today and find out have not timeget forinyour family too. how bringing laughter, inspiration and support local families could Why notto get in touch today andsoon findbe out all in bringing a day’s work! how laughter, inspiration and support to local families could soon be all in a day’s work!
Find out more at www.totsplay.co.uk or by calling 01633 897841 Find out more at www.totsplay.co.uk or by calling 01633 897841
Would you like to meet mum friends? Meet mums in your area with similar interests, personalities and circumstances to you, and find playmates for your child. Mum Amie is a unique meet a mum website - sign up for free and start meeting other mums now!
Create your profile, find your matches and meet mums like you!
www.mumamie.com Achieve 59
For The Perfect Underwear
Giving mum her confidence back
Get body confident with the underwear range at justsloggi! Contact 01332 811732 or
glynnisd@justsloggi.co.uk
www.lookingglassboudoir.com
www.justsloggi.co.uk
Boosting your body confidence with Boudoir A lot of women will empathise with the struggle for body confidence so imagine having your body hi-jacked for 9 months, altered beyond imagination and returned to you; Jessica Milberg was one of the many new Mums who experienced a post baby body dilemma, not quite feeling like she was in her own skin anymore, and anything but sexy, she was lucky enough to have a supportive and talented partner who suggested a unique way to start the process of returning her body to her. Slowly she and her husband (both Photographers) began to rebuild her body confidence; her husband suggested a Boudoir style photo shoot; set up and designed by Jessica and after a little awkwardness, which soon passed, the results were exquisite photos celebrating her personality, her body and her individuality which she (and he!) could cherish and beginning the process of changing her body image from functional to sensual once again and so Looking Glass Boudoir was born. The service begins with an in depth consultation to ensure the shoot is staged to reflect the sitters own beauty ideals, from outfits and make up to venues and themes, Jessica helps the sitter to express the version of themselves they find most appealing and in turn creates a bound album of stunning shots which will remain a keepsake and reminder that you are truly magnificent and you may be surprised to discover that it shows! “Thanks for helping me love me a little bit more" LGB client. Now well established Jessica specialises in Boudoir style shoots for women of all ages and all stages of their lives, from hen parties to post birth shoots or celebrating a new tattoo, an elegant Boudoir shoot is designed to capture the beauty and essence of the sitter/s and enable the recipient to appreciate and be proud of themselves in their own skin.
www.lookingglassboudoir.com info@lookingglassboudoir.com 01273 930666
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Caring versus Career
GTM Group
you don’t need to choose! Mum Dilemma: You’re a wonderful Mum but you’re also a brilliant business-women (or at least you could be); for many parents the childcare and work-life balance is a juggling act, but there are possibilities out there for parents with a passion for business which can help maintain that balance, through franchising. Now we are not suggesting that every parent wanting to return to work wants to open a franchise but many people may not be aware of the diversity of franchises open to them and the flexibility, freedom and chance to flex their business muscles that a franchise can provide. From retail or health and beauty to baby development there is almost certainly a franchise to suit any skill set or interest, we might just inspire you! Tots Play are a favourite of ours offering a flexible, affordable, family friendly business opportunity; these unique, multi activity classes combine massage through to baby-signing and due to their continued success are always looking for more Enterprising Mums who want to invest in their future to enjoy their children and business collectively, while helping other parents too. "My life has changed dramatically since starting my Tots Play business, I feel so much more confident, challenged and excited! The best part is not worrying about long hours out of the house and away from my children” Emma, Franchisee. Or, maybe you’re an Aloe ambassador in the making? Lynne James and her team boost their incomes and others health through working independently for the largest grower, manufacturer and distributor of Aloe-Vera and bee products in the world! “Lynne has been instrumental in changing our future. Working alongside her has given my family financial piece of mind,” Mandie, Franchisee. With genuine, profitable and adaptable franchises out there offering flexibility around your other commitments a franchise could be worth consideration.
Lynne James: Helping women gain that elusive work/life balance… Lynne James is a working mother who manages to balance it all; a healthy home life and work life, a great income and an active social life… intrigued as to how she manages it? We want in on her secret and think you might do too. So, what is behind her story of a successful career that works around her life? Like many of us, it all started when Lynne was in a job that whilst it was stable didn’t provide the flexibility around starting a family and then spending time with them that she wanted. “When I was introduced to Forever my life changed for the better, for good. I managed for a while working both positions alongside each other but after falling pregnant with twins I knew which role I wanted to maintain and it was Forever hands down!” Lynne told us. Now Lynne, who is in her 18th year working with Forever, helps other women find a place in the working world which allows for family life to thrive too; “Sure, working for yourself is sometimes not easy, it requires hard work and determination but what it has given me back in return far outweighs this. I now enjoy a 6 figure income, have the love for a job I never had before and the flexibility in a role which most importantly allows me to see my children grow up.” Lynne now helps scores of other women discover this work life balance for themselves. Accessible to all, a career with Forever doesn’t require huge outlay costs, it doesn’t require years of training, just a committed attitude whether you are working 10 hours a week or a lot more, perseverance for wanting that change and a positive state of mind. Contact Lynne on 01295 722525 to discover how this could be a reality for you.
Every Franchise a Mum Needs in One! Providing fun, stimulating entertainment for babies and toddlers is an accomplishment in itself but the importance of this to your child’s happiness and development is undeniable. Every experience at this young age has a huge impact, creating new pathways in their rapidly growing brain. Providing a wide variety of play experiences that use the whole body and all the senses is the most effective (and fun) way to help your little ones learn and grow; which is why we loved Tots Play franchises when they came onto our radar. Tots Play are unique in their approach, focusing on all round development through a child’s most impressionable ages, as they grow from newborn to toddler. Their classes combine a variety of learning experiences into one sensory master class for your child and are a great bonding experience for parent and child alike. Classes include music, yoga, massage, physical play, baby sign language and sensory play all designed to deliver a full range of stimulus promoting physical, sensory and social development as well as communication skills and confidence whilst at play. Founder, Helen Gillies, began the classes when she had a young daughter herself and needed the flexibility to work and be with her baby, a multi-tasking feat many Mums are familiar with. Witnessing huge demand and visible benefits for both the parents and children in the classes, Helen launched the franchise scheme to provide the same opportunities for other parents to achieve that sought after work-life balance. The Franchise Programme offers full training and on-going support to run your own classes, locally, and around your family commitments. With growing demand throughout the UK, Tots Play is seeking more Enterprising Mums who want to invest in their future to enjoy their children and business collectively, while helping other parents too. www.totsplay.co.uk info@totsplay.co.uk 01633 897841
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mum and dad are getting married! When you’re parents getting married you have some extra planning to do making sure your child(ren) can be part of your big day so we’ve scoured the breadth of the bridal market to find an array of wedding friendly ideas to keep your family entertained through the speeches and beyond.
Little Gems
Perfec t gift for the Bride and G room
Award winning boutique, Little Bevan design and produce mini luxe childrenswear for every special occasion: weddings, christenings, birthdays…clothes to treasure that children love to wear!
020 7821 9499 info@littlebevan.co.uk
HANDMADE IN THE SHETLAND ISLANDS
Handmade in the Shetland Islands HANDMADE IN THE SHETLAND ISLANDS Visit the new organics range at the etsy shop:
shetlandfudge.co.uk
loveshetlandteddybears.co.uk Contact 01595 694004
www.littlebevan.co.uk
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www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShetlandTeddyBearCo
To choose Best Western’s Weston Hall as the hosts for your wedding day is a choice you will forever delight in. From the stunning surroundings to the attentive and friendly staff they always strive to give you one of the best days of your life. A delightful Elizabethan manor house in the heart of the beautiful Warwickshire countryside Weston Hall will delight you and your guests from the minute you arrive. Sitting pretty in 7 acres of grounds, the 16th Century manor house is a delight at every turn. You can choose from a selection of wedding day packages and of course create them entirely to your requirements for your special day, with the team delighted in helping you make choices which will create the day of your dreams. Whether you are planning on an intimate civil ceremony and reception for 10 close family members and friends or looking to host a larger gathering for up to 250; the team will help make it a reality. The Grade II manor house and extensive gardens make for a
photographers dream and will provide you with
member of staff at the hotel is that you enjoy a
lasting memories and images for years to come.
stress free build up to and on your wedding day
In a great central location, the manor house
day with the knowledge that it’s all taken care of.
is a short drive from Coventry, Stratford upon Avon, Leamington Spa and Warwick and is more than ideal for guests travelling from all over the country. Of course, the accommodation your guests can expect is also of a luxurious standard with 38 individually decorated character filled rooms and a delicious breakfast
so that you can simply relax and delight in your
The hotel’s head chef is a proud one and insists on using fresh, local ingredients wherever possible and with a huge choice in really rather special menu selections you can be assured you and your special guests will be delighted at the gastronomic offerings making your wedding
served in the hotel’s restaurant in the morning.
breakfast memorable for all the right reasons.
The hotel prides itself on a flexible approach to
no one need miss out on the delicious delights!
your big day. For your wedding you can choose from a selection of wedding reception rooms, a wide choice of carefully prepared wedding
Plus, with dietary requirements catered for too, So, for a wedding that is entirely you and a place in which to create lasting, joyful wedding day memories forever more contact Weston Hall
breakfast menus and evening reception buffets.
for a personal visit to the hotel and a chat with
They can provide you with a toast master, a
the co-ordinator about your dream day.
choice of bridal suites and a personal wedding co-coordinator to ensure everything comes together and goes to plan! The most important thing to the wedding team and indeed every
Tel: 02476 312 989 weddings@westonhallhotel.co.uk
Find a stunning range of children’s Flower Girl & Bridesmaid dresses & accessories at Little Jems!
www.littlejemsmanchester.co.uk Achieve 63
Keeping the kids entertained
Photo: Wedding Ring http://blog.theknot.com
Photo: Lily Glass Photography http://blog.theknot.com
Photo: Braedon Photography http://blog.theknot.com
For parents getting married having their children be part of their special day is a memory to treasure but how do you keep your little flower girls and page boys entertained and included in the festivities once the ceremony is over? If you are getting married as a parent or have parents as guests it is worth taking some time to consider the children. Adults may be enchanted by the speeches and flowing champagne but small children especially can soon get bored and will look for ways to amuse themselves, unless the amusement’s already provided!
At the table Sometimes, love them as we do, our speech makers can go on a bit; if the speeches won’t entertain your children make sure they have something at the table that will; keeping them included in the festivities but still having fun? Get lots of crayons and get the children at your wedding to colour in their own placemats or set a theme and have a colouring competition, they’ll love it and you’ll get some quirky souvenirs of the big day through little eyes. If you’re happy for them to leave the table whilst the adults stay seated then why not provide disposable cameras on the table; get the kids snap happy or create a camera scavenger hunt for them to follow and amuse yourself on the honeymoon with some of those ‘natural’ shots that no wedding photographer could capture!
Take it outside If you’re having a summer wedding, create your own wedding games for kids to compete in it will entertain them and wear them out for the ride home, your guests will be so grateful!; pitch a ‘kids only’ tent so they can share secrets from the ceremony not for adult ears or even hire yourself a professional and give them an hour of child friendly fun to break up the day.
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Most Memorable of Occasions...at Weston Hall Hotel Set in 7 acres of its own grounds and within a peaceful village location this Warwickshire hotel is the perfect venue for any celebration or event. Weston Hall the ideal location for meetings and special occasions. Their dedicated and experienced banqueting team have extensive experience of Weddings, Banquets and celebratory events to draw from. And with licensing for civil wedding ceremonies you can enjoy your special day without need of worry.
Weston Hall Hotel,Weston Lane, Bulkington, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV12 9RU
Contact 02476 312989 for more information or visit www.bw-westonhallhotel.co.uk Achieve 65
ould you fit
ostering
nto your life?
e’ve opened our
ome to lots of
Family foster
and
CHILDreN Fostering n the last
0 years
Did you know that there are over 50,000
foster homes in the UK, providing
homes to over 60,000 children in need?
nd helped them It may seem like a lot but there are
n the roadso many to achildren still waiting to find a foster home and councils across the
ermaNeNt
UK are constantly recruiting for new
famILY...
foster parents; you don’t need formal qualifications, just a big heart and a
willingness to learn. Foster a child and
and we’ve played
nhengoal required!
help forge their future.
0116 205 0505
Could you fit
www.spaceforachild.com spaceforachild@leics.gov.uk
What kind of foster carer could you be? Independent Visitors | Permanent Foster Care | Short Breaks | Foster care | Parent & Child Placements
fostering
_FOSTERING ADVERT_190(W)X137(H)MM.indd 1
25/07/2014 11:23
into your life?
“We worried
about fostering
because we hate to Say
goodbye Then we heard about
permanent foster care Ellie will be a part of our family until she’s ready to leave home,
but she still has contact
with her mum
”
0116 305 0505
www.spaceforachild.com spaceforachild@leics.gov.uk
What kind of foster carer could you be? Independent visitors | Permanent/long term foster Care | Short breaks | Foster care | Parent & child
N0652_ACHIEVE MAGAZINE ADVERT PERMANENT FOSTER CARE.indd 66
1
06/11/2014 11:51
It’s fostering…
but not as we know it!
There are many myths around fostering, and the reasons why children need to be fostered, the ‘type’ of people who foster, and what fostering involves. Most people also don’t realise that there is increasing demand for permanent foster carers, who look after a child until they become independent. John and Sarah from Leicestershire had often talked about fostering, and how they would like to help local children. However, the main question they always came back to was ‘What about when the child has to move on?’ They both felt that this would be too emotional for them, and avoided getting involved in fostering for many years as a result. John then spotted a poster in their local medical centre, which included the phrase ‘Permanent fostering means not having to say goodbye.’ John told Sarah about this when he got home. “To us, this meant that we could offer our love and care to a child, and they could become part of our family on a long term basis. We got in touch with Leicestershire County Council and had a chat with them. They explained that when a child has links with their birth family that need to be maintained, permanent fostering is the best option. “Our girls were 8 and 10 years old at the time. We had spoken as a family about fostering, as one of their best friends at school was part of a fostering family. By being open and honest and making sure that nobody felt left out, it became something we wanted to do, together, as a family.
N0652_ACHIEVE MAGAZINE A4 EDITORIAL.indd 1
“We then went along to a ‘find out about fostering’ event at County Hall one evening, and met some foster carers there. It was really good to speak openly with people who were already fostering, as they understood our feelings, initial worries and concerns. That was 18 months ago, and Katie has been with us for nearly a year. “Katie is 7, and is such a lovely girl. She is at our local school now, has made a lot of friends, and even joined the local Brownies. Once a month, Katie sees her grandmother as well as her brother, who is also in foster care. They have a great time together, and Katie is normally really excited but tired when she returns. It’s valuable time for them all, but Katie still comes home to us, her family, who love and care for her, and provide permanence and stability. “Permanent fostering is such a rewarding experience for us all. Our girls - all three of them - certainly keep us busy, but we wouldn’t change it for the world. Katie will always be part of our family and because she knows that she feels loved and safe. She is thriving and growing. Fostering really does change lives - yours as well as the child’s.” People who foster for Leicestershire County Council come from all walks of life. If you’d like to find out more, call 0116 305 0505 or visit www.spaceforachild.com
06/11/2014 11:53
run for a
Reason
If you love to lace up your trainers and work up a sweat, whether it be a park run or running the London Marathon, have you thought about combining your running for fun or fitness with the
chance to transform someone else’s life; why not run for fun and run for a reason?
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research
Taking Action • Changing Lives
Meak a diffreenec 1 Million Pounds Raised by the Lutterworth and
Struggle to read this? Imagine what it’s like living with dyslexia.
District Branch
From jumble sales and raffles, to the only 2 shops in the world raising funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma research - Lutterworth and District Branch is growing from strength to strength, and after 45 years, they have raised an amazing 1 million pounds funds to help find the cures to all blood cancers! We are delighted to announce that Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research is today joining the lead in UK Cancer Charities under an umbrella Campaign to call for political parties to make cancer a priority in 2015 and beyond. They rely solely on your kind donations be it money, items or even your time as we always need volunteers. For more information please contact us on 01455 556649. Lutterworth Shop, Station Road,Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 4AP
01455 556649
www.leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk
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Run for Dyslexia Action and help the 1 in 10 people living with dyslexia reach their full potential. Contact: dperrin@dyslexiaaction.org.uk.
www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk Registered Office: Dyslexia Action House, 10 High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9EA. Dyslexia Action is the working name for Dyslexia Institute Limited, a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 268502) and Scotland (No. SC039177) and registered in England and Wales as a company (No. 01179975).
THE PHOENIX CHILDRENS FOUNDATION Little ponies making a huge difference! These little ponies bring joy to the thousands of children and their families they meet every year; as well as helping enormously with local fund raising efforts they are primarily used as petting ponies for disabled and sick children when visiting hospices and special needs centres. Established as a registered UK charity in 2006 their aim is to raise funds to provide local disabled and severely ill children with vital equipment and theraputic activites in order to enhance the quality of their lives. Phoenix also have an inclusion policy which considers the siblings of these children whom are often overlooked due to the time contraints placed on parents; Phoenix currently supply the brother of a supported child with guitar lessons.
Volunteer Natasha with Charlene & Tickle busy raising funds and meeting the public in Leicestershire.
Mr Darcy and Xander a local young man supported by Phoenix.
With the assistance of their ponies, Mr Darcy the resident donkey and their dedicated volunteers, Phoenix works closely with local schools and groups to not only provide vital equipment but also access to facilities to aid their education and experience in animal care. Recently short listed for the Lloyds Community Fund 2014, Phoenix volunteers are working hard to put in place the facilities to invite children into a safe and purpose built environment to enable schools to encourporate these vital skills into their curriculum. Phoenix were lucky enough to of been recently chosen for Lloyds bank ‘Day to make a Difference’; managers based around the country dedicated their time to aid Phoenix in beginning to put in place the vital facilities. However there is still a long way to go despite the huge efforts from volunteers and kind donations. THE PHOENIX CHILDRENS FOUNDATION NEED YOUR HELP… There are so many ways in which you could help; Would you like to sponsor one of the Phoenix ponies or Mr Darcy the Donkey for yourself or a loved one? You could arrange a visit from one of the Phoenix ponies to your event, school, carehome or workplace in return for a donation. Fancy getting more hands on? It doesn’t have to be day in day out- the next time we are in your area, come down and help out with a volunteer and a pony for a couple of hours, you will meet plenty of lovely people! Alternatively many people donate by holding bake sales and coffee mornings, raffles and fetes, pop a pot in their place of work or for the more energetic... Fun runs and marathons! For more information call 01530 267116, visit www.phoenixcharity.org, or join us on; Twitter at @PhoenixCCharity Instagram at phoenixchildrensfoundation LinkedIn at PhoenixChildrensCharity
Are you ready for a challenge? Rainbows Challenges 2014/15 Rainbows has many different opportunities for you to challenge yourself. Whatever your challenge, Rainbows will support you with fundraising advice, sponsorship materials and expert guidance.
Register today! www.rainbows.co.uk/challenges
Walks Treks/Runs Extreme
Abroad And more
Visit our website or contact us for more information about any of our Challenges
Tel: 0800 952 1133 fundraising@rainbows.co.uk
Achieve 69
classical
Music
The UK is home to some exceptional musical talent with a heritage of
professionals dedicated to developing the national and international stars of the future, if you have a remarkable young talent which you are keen to foster we’re showcasing a handful of the finest schools music scholarships, orchestras, choirs, and professional organisations
Tring Park
Commedia (1969)
2015 FINALS CONCERT Saturday 18 april 2015 2-5pm
4 young chamber ensembles selected from an international entry will perform to a panel of distinguished musicians Supported by:
THE GORDON FOUNDATION THE TERTIS FOUNDATION
b y martin Da l b y
Commedia was commissioned by the Music Group of London with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The title refers to the Commedia dell’ Arte and the work is a tribute to the generations of Harlequins, Pierrots, Pulcinellas, Columbines and so on. The spirit of these characters is found in the music but the work is more properly a suite of carnival songs and dances, both real and imaginary (some are transformations of thirteenthcentury Spanish and Italian comical songs while others are original). There are six movements but not in the usual sense; they merge and intermingle with one another.
WIGMORE HALL 36 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2BP Tickets £5*
(*Free for music students, Friends of Wigmore Hall and Friends of Parkhouse Award)
020 7935 2141 www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
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Scoring: clarinet, violin, cello and piano Duration: 13 minutes First performance: Music Group of London: Hugh Bean (violin), Eileen Croxford (cello), Bernard Walton (clarinet), David Parkhouse (piano), Purcell Room, London 5 May 1969.
Fournier Trio, winners of the 2013 Parkhouse Award
Ensembles of piano with strings (duo to piano quartet) who have been playing together during 2013 and 2014 are invited to enter the 2015 competition which takes place April 14-18 2015 at the Royal College of Music (auditions) and Wigmore Hall (Finals Concert). The deadline for entry is 1 December 2014. Full details at www.parkhouseaward.com. The brightest and best young chamber ensembles enter the international Parkhouse Award, such is its reputation. Only one ensemble wins and the Award given is three concerts in prestigious London venues over the course of two years to establish their name. There are further opportunities and career guidance where required. The Parkhouse Award celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015 having been set up in 1990 in memory of the chamber musician and pianist, David Parkhouse. He was a founder member of the Music Group of London with his wife, cellist Eileen Croxford Parkhouse, and violinist Hugh Bean and together they enjoyed an international career that lasted 37 years. Past winners of the Parkhouse Award appear frequently in the UK and abroad and, in particular, the Grieg Trio (Norway, winners 1991), the Faure Quartett (Germany, winners 2003), the Notos Quartet (Germany, winners 2011), Nils Mőnkemeyer/Nicholas Rimmer Duo (Germany, winners 2009) and the Fournier Trio (UK, winners 2013). Contact: 44 (0) 20 8761 6565
parkhouse@gbz.demon.co.uk
Ex student Daisy Ridley in The Boy Friend. Daisy is also starring in the up and coming Star Wars film.
Singing sensations Cantate bring two gold medals back to Britain Cantate is one of the UK’s most acclaimed mixed voice youth choirs; based in Hertfordshire the choir ranges from singers from 8 to 18 years old, open to anyone within this age range without audition, and are renowned for producing for innovative, dynamic and musical performances of the highest quality. With performances at the Royal Albert Hall, both in the BBC and Schools Prom Concerts, the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican, 10 Downing Street appearing on the BBC’s Songs of Praise and Radio 2; the Cantate choir is no stranger to grand performances. This year however, they outdid themselves winning double gold at The World Choir Games in Latvia! Chris Forster, Chairman of Cantate said "Two gold medals stand testament to the hard work of the students, staff and volunteers. I'm incredibly proud of them all. The welcome from family and friends at the airport was amazing. They have been a great support in the lead up to these Games. We also owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our sponsors, Hadham Industrial Estates Ltd and Nockolds Solicitors. Without help from companies like this, projects such as these would be almost impossible for a choir of our size." 20 years since it was first established by Michael Kibblewhite the choir continues to inspire young performers and embraces the best of the Classical, Show and Pop traditions, as well as music from around the world. Cantate believes that there should be no barriers to membership. As well as being a nonauditioned, open-access choir, there is also a well-established bursary fund so that no student is unable to join one of the most vibrant choirs in the UK on ground of cost. It therefore relies heavily on sponsorship, grants, donations and voluntary help; if you would like more information on how you can join or offer your support visit www.cantate.co.uk
Cultivating exceptional artistic talent in an award winning setting whilst promoting academic excellence is an everyday occurrence for the teaching staff at Tring Park School; one of the Top 100 Independent UK Boarding Schools they are at the forefront of specialist artistic education provision to aspiring performing arts students. Set in a former Rothschild mansion in Hertfordshire, with a compliment of 5 new state of the art studios, their aim is to nurture creativity and achieve overall excellence in academic and artistic education, with former students including Ella Henderson, stars of the acclaimed ITV show Downton Abbey and BBC2’s Peaky Blinders not to mention an array of remarkable success stories within film & theatre internationally, the students and teachers have created an exceptional environment for the development of talented performers in the heart of the UK. "No words can describe my complete gratitude to you. You have given me an opportunity to pursue my ambition to become a professional performer and for that I am unbelievably thankful. Without your support I would not be able to live my dream." Musical Theatre Student Not only committed to full time day and boarding students up to GCSE and A Level from 7 - 19, Tring Park offers a range of out of school programmes accessible for anyone at any age including Tring Park Associates, Classical Ballet Academy, Musical Theatre and Drama residential courses and adult dance workshops to name but a few. This inspiring and successful school is determined to provide the best facilities and teaching staff to enable ambitious, talented individuals to achieve their potential with continued development of staff and facilities and a genuine desire to make this experience accessible by providing scholarships and bursaries for students, support for this exciting institution and their impressive alumni is always welcomed and gratefully received.
www.tringpark.com 01442 824255
Achieve 71
W
APPLY NOW to study
at Chetham’s School of Music!
Would you like to: • Study with other young musicians? • Make the most of your musical potential? • Access a range of performance opportunities? If so, we would love to meet you! Chetham’s has a world-class music programme and exceptional facilities. It is the UK’s largest specialist music school. Chetham’s offers a huge variety of performance and learning opportunites alongside an outstanding academic education. What matters at Chetham’s is musical potential, not background or ability to pay. You could receive up to full Government funding towards all your fees. Located in a new state-of-the-art building, with a professional Concert Hall due to open in 2017, there is no better time to apply! If you are unsure whether to make an application, come and see one of our specialist tutors for a free open and friendly advice audition.
OPEN DAY: Saturday 17 January 2015 Auditions are available throughout the year. Pick up a flyer today, call 0161 834 9644, or visit www.chethams.com for more details.
0161 834 9644 Reg. Charity No: 526702
THE VIOLIN SHOP
Untitled-1 1
27 Hencotes HEXHAM NORTHUMBERLAND NE46 2EQ DAVID MANN
“WELL WORTH THE JOURNEY” Extensive selection of fine sounding bows and instruments, mainly vintage and antique, all in excellent condition, guaranteed and painstakingly set up to a professional standard. More modestly priced than you may expect. Accessories and strings at the most competitive prices. Repair and restoration of bows and instruments to the highest standards. Valuations for insurance. Fine new instruments made. Fine old instruments copied. FRIENDLY AND IMPARTIAL ADVICE GIVEN! Phone: 01434 607897
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www.chethams.com
Chetham’s School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester M3 1SB
C o n templat ur C elesti um 2004 21/10/2014 b y martin Da l b y
Contemplatur Celestium was commissioned by the Cathedral of the Isles with funds from Scotland’s Churches Scheme. It was written for John Kitchen who performed it for the first time in the Cathedral of the Isles in Millport on the Island of Cumbrae. The music grows from the text and melody of an antiphon for the Feast of St Columba found in the Inchcolm Antiphoner. What we infer from the text is for each one of us to decide. Here is the star-gazer in wonderment of the mystery far beyond us all. The text reads: Contemplatur celestium sanctorum. These then, are holy skies. The text also proclaims a triumph for seekers after heavenly glory. Duration: seven - eight minutes
www.hexham-violins.co.uk
First performance: John Kitchen, Cathedral of the Isles, Millport, Cumbrae,
OLD INSTRUMENTS ALWAYS WANTED
6 June 2004.
10:4
The 38th London Handel Festival will run from 10 March to 20 April 2015. This unique Festival will include Handel’s Semele, which is full of glorious arias and will take place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Anna Devin is in the title role conducted by Laurence Cummings (Musical Director). This will be followed by Handel’s opera, Giove in Argo, rarely performed but brought to the Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, in a collaboration with the brilliant young singers in the International Opera School. Much of the Festival takes place at St George’s, Hanover Square (Handel’s Church) and performances there will include the Final of the 14th Handel Singing Competition which encourages young singers to focus on Handel repertoire and gives them performance opportunities; a Lunchtime Series which gives a platform to young singers and players; Walks and Talks. Invited groups will include Solomon’s Knot, Red Priest, Opera Settecento and Saraband. The Festival also ventures out to Coram Fields and the Foundling Museum, which Handel supported, and where three concerts will take place. For full details please go to the Festival website – www.london-handel-festival.com.
10 MARCH TO 20 APRIL 2015 www.london-handel-festival.com
Programme to include:
HANDEL SEMELE & GIOVE IN ARGO BACH ST MATTHEW PASSION LONDON HANDEL PLAYERS SOLOMON’S KNOT SARABAND & RED PRIEST DRAGON OF WANTLEY OPERA SETTECENTO AMADÈ PLAYERS SING MESSIAH SOUTHBANK SINFONIA BAROQUE Lunchtime Recital Series, Walks and Talks Semele by Elizabeth Gadsby
HANDEL SINGING COMPETITION FIRST ROUND: 23-25 February 2015 SEMI-FINAL: Thursday 9 April FINAL: Monday 20 April Adjudicators: Ian Partridge, Catherine Denley, Michael George Sarah Connolly and Edward Blakeman For details please go to the Festival website
Contact: 01460 53500 - londonhandelfestival@gmail.com
Achieve 73
The M ary Bean ( 1 99 1 ) b y martin Da l b y
Commissioned by the BBC in celebration of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s centenary, The Mary Bean is the fourth work by Martin Dalby to be featured in the Proms. The inspiration comes from a literary source, in this case David Thomson’s book The People of the Sea, with its references to the Mary or Molucca bean, which is carried by the Gulf Stream from Caribbean shores to those of Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles of Scotland. It seemed, says Dalby, a nice idea to use this talisman as an omen of good fortune for the RSNO during its next hundred years, and as a symbol of ‘other good things which have arrived in Scotland.’ Scoring: 3(Picc), 2, Cor Anglais, 2, Bass Clarinet, 2, Contra Bassoon; 4331; 3 Percussion,Timpani (4 drums); Harp; Strings. Duration: 16 - 17 minutes First performance: Royal Scottish Orchestra, conducted by Sir Alexander Gibson, Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, Royal Albert Hall, London, 17 August 1991.
14 KIDDERPORE AVENUE, LONDON, NW3 7SU Ideal for rehearsals, superb for TV and film shoots, unsurpassed for auditions
Joo Yeon Sir violin
Laura Snowden guitar
Wigmore Hall Monday 16 December at 7.30pm A Monday Platform Concert
2015 YAP Auditions - 18 & 19 February 2014 Entry requirements and application forms available on-line from www.thetilletttrust.org.uk
The Young Artists Platform scheme offers promoters sponsorship towards concert fees.
Call: Jane Craxton or Kim Mathen, Xanthia Ltd, Sole Agents T: 020 7435 2965 E: jcraxton@live.co.uk W: www.craxtonstudios.org.uk
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Complimentary tickets for the Wigmore concert for any promoter available from Katie Avey: 0845 070 4969 info@thetilletttrust.org.uk
www.thetilletttrust.org.uk
18th Century Concert Orchestra For an evening of elegance with a true glimpse of how the aristocracy were regaled in all their grandeur you would struggle to find a more enchanting experience than an evening with the 18th Century Concert Orchestra. Founded in 2001 this orchestral company provide a captivating performance every time. Using authentic 18th Century instruments, with wooden music desks, and full period costume (including real mohair wigs) for the fiddlers, hautboys and harpsichordist you will be mesmerised by a selection of overtures, concertos and arias interspersed with historical anecdotes and set to candlelight. Set in venues including stately homes, churches, concert halls and theatres these skilled performers will bewitch you with their re-enactment of an authentic baroque evening of entertainment. "Small wonder this chamber orchestra has earned a reputation as one of the finest exponents of baroque music in the country. The musical standard throughout was exceptional, demonstrating enthusiasm, dedication and technical excellence." Oxford Times Their passion and sincerity has earned acclaim from several publications as well as National Lottery Award and Arts Council England recognition. Orchestra credits include a documentary for channel 4; and in 2013 they appeared with great success on the BBC ONE SHOW, leading to a return invitation in 2014. Their geographical reach has extended all the way to Canada where they delighted concert goers overseas over a 2 week tour of the country. “A rare musical treat not to be missed" Evening Sentinel; “A delight for the senses” Burton Mail In addition to their performances, the company have an educational thrust, with players leading exciting and popular workshop days.... Play Baroque! These days of music making are successful in introducing keen amateur musicians to the intricacies of historical performance style and practice. www.18thcentury.co.uk tel+44151 334 1956
Chetham’s School of Music Keri Fuge soprano/ YAP artists 2014
The Tillett Trust The Tillett Trust aspires to help talented young classical musicians to achieve their full potential and pursue a worthwhile musical career Founded in 1970 with a bequest from the last family member of the longest running 20th century UK concert agency, Ibbs & Tillett, the charity works to support and develop burgeoning classical musicians by funding study and performance opportunities when they most need it, at the start of their professional solo careers. Young Artists Platform, founded in 1983 and promoted by the Tillett Trust, holds annual auditions open to musicians of all disciplines under the age of 25 (instrumentalists) or 28 (singers). Winners are given a platform to appear at London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall. Further concert opportunities around the UK offer YAP artists the chance to widen their repertoire and perfect their performance skills. In addition to YAP, the Trust offers second year postgraduate bursaries to nominees from the major British conservatoires as well as oneoff grants to individual musicians seeking to undertake projects relating to performance, such as coaching prior to a concert or preparation and travel expenses to compete in international competitions. In order to continue their work the Tillett Trust needs to raise extra funds and relies on donations from lovers of classical music making donations. If you would like to help, please visit the Trust’s website and find out how to make a gift aid donation. Website: www.thetilletttrust.org.uk Email: info@TheTillettTrust.org.uk Tel/Fax: 0845 070 4969
With just under 300 students, aged 8 - 18, Chetham's is the largest specialist Music School in the UK and the only Music School based in the North of England. In the heart of Manchester, its vibrant cosmopolitan city centre location complements a dynamic music programme, with exciting opportunities for all students who regularly collaborate with the city’s leading cultural organisations. “Chetham’s School of Music is the UK’s leading music school and a cultural gem that the whole country should be proud of.” Richard Morrison, Chief Cultural Writer, The Times Entry to the School is based solely on musical potential, not background or ability to pay, thanks to generous bursaries from the Government through the UK’s Music and Dance Scheme and the School’s own international bursaries fundraising. “Chetham’s has enabled me to really focus on improving my musical skills, whilst also keeping my academic studies at a high level. I am truly grateful for the support and encouragement I have had.” Eleanor, Student. The School is a national and international resource for music education – welcoming teachers, professional instrumentalists, music practitioners, community groups, school children and other young musicians, both experienced and novices, to collaborate musically with Chetham’s students and staff. The School has a network of partnerships and friendships with professional orchestras and organisations which extend across the music industry and Chetham’s alumni populate orchestras and ensembles all over the world. Plans currently underway to complete a world-class Concert Hall and open a major new Heritage Visitor Attraction at Chetham’s mean there has never been a more exciting time to come here. It is a time of great change for a place that is not only a School, but an internationally renowned Music School and a professional Performing Arts venue, which is known as a centre of excellence for music, education and heritage. www.chethams.com Tel: 0161 834 9644
Achieve 75
M ate r Salutar is (198 1 ) b y martin Da l b y
Mater Salutaris was written for Norman Mitchell and Glasgow High School who performed it for the first time on 17 December 1981. It is a carol for mixed voice choir and organ set to a macaronic text from a medieval source translated by Brian Stone.
“Holy Mary, mother mild. Mater salutaris Fairest flow’r of any field, Vere nuncuparis With Jesus Christ you were with child; You drive me from my musings wild Potente Which make me go to death, I know, Repente.”
TRINITY 94x68 HORIZONTAL.indd 1
Duration: 5 minutes 30 seconds First performance: By Glasgow High School in December 1981. Public premier at Paisley Abbey on 17 January 1982 Tring_Junior_AUD_190x137_Oct14.qxp_Layout 1 29/10/2014 20:13 Page 1
GIVING TALENTED CHILDREN A HEAD START TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE Tring Park for young people with outstanding talent in Ballet, Dance, Drama, Musical Theatre and Commercial Music Co-educational day and boarding school for children from 7 – 19 Outstanding academic education to A Level
AUDITIONS AVAILABLE NOW www.tringpark.com/apply registrar@tringpark.com
www.tringpark.com info@tringpark.com or tel. 01442 824255 Photo: Brian O’Carroll Registered charity no. 1040330
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04/11/2014 09:31
Accessible Opera
Accessible, local, exceptional Young Opera Venture is a charity which works to: Take excellent opera to smaller ventures with little provision at present Build new audiences for opera Give young professional singers and musicians early career opportunities
07974 742991
www.yov.org.uk
Musical talent comes in many forms and the art of Operatic performance can be overlooked by the masses as it has long been associated with an exclusivity making it inaccessible to all; that’s where John Longstaff and Jane Anthony come in; this dynamic duo previously Conductor and Director respectively at Leeds College of Music produced many memorable performances to much acclaim throughout their tenures but were aware of the many potential fans who were yet to be wowed by an operatic performance and so the Young Opera Venture was born of a passion for their art and a desire to widen its audience and inspire young artists. Young Opera Venture is a not for profit organisation in the metropolitan city of Leeds whose mission it is to bring opera, the performance and the enjoyment of, to young artists and venues with little access to opera and limited opportunities. The premise is simple; to put on first class performances in small venues and communities which have no opera currently, to provide first opportunities for young opera stars embarking on their careers and to educate people, adults and children, about the beauty of Opera – but it took the skills of John and Jane to make this dream a reality; much to their audiences appreciation. “The enthusiasm from theatre managers and local authority arts programmers for what we are trying to do – bringing opera to audiences who have previously had little access – has been quite inspirational. There is a clear recognition of the value of this enterprise and a willingness to support it. Likewise the enthusiasm of young performers has been a delight!” Jane Anthony The dedication of the Board and their protégés has resulted in remarkable success and widespread acclaim for this small project; to get involved or find out where you can enjoy an aria visit their website at www.yov.org.uk
Achieve 77
Who are Steiner Schools?
Steiner Schools
Steiner schools form the largest group of independent non-denominational private schools in the world; The first school opened in Germany in 1919, the first in the UK in 1925. There are currently over 1,200 Steiner schools worldwide and 2,000 Early Years settings in a total of 60 different countries, 36 in the UK & Ireland. Steiner education is based on an understanding of child development that has its roots in a philosophy known as ‘anthroposophy’. The educational content of anthroposophy informs the work of the teachers; it is not a belief system and is not taught in our schools. Since the first school was established the education has steadily evolved in response to changing times. It is known as Waldorf education in many European countries and in North America but is more frequently called Steiner education in the UK. It has a proven track record for providing a sound and practical basis for working with children, enabling them to find their creativity and to become free individuals who can think for themselves, make their own judgements and find their own purpose and direction in life. “My Steiner school was an environment that nurtured free-thinking, well-rounded, passionate and positive young people.” Annielle Williams (former pupil), Holder of the Prime Minister's Award for National Civic Service.
What is Steiner Education? Rudolf Steiner’s insights inspired what has become a worldwide movement of schools that espouse and promote universal human values, educational pluralism and meaningful teaching and learning opportunities. This progressive, international schools movement is noted by educationalists, doctors, policy-makers and parents for the effective education that it offers children. The ideas and principles which inform the education provide a credible and thoughtful perspective to the debate on education and human development. Steiner schools are always co-educational, fully comprehensive and take pupils from 3 to ideally eighteen. They welcome children of all abilities from all faiths and backgrounds. The priority of the Steiner ethos is to provide an unhurried and creative learning environment where children can find the joy in learning and experience the richness of childhood rather than early specialisation or academic hot-housing. The curriculum itself is a flexible set of pedagogical guidelines, founded on Steiner’s principles that take account of the whole child. It gives equal attention to the physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural and spiritual needs of each pupil and is designed to work in harmony with the different phases of the child’s development. The core subjects of the curriculum are taught in thematic blocks and all lessons include a balance of artistic, practical and intellectual content. Whole class, mixed ability teaching is the norm. Steiner education has proved itself adaptable. More than 80 years after the first Steiner school was started in central Europe, this education continues to inspire people from all walks of life and in all parts of the world. Steiner schools have a reputation for producing well-rounded and balanced human beings who are able to cope with the demands of a fast-changing and uncertain world. Steiner graduates are highly sought-after in further education and work place for their un-jaded interest in the world and their resourcefulness.
“Steiner education is a lifetime’s investment, not just a short term deposit. Evidently, it prepares one for all that lies ahead, but also ensures that this magical innocence isn’t blunted by the ravages of the modern world.” Simon Wells (former pupil), Best selling author, musicologist and researcher.
To find out more about Steiner Education and its founder, Rudolf Steiner visit www.steinerwaldorf.org
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Inspiring and educating children ages 3-14 since 1983
Join us for our
School tours every week Parent & Child Groups Education Workshops
waldoflondon.co.uk
9 Weir Road Balham London SW12 0LT
020 8772 3504 waldorflondon.co.uk
Achieve 79
prepared
Parent
Everyone loves to get out and about
with their families but when one of you
suffers from a medical condition or allergies a little more preparation is needed to make sure your days out are safe as well as fun, we’ve found some simple, effective solutions which won’t intrude on your entertainment.
Medpac
AK Sports Band From £24.95
AK Sports Band (named after Anna Kennedy) was designed by our members and works for all age ranges. It is great for those with an active lifestyle, where a normal metal bracelet would be too impractical.
www.medicalert.org.uk
Handmade with Love Designs specialise in custom created items for all occasions. Stay safe and get the right care in an emergency with personalised jewellery to let people know your medical condition or allergy. Contact us on 07547547071, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com.handmadewithlovedesigns or visit the website at
www.handmadewithlovedesigns.co.uk 80
With Brilliant Labels you can protect your child remotely by displaying details of their allergies on items such as lunchboxes, shoes and bags to make sure no one tempts your little one with something they cannot have. Simple but beautifully effective peace of mind for parents and allergy sufferers.
www.brilliantlabels.co.uk
Get peace of mind with MedicAlert MedicAlert ID bracelets, necklaces and watches help you receive fast, relevant treatment in an emergency. Your MedicAlert jewellery is engraved with their emergency phone number and your unique reference number, meaning those treating you can quickly access the details you hold in your secure, electronic emergency record. This allows you to convey information important to you, even when you can’t speak for yourself. If you have a medical condition, allergies or other specific wishes the emergency team can provide your information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in over 100 languages. This gives you and those who care about you reassurance that you’re supported wherever you are in the world. Worn on your pulse point, your ID jewellery is instantly recognisable and easy for healthcare professionals to see. MedicAlert offer training to emergency personnel so that they know what to look out for. With a range of practical and attractive jewellery handmade in the UK, MedicAlert help thousands of people lead independent lives. To find out more and to purchase your lifesaving ID jewellery visit www.medicalert.org.uk or call their Customer Services team on 01908 951045.
Olivia Strang’s Story
Olivia Strang - Severe allergies to peanuts and tomatoes
Olivia is 8, and sufferers from severe allergies to peanuts and tomatoes. She has been a MedicAlert member since she was 18 months old. Her mother, Sofia, tells us about how they manage her allergies and create a safe environment for Olivia to enjoy her childhood. ‘Olivia reacted to half a peanut after previously consuming peanut butter with no issues. Getting a diagnosis was difficult and could only be established by a (very scary) food challenge in the hospital.’ However this was not Olivia’s first reaction to a food. At the age of 9 months, from a single pip landing on her cheek, Olivia had a severe allergic reaction to tomatoes. This allergy causes extensive issues for the family as tomatoes are not usually listed as an allergen on food packaging. The family now have to avoid any pre-packed food completely so they know exactly what is in every meal. When Olivia started day nursery Sofia decided to get her a MedicAlert bracelet as a visual reference, highlighting her allergies to the staff. Sofia also chose MedicAlert for the continued membership and 24/7 emergency line available. “The fact that her notes can be updated as her conditions change is important. If anyone needed to find out about her conditions, and she was unable to communicate for herself, I am confident the professional looking after her would have access to the correct up to date information they require by calling the emergency number on her bracelet”.
24/7 protection for our little super heroes
Allowing Olivia to live a more independent life is very important to Sofia, “It gives me the confidence to allow her to have a normal childhood. She goes to friends houses for tea or birthday parties and I know there is a virtual safety net”. Olivia is happy to wear her MedicAlert jewellery and tells people “It’s my special bracelet in case I’m poorly”. Sofia thinks this is partly down to Olivia being able to make the choice of which bracelet she wanted. “Don’t choose it for your child, let them pick their own, then they will wear it” explains Sofia. Sofia concluded “At the moment Olivia doesn’t carry her own EpiPens. The responsibility to manage her allergies isn’t hers, as her parents it’s ours, and we introduce her gradually to managing it. We tell her everyone’s special and we’re all different but she might need some extra special looking after sometimes”. Now 8 years old, Olivia lives a full life for a girl her age; going off to Brownie camp and experiencing adventures like wall climbing. This is thanks in part to the peace of mind MedicAlert gives her parents. They know that they can rely on MedicAlert to communicate Olivia’s allergies in an emergency.
www.medicalert.org.uk info@medicalert.org.uk 01908 951045 Achieve 81
The Marvellous Medpac: Have it to hand As you drop your child off to school, whatever
needed in one place that was bright, efficient
boxes. I always wanted it to be affordable too so
their age, it’s only natural to feel slightly
and affordable too. I just couldn’t find what
looked at various ways to ensure the quality was
apprehensive of things - after all for the early
I had in mind and it struck me as odd that
there as well as keeping the price point low.”
part of their life their wellbeing has been your
there wasn’t something
concern only and now suddenly it’s down to a
available that met these
team of professionals too. Yet, for the parent of
needs!” she said. Sure
a child with a medical condition these concerns
that there must be a
are felt with a deeper worry; Medpac makes this
better way to send her
aspect of parental life so much better and as a
daughter to school with
result alleviates a lot of worry and concern.
this important kit Jayne set about designing a
“Medpac is an important time saver for school trips or any situation with groups of children.”
The Medpac is not only of benefit to the child and their parents but also to the professionals that your child is in the care of, testimony to which are its Gold Primary Teacher Award 2014 and
Medpac is the invention of a mother who found
suitable bag from scratch
herself in this situation; Mum to Jessica, Jayne
herself; Medpac is purposefully designed to
Award 2013; “Medpac is an important time
Tarrant of Suffolk found herself needing a
carry adrenalin pens, asthma inhalers, diabetes
saver for school trips or any situation with
purposeful bag in which to put her daughters
and epilepsy medicines, antibiotic or even
groups of children. Having the photo ID on the
medication in to carry at all times, and in
Calpol and the bright orange makes it easily and
side of the Medpac allows easy identification
particular whilst she was at school; “The
quickly identifiable when needed.
of the correct medicine for the correct child -
teachers needed two sets of medicine with
Silver Practical Pre-School
which prevents unnecessary fumbling around
photo ID and a medical plan, and all I could
“My first prototype wasn’t quite right, so I
in an emergency situation. Also the brightness
find to put everything in was an old make-
redesigned it,” she said. “It needed to be
of the Medpac allows for easy spotting of the
up bag, obviously this was less than ideal!
practical, durable and affordable. It took six
medication in the bottom of a full school bag.
Really I wanted something that could be easily
months to get the design right. It was quite a
Medpac has many uses in the school setting
identified as hers in an emergency situation
process, but actually very necessary to ensure
including easy storage in a school medical room
and something that kept all the things she
that the product worked and ticked all the right
and protection of medicines if many are kept
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together. Medpac is a simple, but innovative product - which I don’t know how we did without!!” Sharon, Learning Support Assistant, Eye. It’s safe to say the perseverance was worth it, whilst her daughter has grown out of her epilepsy she says that this has helped her discover Medpac’s versatility for other conditions too, highlighting their flexibility; “Lots of Jessica’s friends have allergies or asthma and the bags help teachers keep everything together. Older children also have to carry their own medicines in senior school and things like inhalers can get full of dust in the bottom of a school bag, so the Medpacs help protect the medicine and make them easily identifiable to others.” The Medpac is also perfect for a wide range of other uses and scenarios; such as parents on the go for general daily life, after school activities, day trips out or holidays you can carry those first aid essentials on that day trip out; “The small Medpac has provided the ideal solution to carry all those essential items you
“The small Medpac has provided the ideal solution to carry all those essential items you take on holiday, especially when travelling with children.”
take on holiday, especially when travelling with children. I now fill mine with sun cream, sting relief spray, plasters, calpol, insect repellent etc. and take it everywhere we go. I cannot imagine travelling without one now.” Emma, Ipswich. Knowing you have all the medical essentials you need to hand; whether it’s for carrying asthma inhalers, adrenaline auto-injectors, diabetic medicine, epilepsy medicine, antibiotics, allergy medicines and antihistamines, or any other medication and first aid, the Medpac gives you the carrier, parent or carer added peace of mind and helps provide steps towards independent living. It’s easy to find due to its vibrant colour, its easily identifiable thanks to its Medpac ID Card and the treatment card inside provides the opportunity to add all the vital information and a care plan required allowing medication to be given swiftly and safely if needed. Adding to the essential kit is the Medpac Wristband, a bargain price for such an indispensable and potentially lifesaving item, the wristband acts as an alert to the public that the wearer may need prompt medical
attention at any given moment and provides an accompaniment to the Medpac seamlessly; “William has a severe nut allergy and therefore has to carry an Epipen with him at all times. At school they keep one permanently but they require it to be easily identified as they hold medication for a number of children in the school. We also have to take it to tennis, swimming, parties and generally everywhere we go. The Medpac is ideal as it holds up to two Epipens and is easy to find when needed in a sports bag or rucksack. The school love the photo ID feature and I love the wristband as it offers additional peace of mind in situations such as a busy swimming pool or party.” Catherine, Colchester. Medpac is a lifesaver (and hair saver!) for the worried parent who is leaving their child in the care of others or the professionals entrusted with your child’s safety; the Medpac provides that much needed peace of mind helping to ensure the right treatments and information can reach the right people at the right time. Any parent will be relieved to discover there is a way to make the whole thing less of a worry and any professional can be assured of having access to the right things to provide the best possible duty of care. To find out more and to purchase from the range which includes the Medpac in two different sizes and the option of having insulation to help regulate the temperature of the contents, visit www.medpac.co.uk
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educational
Aids
With some amazing educational aids for your little ones out there these fun, developmental toys will make everybody want to go back to school! From interactive Reading Eggs and Math Seeds children can enjoy learning whilst you watch them grow; or why not go treasure hunting with GoTrovo and join in on the fun!
Fairytale Furniture
Feel Good Friends is an award winning company with a unique range of fun, educational products to help children feel good about themselves and their world. These resources help to: - Build confidence and self-esteem - Teach children about feeling and emotions - Encourage sharing and caring, listening and understanding - Teach relaxation and calming techniques - Build Emotional Intelligence - Build respect and appreciation of others - Encourage children to express themselves The resourses are suitable for children aged 3–10 yrs.
Remember, Happy kids mean Happy grown ups! Have fun and Feel Good!! You can order by phone on 01837871777
www.feelgoodfriends.com 84
Trade Toys Limited are national distributors for Viga Toys, specialising in Wooden Educational Toys for Pre-School children. We are the number one choice for Educational Toys for Pre-Schools and Nurseries and we believe that Learning should be Fun! FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY FOR ALL READERS – using the code ACHTT14
www.tradetoys.eu
Mathstraks…making maths fun! Want your kids to learn whilst having fun? Mathstraks Games are here to help them do exactly that with their original numeracy card games. Their three award-winning games are available:
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Fairy Tables Fair y Tables Moving Spell
‘Mathical Creatures’:
For ages 7 and above. A fun, competitive game which uses the theme of mythical creatures and monsters to help children with their mental arithmetic.
stor y card playin g card
32
Fire-Breathing Dragon
9
77
Moving
Spell Move 1 from one character stor differen y to a t stor y.
4
Story Card
77
Handsome Prince
9
Beautifu
l Prince
ss
‘Monster Maths’:
For ages 5 and above. This game helps to practise and improve addition skills for 1 and 2 digit numbers.
‘Fairy Tables’:
For ages 7 and above. A race game which uses strategy tactics to help children practise and learn multiplication tables. RE AD IN GC HE ST
These fab games are the brainchild of a maths teacher for her own children and are taking off with children, carers and in schools. Mathstraks Games recently received the Silver award for Best Numeracy Game in the Imagination Gaming Awards and are stocked in independent toy and game shops as well and online stores including Amazon. For further information see the Mathstraks Games Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ mathstraksgames
There has been a lot of talk in the press lately about parents no longer putting an importance on reading with their children at bedtime. The thought makes us feel very sad, reading with your child is a wonderful, bonding experience and in a world dominated by technology it can all too often feel like our days are filled with screens, even for the little ones. Helping your child discover the joy of reading can be achieved through the Jelly and Bean book series. Reading with your child helps to develop their speech, spark their imagination and provide valuable lessons about the world too. The Jelly and Bean book series does all these things and more. Their combination of humorous stories, striking illustrations and simple words make it a successful and fun reading experience for everyone. Analytic phonics, regular CVC words and ‘tricky’ words are introduced gradually making the learning to read process accessible and challenging all at once. The books allow children to progress within their own capabilities and the engaging stories and characters keep them entertained and motivated to read and learn more.
www.jellyandbean.co.uk
The quickest way ever to teach time For PARENTS
www.aramazu.com/parents
“very impressed” TimesOnline For TEACHERS
www.aramazu.com/teach-time Achieve 85
Creating safe and beautiful Sunken Trampolines for SEN Indoor
Outdoor
Rebound Therapy
Sunken Trampolines are experts in the installation of all types of trampolines across the UK. Whether it is a recreational outdoor trampoline or an indoor Rebound Therapy trampoline we work with you to decide on the best solution for your needs. The Sunken Trampoline has becoming increasingly popular in special needs schools; partly because the trampoline is a piece of apparatus that virtually all people, regardless of their abilities, can access, benefit from and enjoy. Be it a purely recreational piece of equipment or a specific Rebound Therapy trampoline a Sunken Trampoline adds great value to the enjoyment and well being of all its users no matter what age.
www.sunkentrampolines.co.uk Telephone: 0208 767 4911 Email: sales@sunkentrampolines.co.uk
Reading Eggs is the multi-award winning online reading programme that makes learning to read fun. With self-paced and easy to follow online books and lessons, Reading Eggs is the proven way to help children aged 3-13 develop the literacy skills needed for a lifetime of reading success.Your child can progress through the one-on-one lessons at their own pace and you can track their learning with regular progress reports and assessments. Claim your FREE 4 week trial and see for yourself how your child’s reading improves by using Reading Eggs!
FREE 4 WEEK TRIAL Register today at
www.readingeggs.co.uk/achieve Offer ends 31st March 2015 Extended free trial only available to new UK registrations using the above web address. Not applicable to schools.
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Reading Eggs is the multi-award winning online reading programme that makes learning to read fun. With self-paced and easy to follow online books and lessons, Reading Eggs is the proven way to help children aged 3-13 develop the literacy skills needed for a lifetime of reading success. Your child can progress through the one-on-one lessons at their own pace and you can track their learning with regular progress reports and assessments. The site is entirely advertising free and is a safe and secure environment for children to learn in.
The key points of the site are: - Each lesson uses animation, activities and reward games to ensure children remain motivated - It is completely interactive, enabling children to engage in the content and also to learn basic motor skills - The placement quiz ensures that children start at the right level for them - Rewards in the form of golden eggs allow the child to ‘purchase’ treats within the site, such as games, again keeping them motivated - The mastery quiz they have to take after 10 lessons enables parents to review what’s been learnt. The child is not able to pass onto the next level until this has been completed correctly - Parents can choose whether to sit with their child to work through the site or their account can be set up so that children can access lessons themselves. This means its also a great way to keep children occupied while they are learning something Claim your FREE 4 week trial and see for yourself how your child's reading improves by using Reading Eggs!
www.readingeggs.co.uk/achieve
With 9 month old twins and a 3 year old how would I ‘fit’ work in? Then came the text “Do you want to start a little business? Love Aley.” Over play dates, Gotrovo the Treasure Hunt game began to take shape - the more we tested it the more excited we became: That was over two years ago and I can’t believe the rollercoaster ride since! Our product has evolved and sprouted a baby (Gotrovo Mini, our travel version) and is now stocked by major online retailers, independent toy shops and Amazon as well as through our website gotrovo.uk. Through all this I’ve done every school drop off and pick up plus 100’s of toddler groups and soft play sessions finding the balance I couldn’t see how to get two years ago. Suitable for family fun, play dates, Easter Egg Hunts or just because! Gotrovo Original contains all that you need to add a fun treasure hunt to your pirate themed party! No batteries required, and not a screen in sight, Gotrovo is a game that children of different ages can enjoy together, learning while they play. Lay a different trail every time with 100 picture, word, riddle or role-play clues to follow at home or in the garden using the double sided treasure map, swag bag, coins and golden treasure bar. Suitable for play dates, birthday parties, Easter Egg hunts or just because! For ages 3-8, 1 to many players. It’s physical, educational (used in schools, nurseries and pre-schools) and rated 5* by Amazon reviewers. Gotrovo is a game that children of different ages can enjoy together. Gotrovo adapts to your child as they grow, supporting their learning while they play. Jo Cumberpatch is the founder of the Gotrovo Treasure Hunt range, visit www.gotrovo.uk for more information, and to buy online!
If you go into any book shop in the children’s section you will find children eagerly taking books off the shelves and looking at them, reading or pestering their parent to read to them. It is a joy to see children so eager to read that they are sitting on the floor, book in hand, engrossed. In libraries they often want to take out several books at once. Zandra Johnson of Fairytale Children’s Furniture says, “Children love stories and children love their own special things. That’s why we design chairs especially for children and for each chair we write an illustrated story book and include it with the chair. Children seem to relate to the chairs straight away and begin to play. Something that we didn’t foresee was how the chairs become special reading chairs. The children love to read and rock, returning to the chair with yet another book – even if they are only “pretend reading” – it’s establishing a pattern and a love of books”. Schools use our chairs in libraries or reading corners and it has been demonstrated time and again how children read for much longer in our rocking chairs than sitting in a conventional chair. As the chair is their own special chair the child enjoys a special space of their own and some seem to find this soothing. Our chairs are suitable for children aged 2-7 years old. The story books are simple enough for the child to learn to read and just the right length for a bedtime story. Zandra says “By encouraging a love of books and a love of reading in a child, and you can never really begin too early, you are passing on a great gift that will last a lifetime and open up many worlds to them. Books can provide insights into worlds you could never visit, into situations and lives you could never experience, listen to the ideas of people you could never meet. They can educate, guide, help and encourage and entertain”. www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk @FairytaleChairs facebook.com/fairytalechair
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FIRST LOUGHBOROUGH FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATED LITERATURE TO TAKE PLACE IN 2015
Reading with our children is proven to not only support their development of vocabulary but also it has been found that children who enjoy reading are more likely to do well at school, and who would want their children to miss out on the pleasure found in appreciating a good book? Poems & Pictures founder, Christina Gabbitas, was inspired by her own children’s reading experiences as far back as 2001 and in 2012 embarked upon creating a fun, creative way to engage children in reading; her idea being rhyming was learned easier and of course it’s an extremely entertaining way to advance your child’s reading expertise and enjoyment, and so the ‘Felicity Fly’ series of rhyming stories were conceived. Felicity Fly is a series of children’s picture rhyming books with narration, aimed at 4-7 year olds to help them learn about the world around them whilst learning to read; topics in the first 6 books address fears, teamwork and friendship and pollination and help children to talk about life issues and the world around them; including the soon to be launched ‘ Share Some Secrets’ which is a children’s picture rhyming book, addressing the difference between good and bad secrets (subtly addressing abuse). In addition to her popular children’s books, Christina also writes bespoke poetry on all manner of topics, with a compilation available entitled ‘Thoughts & Feelings’. When she is not penning a new addition to this ever-growing collection, Christina can be heard across the BBC radio network or in groups or schools giving readings (with full complement of character voices), attending book signings or hosting a poetry workshop; she has also been responsible for the launch of a national poetry initiative, acclaimed by the Education Secretary, for 7-11 year olds encouraging more future poets and long may this continue. www.poemandpictures.co.uk christinagabbitas@poemsandpictures.co.uk 07852 804999
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UK first as five-day festival to be held in the town from 22-26 October 2015. The first Loughborough Festival of Children's Illustrated Literature will take place in 2015. This major five-day event will be held from 22-26 October 2015 and will showcase new and existing literature for children. The Festival was launched at a major event in Loughborough on 25 October 2014, attended by over 1,000 people. At the launch event, children who took part in the Lantern Making workshop at Charnwood Museum earlier in the week led a procession through Queen’s Park where the Carillon was transformed into a giant, stylised library, piled high with books at all corners. The crowd followed a little girl's adventures on a whirlwind tour of classic children's literature including Alice in Wonderland, visited chronologically through time. It was produced by Many Many Monkeys and Illuminos, with pyrotechnics from Walk the Plank. Many Many Monkeys and Illuminos have produced shows around the country including the recent Luminaire event at Chatsworth House. The Festival will coincide with Ladybird Books’ centenary in 2015. Nicky Morgan, MP for Loughborough said: “I remember growing up with Ladybird books and as the company is ingrained in the history and heritage of Loughborough, we are looking forward to proudly celebrating its centenary next year as part of the Festival.” Councillor Stephen Hampson, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, said: “The lighting up of the Carillon was spectacular attracting a crowd of over 1,000. The light show was a stunning use of technology and transformed story telling.
“The crowd was awe struck by the narrative of several famous children’s stories cleverly projected in such a unique way. It was a thrilling launch of Loughborough’s Children’s Illustrated Literature Festival next year. We can’t wait!” Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, added: “The Festival will explore the future of children's illustrated literature and the significance it plays in learning and development. We are delighted that this Festival will bring many interested visitors to Loughborough next year.” The Festival is supported by Charnwood Borough Council, Arts Council and Leicester Shire Promotions. For more information, go to www.visitleicester.info or www.goleicestershire.com.
Spot the spots and stripes!
They found the treasure…can you? Spots and Stripes pop‐up book is new to the British Library Shop. Let the pages do the running and walking as you and your little one imagine and explore the world of animals of all kinds. From a cheetah to zebra, turtle to treefrog, each animal will come alive in 3D as you turn the page. A delightful adventure for all ages, discovering who has spots and who has stripes.
Watch your little ones delight in hours of treasure-hunting magic with 5 star rate rated treasure hunt game, Gotrovo! Perfect for play-dates, parties, or special one-to-one time, it’s the stuff memories are made of. Even lay a trail to the Easter Eggs! Used in Nurseries, Preschool and Schools, who says kids can’t learn while being active and having fun! Recommended Age 3+ £19.95 including free P&P
www.gotrovo.uk
www.bl.uk/shop £9.99 Hardback
Fun learning games and jigsaws A first colour matching puzzle
er A fun numb sequencing game
Age
3+
Ag e
£9.50 Ag e
3+
£9.50
4
Award Winner!
3-6
£7.50
Achieve 89
tomorrow’s
Talent For any parent the chance to see their child develop and fulfil their potential
is priceless; from newborn through to college, getting the right education at the right place for your child is crucial; we’ve found some of the stars of the schooling system right here and ready to be explored.
Our Lady’s Convent School
Independent Day School for Girls from 4-18 years
Ladybird Nursery: A vibrant setting for your child Tel: 0121 440 5706 info@theladybirdnursery.co.uk
Ladybird Day Nursery, 110 Edgbaston Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B12 9QA
www.theladybirdnursery.co.uk 90
Nurturing your child as they learn, grow and discover… When searching to find the right school for
and shape their talents and personalities.
passion or help increase their employability
your child you may have a list of criteria to be
The school’s strong academic results reflect
after school life. Activities such as the
met and chief among them will no doubt be
how well students of all ages and abilities
School Ambassador Programme, Latin Club,
the requirement for the school to establish
respond to this approach. Staff make it a
Needlework, Gardening, Street Dance and
and nurture your child’s strengths. All schools
priority to help your son or daughter to feel both
Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Karting, Ballet
achieve this to varying degrees but at Our
challenged and encouraged in equal measure
and even Yoga are all part of the exciting
Lady’s Convent School (OLCS), the school’s
as they progress through the curriculum,
opportunities at Our Lady’s Convent School. The
ethos underpins a long tradition of providing an
guiding and nurturing them. Students of all
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and all that
holistic approach to education where a student
ages are happy, stimulated and flourish in this
it encompasses as well as the hugely popular
is encouraged and challenged to perform to
cheerful, family environment where small class
Young Enterprise Scheme is also available for
his or her best abilities and develop as a well-
sizes ensure each child receives the very best
the older years. Whatever their likes and dislikes
balanced individual.
in high quality education. The key aspect of
there is something for everyone. Students
educational life at Our Lady’s Convent School
leave the school equipped with academic
The school enjoys a rich history and was
is the philosophy that no one area of the
achievements; a thirst to continue learning; a
founded in 1841 by Blessed Antonio Rosmini
curriculum is more important than another; the
well balanced approach to life and a confidence
whose strong Catholic values still echo
school simply offers exceptional facilities in all
to embrace their career path and make a
throughout the school to this day. Welcoming
educational areas enabling students to excel
difference in the world.
girls and boys from Nursery (age 3) to Year
and develop.
six (age 11). At the end of Year six our boys leave us and our girls progress to the single
As part of their holistic approach the school
sex Senior school and Sixth Form. Whilst
promotes a wide variety of extra-curricular
its foundations are Catholic and its values
activities. By accessing this varied timetable
Christian, the school welcomes all students
students can explore different options and
irrespective of their faith, to learn, grow, discover
pathways to expand their horizons, ignite a
To find out more visit www.olcs.leics.sch.uk Telephone: 01509 263901 Fax: 01509 236193 E-mail address: office@olcs.leics.sch.uk Gray Street, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 2DZ
Achieve 91
Stonehurst Lodge
Fun on the Farm - A primary school with a difference! With a passion for helping autistic children develop and reach their potentials, ignited from a work placement when he was fresh from University, Jonny Lakin has made it his life’s ambition to transform these children’s (and their parents) lives by offering an education a little bit out of the ordinary. After years of working to re-introduce autistic children who were out of education back into specialist schools, Jonny recognised that the ‘one size fits all’ philosophy would never satisfy the varying needs that children on the autism spectrum present; leaving his successful directorship he embarked upon the realisation of his dream to provide a stimulating, intimate educational setting teamed with a crack team of specialist teachers, including HLTA’s and Qualified Occupational and Speech Therapists (all with years of ASD experience), to offer the education parents with autistic children were crying out for.
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Having worked with secondary school children in his previous career, the first logical step was the establishment of Woodside Lodge, an independent specialist school catering for 11-19 year olds. Based on a farm the tailor made timetables and close working relationships between teachers and their pupils has helped these children engage with their education, developing essential life skills alongside their academic pursuits. The phenomenal changes exhibited by these pupils lay testament to the benefits of such a bespoke curriculum and educational setting and Jonny was keen to provide this sort of support as early as possible in the education cycle; inspired by this and parental demand, Jonny and the team set about establishing a primary school arm, Stonehurst Lodge. Opening at the start of the 2014 academic year in September, Stonehurst Lodge looks set to be as transformational for its pupils as Woodside has been; catering for 4-11 year olds Stonehurst Lodge has 10 places available which will then prepare pupils for the transition to Woodside Lodge at the age of 11/12 years.
What’s on offer? The focus for Stonehurst Lodge is to retain its smaller size to enable its specialist teaching staff to provide the best education individually to its pupils. The school follows the National Curriculum Early Years Foundation Stage but does it with a difference. Using their own creativity the teachers bring to life the standard lessons, allowing children to get hands-on at the farm and using practical activities to reinforce the lesson objectives; specialists in working with autistic children in a primary school setting the teachers know how to tailor exercises to their pupils to ensure each individual, wherever they may be on the spectrum, can get the most out of their lessons and development; with Math’s lessons counting eggs at the chicken coop or a morning of photography spotting shapes, it’s distinctive style is one I think many children would enjoy (including me!). In just 10 short weeks the team have seen students’ progress at an incredible pace;
including Ethan who on joining was extremely
and an application can be made; although
detached, suffering from quite an extreme case
these schools are run independently funding
of autism, Jonny himself has witnessed the
for places is provided via your Local Education
progression of his communication skills and
Authority making these two exceptional outdoor
advances in his abilities to interact and follow
learning centres an accessible option for any
instructions; and he’s not the only one, Ethan’s
parents wanting to offer their children a fantastic
parent have seen a notable difference in their
opportunity to reach their potential and enjoy
son and cannot wait to see how he improves
their education!
with the right support at Stonehurst. Despite the diversification of their teaching methods, the team at Stonehurst are keen to
What’s next?
ensure the pupils in their care capitalise on
Stonehurst Lodge is definitely keeping its
their learning and monitor progress via the
founder and teaching staff busy for now;
Classroom Monitor system to ensure they can
however don’t be surprised to see further
review and improve their lessons as well as
developments from Jonny Lakin. Wanted to
checking that children are able to assimilate the
provide the full education experience and
skills being taught.
more for his protégés; Jonny has aspirations to provide a further education facility for pupils
Pupils are able to progress to the secondary
post 19 years; working in conjunction with
school, Woodside Lodge, whilst retaining the
the The Education, Health and Care (EHC)
familiarity of their surroundings and some of
funding, Jonny hopes to make further education
the teaching staff to further develop their life
available for pupils after completing their time at
skills and work towards qualifications such as
Woodside Lodge.
A Levels, City & Guilds Level 3 and ASDAN awards, as well as many other vocational
But Jonny doesn’t want to stop there (did you
subjects dependent on the children and parents
expect him to!); ultimately the provision of a
choices.
successful, independent future is the mission
How would we get a place?
and therefore plans include the opening of businesses such as landscape gardening or cafes to offer employment options for the alumni
To gain a place at Stonehurst Lodge or
and the continued collaboration with KEITS
Woodside Lodge potential students need to
offering government funded apprenticeships.
have an autism diagnosis and Statement on SEN
The future looks amazing and hopes to offer on-
(Special Educational Needs). Parents and the
going support and produce some truly inspired,
Local Education Authority would then ultimately
well-rounded and capable graduates.
For more information call 07903 137897.
decide whether these are the school/s of choice
Achieve 93
Hillingdon Manor Celebrates it’s 15th Anniversary! The 23rd October 2014 marked the 15th Anniversary of a truly inspirational success story for Hillingdon Manor School, it’s founder and its pupils. After being turned down from 26 special needs schools when searching for a school suitable for her own 2 sons, Anna Kennedy made the life-changing commitment to provide an educational environment for her children and other families which was suited to those on the autism spectrum, providing support and development for children and their families she re-mortgaged her own home and converted a derelict building into Hillingdon Manor School. 15 years later and with 2 further schools opened to meet demand and an OBE in recognition of the notable achievements this passionate Mum has made, Anna’s initial determination has had a profound effect on many children offering them the perfect environment to fulfil their potential which could so easily have been wasted as a result of unsuitable schooling in a mainstream classroom. The numerous success stories from children and their families, for whom previous educational experiences were incompatible with their needs, speak for themselves and
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Anna’s own children are included in those benefitting from the services Anna’s schools provide to each individual pupil. Now catering to over 150 pupils in primary and secondary education, Hillingdon has been a haven for so many parents fighting to find the right setting and curriculum for their children. “At long last, having struggled so hard for so long in the wrong setting for a child like him he is able to engage effectively with his education, in a setting he can understand, and where he is understood.” Jaspers mum. To celebrate the remarkable success of the school with a special anniversary programme was held at the school with current pupils and some well-known faces, including Waterloo Roads Richard Mylan, actor and dad to Jaco who is on the autism spectrum.
@RichardMylan “Lovely to meet @AnnaKennedy1 inspired by her passion & drive” Opening the proceedings and main compare for the event was one of Hillingdon’s pupils, Daniel Wythe followed by speeches from Sir John Randall MP for Uxbridge, a great supporter of the school and ‘What Hillingdon Means To Me’ by Marcus Davenport, a final year pupil who
spoke about his time at Hillingdon Manor and how when he first arrived he struggled with English only to achieve a GCSE A* grade in recent exams! A short dramatic interlude by the pupils called ‘School Days’ was followed by another moving speech from Shomari Nassor in which he professed “Hillingdon Manor is an old building and needs tender loving care however, it’s cosy, it’s home and it’s a great place to learn”, what higher accolade can be given. Closing the events Dance with Attitude were pupils performing street dance and the staff sang ‘Oh Happy Day’. @RichardMylan “Just visited Hillingdon Manor School Middlesex with @AnnaKennedy1 wow! What an incredibly inspirational place. Genuinely blown away!”
“What a rollercoaster journey and learning curve it has been; it was an emotional day; I asked 3 pupils to help me cut the cake and I said let’s make a wish and all 3 pupils looked at me and smiled. Enough said!” Anna Kennedy OBE. www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk www.annakennedyonline.com
Not long until a birthday for Baston House too! When Anna Kennedy founded the Hillingdon Manor School in Middlesex to support her autistic sons education she could not have imagined the demand for a strong educational environment able to provide the specialist support for children on the autism spectrum; with the same initial passion and drive which converted that derelict council building into an award-winning school, she extended the reach of Hillcrest Autism Care and opened Baston House in Bromley.
The Baston Way Baston House are committed to providing a specialist education environment and support for pupils between 5 and 16 years old who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition (ASC); developing ‘The Baston Way’, an ever evolving approach that is a combination of research proven autism-specific strategies, systems and techniques, incorporating individualised learner education plans, which give a clear focus on improving communication and interaction skills through identifying learners strengths in areas of special interest. Positive reinforcement and celebration of achievement is embedded in our school culture and includes individually meaningful and high value reward systems that motivate our pupils to participate in activities, helping them to take responsibility for their own learning. Bolstered by a crack team of highly skilled, dedicated, specialist teaching staff they work to create an individualised development programme in a safe and engaging environment for each and every learner.
Finding the right option for you Sally’s son, Harry, completed his Primary School education in a mainstream school, but once he was ready to take the next step Sally found that the Secondary education provided via the mainstream couldn’t provide everything that Harry needed to fulfil his potential.
Sally believes that it is the approach of Baston the transition from Primary School; a daunting House which has effected this change in her time for any child and parent the Secondary son. With a complete understanding of each curriculum follows the International Primary child’s individual needs, the teaching and Curriculum (IPC) as it is a comprehensive, other trained staff members are able to tailor thematic, creative curriculum with a clear the curriculum to every student. “Harry needs process of learning and with specific learning speech and language therapy, occupational goals for every subject, for international therapy and the availability of a psychologist; all mindedness and for of whom are always on-site “With a complete understanding personal learning with and provide regular input. a focus on improving of each child’s individual needs, These resources, along with the communication and the teaching and other trained the small class sizes, have interaction skills autistic almost certainly had the staff members are able to tailor children can so often biggest impact on Harry’s the curriculum to every student.” struggle most with. learning and achievement, and given him a far greater chance to reach the The success of Baston House for the pupils potential he undoubtedly has.” attending and their alumni is testimony to their Addressing the challenges in the most effective way Autism is a disorder which presents each child it affects with a varying range of challenges. At Baston House, believes Sally, every child is recognised as a person in their own right and treated accordingly. “All these children have something to offer and should be given the chance to shine. Whether Harry will be able to capitalise on his academic or other achievements in the future we don’t know, but at least he has been given the chance to make the most of his abilities. As far as I am concerned, I will know that by enrolling him at Baston House I have done the very best I can as a mother.”
approach, their first-hand experience and the passion of everyone involved; helping young autistic individuals enjoy their education and fulfil their potential because every case of autism is unique “When you have met one child with autism, you have met one child with autism” Marie, parent; which is why Baston House breaks down barriers and works with an eclectic mix of strategy and techniques to find the right programme for your child. Website: www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk Email: info@bastonhouseschool.org.uk Tel: 0208 462 1010
Structured integration into the Secondary school provides much needed support during
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has not suffered bullying in all his years at a mainstream school, I am all too aware that he will probably encounter some sort of bullying when he moves to secondary.” The Government is cutting back on everything at the moment, and the problem is becoming a real time bomb. This situation needs to be addressed, and when it gets to the point where children’s education and lifestyle is being compromised, it is becoming a real problem. We are creating a generation of adults who are unable to integrate into society or contribute effectively. Richard Mylan then discusses the reasons for the lack of bullying, and the policies in place;
West Ham United and Anna Kennedy Online says ‘Give Us A Break’ this Anti Bullying Week. 17th - 21st November Anti Bullying Week. A recent survey conducted by Anna Kennedy Online, which included over 900 parents of children with autism throughout the UK has revealed that over 60% of children affected by autism have suffered at the hands of bullies in mainstream schools. What’s more alarming is that schools are not addressing the problem, with 73% of families stating that it had been either ignored or was poorly handled. these startling results also reveal that a staggering 93% of parents believe that their child’s development and education have been directly affected by being bullied. The full report can be found here: http:// annakennedyonline.com/category/research/ Anna Kennedy OBE, Founder of renowned autistic charity Anna Kennedy Online will once again be behind this national campaign with her popular and poignant Give Us a Break! http:// annakennedyonline.com/give-us-a-break/ This year, Anna Kennedy Online and Anti Bullying Week are supported by West Ham United, and Anna and Austin Hughes Senior Training Officer from the Charity will be focusing
on school safety, and the issue of children with autism who are suffering at the hands of bullies as a result of their condition. West Ham United applauds the work of Anna and Anna Kennedy Online. The premier league football team pledged their support for the charity after Anna worked with the club to create a campaign in the Newham area, where the club is based. A representative for West Ham United discusses the intended results of the collaboration; “We hope that by highlighting the work that Anna Kennedy Online is doing, more will be done to raise awareness of this concerning problem, and to help families who are affected.” Richard Mylan, of Waterloo Road fame has also pledged his support to Anna Kennedy Online and Anti Bullying Week. Richard, who has a son with autism recently helped to celebrate the 15th birthday of Hillingdon Manor School, a school, founded by Anna Kennedy, developed especially for children and adults with autism, and was blown away by Anna’s ongoing work. Richard Mylan discusses his son’s experiences; “My 9 year old son Jaco has a form of autism called PDD. Though I can honestly say that he
“The reason for the lack of bullying at his current school is education & immersion. Jaco and his peers have known him since they were 4 years old and see Jaco's condition as 'normal'. They encourage, help and even nurture and that ethos has translated through to the wider school community as he moved to a bigger primary. The new kids saw Jaco’s classmates treating him with respect, affection, valuing his input and this had a ripple effect. I know that my sons situation is probably unique. He will suffer some sort of bullying in his school life and if he does, I would like to think that with so many positive peers looking out for him, it would not escalate & become unmanageable.” Anna Kennedy OBE, who has two sons Patrick and Angelo who are both on the autistic spectrum has worked with several young people and children with autism who have been affected by bullying. One such lady includes the very talented Alice Jordan who has written a song about her experiences with bullies called ‘You Won’t Hurt Me Anymore. This was a major achievement for Alice, who for many years struggled to communicate. She found her voice with the help of Steve Metcalfe of Music Junction Studio, who helped her record the song. https://audioboom.com/boos/1962216alice-jordan-you-won-t-hurt-me-anymore Alice performed her song at Autism’s Got Talent May 2014, which is one of many events organised by Anna Kennedy Online to recognise the potential and positivity of autism. Anna and her supporters are calling for your pledge to support this essential campaign and help tackle bullying in schools against vulnerable children. Please visit http://annakennedyonline.com for further information.
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A step in the right direction towards independent living As many readers will now know from previous features, Anna Kennedy has been instrumental in the achievements of so many school goers diagnosed on the autism spectrum, helping them to realise their potential through specialist education provided at both Hillingdon Manor School and Baston School, but what happens to students once they reach adulthood? Supporting the crucial next steps in a young adults development West London Community College (WLCC), part of the Outcomes First Group, are experts at delivering the teaching autistic adults the essential skills to empower them toward living an independent life after school; situated across 2 campuses in Uxbridge and Hayes, the college is staffed by highly skilled professionals from SEN backgrounds able to identify and provide the training each individual student needs. With specific care and study programmes for each student, WLCC deliver a holistic curriculum designed to promote independence, well-being and life skills through a diverse package of teaching structures; students benefit from regular sessions covering an extensive range of skills with the opportunity to include academic study such as GCSE’s and ASDAN awards as part of their tutelage.
What do WLCC students learn? There is an abundance of choice provided by the teaching staff at WLCC to cater for every students needs in realising their full potential; sessions can include Community Access, introducing students to their local community with trips out to towns and supermarkets; Literacy, helping students to communicate their thoughts and identifying alternative methods of communication where needed and Guidance Counselling, offering advice to students on their aspirations and options after college such as work, volunteering or further education as well as opportunities for independent living dependent on their preference; and as any college student will tell you, it’s not all work and no play, with plenty of extra-curricular activities from football to bingo student life at WLCC is never boring!
What next? Students studying at WLCC are taught skills and academic subjects centred on them achieving a fulfilling, independent adult life; on leaving the college the ambition is for the rounded education they have undertaken will equip them with the necessary skills and confidence to further pursue their ambitions and the self-assurance to enable them to make that choice.
Becoming a WLCC resident For adults affected by autism both inside and outside of the locality WLCC also has a residential facility just a mile out of Uxbridge providing a great opportunity to enjoy life as a resident as well; reinforcing their skills and independence whilst in a supervised and safe, tailor made setting, and a very scenic one at that! ‘The Old Vicarage’ provides residential care for 18-65 year olds in a stunning 8 bedroom home, with all mod-cons and a fantastic support team; specifically for adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) or Asperger’s syndrome, The Old Vicarage is equipped to support and manage the complexities associated with these conditions; actively promoting the development of everyday living skills such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and laundry all taught in a way that every resident can benefit from and understand, their focus is to assist residents in the transition to independent living.
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www.autismconsultants.org 01895 619700
Anna Kennedy OBE HQ the fashionistas’ favourite! After the astounding success of Wear It for Autism in 2013 Anna Kennedy and her team knew moments after the curtains closed on stage that there would be a Wear it for Autism 2014 that would be even bigger and better than its predecessor; and that it was! Monday 6th October was the date and we were there to soak it all up! But first, a bit of background to set the scene. The concept behind Wear It for Autism is a fun night to pamper Mums, Dads, Grandparents, Young Adults and Carers – who either have autism themselves or care for those living with the condition all whilst raising awareness of the spectrum. Chosen winners were plucked from a host of nominees and were placed centre stage after a full makeover at the prestigious London’s Millennium Hotel, 17 Sloane Street; Knightsbridge in London. Sponsored by Living Autism, Miglio Jewellery, Models of Diversity, Bon Prix, Shine like a Celeb, Avalanche Studios, Immortal Couture, Damsel in a Dress and many more the event was also supported by Models of Diversity and their good friends at Pineapple Performing Arts. Find out more about their amazing work on www.modelsofdiversity.org and www.pineapplearts.com. Celebrity presenters this year included Arlene Phillips CBE, Mitch Winehouse (who won Tea at the Ritz with Anna in the auction!), Dr Pam Spurr, Amy Willerton, Steve King and many more. Fashion Stylist Lewis Duncan Weedon styled the winners. The winners were: Mums : Ann Wright, Sharon King, Maimuna Mutaasa and Lisa Embery-Donaghy Dads : Craig Binns and Lee Cook Grandparent : Sandra Trotter Family : Anne & Steven Rann Adult with Autism : Dani Bowman Child with Autism : Sophie Jayne Garner Young Carers : Demi Stamp and Emma Bell We went along for the star studded event and were thrilled to be part of such a special evening! “This event was spectacular! It felt so very special and it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the evening. The stage show was immense with the catwalk brimming with smiling faces and the audience delighting in the glamour of it all! These kind of awareness events are really what sets Anna and her team apart from the rest, it was a night for awareness of autism but also a night of recognition, fun and entertainment. Scott James and Ryan Wiggins from Autisms got Talent sang and they were fabulous, the entertainment didn’t stop there with auctions and dancing all part of the evenings fun. Well done Anna Kennedy Online, another successful event we say!” Sally Smith, Cross Productions Editor comments. Anna Kennedy OBE said: “The idea behind Wear It for Autism was to spoil those who usually never get a chance to treat – or even think – of themselves. Living with autism can be challenging and extremely demanding so we wanted to create a special event that would be fun for all involved and I am so happy to report that Wear it for Autism 2014 was a huge success! Judges Steven Smith, Angel Sinclair, Dr Pam Spurr and Maggie Paterson, Sam Tomlin, Fiona Shepherd emotionally picked out their winners from each category and were so supportive of the event from the start so I would like to thank them! In fact, I would like to thank everyone involved this year, it was a real team effort and we couldn’t have done it without such support! We also announced our new patron for the charity last night, Steven Smith, so I would like to welcome him to our team once again! Steven is an author and does a lot of work for charity but has never been moved to become a patron of a charity until now, he said he loved our passion and found it catching so we are incredibly honoured to have caught him!” Anna comments.
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autism
Awareness Around 700,000 people may have autism, or more than 1 in 100 in the population; Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people and the world around them. There may be no ‘cure’ but awareness and support can help to transform the lives of sufferers and their families.
T ony A ttwood co nfere n ce on Autism - January 12th - The British Librar y
Tough Furniture
On January 12th 2015, Dr Tony Attwood, one of the world’s experts in autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, will be speaking at an all-day conference in the British Library. Tony is a practising clinical psychologist, and although now based in Brisbane, Australia, he was born in Birmingham, and did his clinical practice in London before moving to New Zealand and Australia. He is in private practice, but also works at the unique Minds and Hearts centre in Brisbane, an autism clinic that takes those in the autism spectrum from assessment, through lifetime support, classes for all ages, and playgroups for the very young. The clinic was founded by Dr Michelle Garnett. Joining him at the conference will be Adam Feinstein, writer, linguist and journalist, who organises the online conferences for Autism Cymru, and is the celebrated biographer of Pablo Neruda, and author of A History of Autism. He has a son with classic autism. Both of these, and Michelle Garnett, are members of an international collaborative Autistic Intelligence consisting of 12 of the world’s experts on day-to-day living with autism, rather than autism as a medical disorder. Some of the group are themselves on the autism spectrum, or have close family members with autism. Most of them have written books about autism, and almost all of them have a postgraduate degree in autism. Find full details of the January conference, look at the price of tickets, and book a place online at www.autisticintelligence.org. The group is now collaborating on a book What Works in Autism, drawing on their own research, experience and expertise. Each of the experts will write a chapter. It’s the group’s belief that there’s a gap in the market for practical help on living with autism from real experts in the field. Tony’s chapter is on psychological strategies, including CBT, one of the few strategies shown by research to be effective in autism. This, then, is the theme of this conference – what works in autism? – and will be the theme of all Autistic Intelligence’s forthcoming conferences, to be held this year in Glasgow (in March), Portsmouth and Cardiff (in May) and at a Midlands venue in October. Tony deals with the full range of presentations of autism at different ages, and the group as a whole is committed to including the very neglected issue of autism in girls and women.
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Autism Anglia Celebrate Silly Sock Day with us!
Autism Anglia know how to get the general public involved for a fun day of fundraising and this coming March 27th is the Charity’s chosen day for their super fun Silly Sock Day! An independent charity, Autism Anglia provides vital care and support to children, adults and families affected by autism, covering services in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. Autism Anglia provides a vast range of services from direct support to the individuals themselves, through to training for professionals who are looking to understand autism more. Whatever the service, Autism Anglia strives to make it personal. With an experienced approach they provide the individual and their families with exactly what they need to assist those affected in the right way; thus empowering individuals to lead the fulfilled lives they deserve. To continue the vital work that Autism Anglia does they need to get you, the public, involved in their fundraising efforts and one such way is to get silly with your socks! Each year Autism Anglia ask their supporters to wear their brightest, craziest socks for the day to raise awareness of autism and by organising your own day of silliness you can join in the fun and help Autism Anglia to raise vital funds for people affected by autism. Why not ask your school, place of work or friends and family to hold their own Silly Sock Day? The next year’s silly sock event, to take place on the 27th March 2015, is close to World Autism Awareness Day (2nd April) and is a great way for everybody to get involved. It really couldn’t be easier and gives you and your colleagues and friends an excuse for a fun day. Last Silly Sock Day over £7,000 was raised for Autism Anglia and 2015 looks set to be even bigger! So why not go silly with your socks for a day and inject a bit of fun into your school or work place whilst raising much needed funds for a good cause in the process. To request your free fundraising pack containing fun resources and information about autism, fundraising ideas, stickers and a poster, please call: 01206 577678 or email: sillysockday@autism-anglia.org.uk To discover a wealth of information from the lovely people at Autism Anglia visit www.autism-anglia.org.uk
Socks photo by Iain Houghton
27th March 2015
Wear your brightest, craziest socks for the day, make a donation and together we will be helping to change the lives of people with autism. To request your free fundraising pack email sillysockday@autism-anglia.org.uk Achieve Magazine - Autism Anglia v1.indd 1
01206 577678 www.autism-anglia.org.uk 23/10/2014 14:23:04
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Under-performance at school? We can help! We all want our children to be happy and make the most of their individual potential. For some children school may pose certain challenges leading to delays in academic achievement, lack of confidence or other difficulties. As a parent, you will want to know what can be done to help.
Does your child experience any of the following difficulties at school?
• Poor personal organisation
and memory skills • Difficulty getting to grips generally with school routines and responsibilities • Difficulty with social participation, avoiding other children/not mixing well • Lack of attention and focus • Lack of confidence for particular tasks
• Poorly formed or slow
handwriting
• Clumsiness with other fine
motor activities such as use of scissors or utensils • Poor gross motor skills leading to lack of motivation for or performance in PE • Lack of reading fluency • Difficulties with other visual perceptual tasks such as work layout • Difficulty with understanding what is required of them
Hopscotch can help! Located in central London and working in association with The Child and Family Practice, our specialist therapists will assess
your child, identify their needs and implement a programme that best enables them to overcome their difficulties and realise their potential. Handwriting form and fluency will be developed in a matter of weeks. Our innovative motor skills, visual perceptual and iLs (integrated listening system) programmes will also improve physical performance, visual and auditory processing, reading fluency and other academic requirements. Therapy is fun and engaging and addresses each child’s specific and individual needs.
Do you have any concerns about your child’s academic ability? Is your child integrating well with their peers?
Does your child seem unhappy in school?
Is your child exhibiting any behavioural difficulties? The Child and Family Practice have a team of experts who can assist with these concerns. We offer assessment and treatment to children exhibiting emotional, developmental and behavioural problems and offer support and advice to their families.
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For information or to refer, contact: T: 020 7637 7697 E: info@tcfp.org.uk www.tcfp.org.uk
Don’t let your child’s difficulties get in the way of their progress. Book an appointment now and watch your child gain in confidence and academic achievement, equipping them for success and happiness in the future. Contact Hopscotch on 020 7486 8168 or see www.hopscotchtherapy.co.uk for an online enquiry form.
HEART 4 HENDRIX The #heart4hendrix campaign is sweeping across social media in the hope to help raise money for the much needed Leicester charity Heart Link, and it’s gaining the support of celebrities everywhere. Baby Hendrix Kirk, from Countesthorpe, was five months old when doctors at Leicester’s Glenfield Hospital discovered he had been born with defects to his aorta and that he needed to have his mitral valve replaced; he underwent major heart surgery and had specialist Ecmo treatment, which oxygenates blood outside the body. Just a few weeks later he had to have a second operation but Hendrix beat all the odds to recover and celebrate his first birthday in April. His parents, Jem and Ross, always knew Hendrix would have to have further surgery and it was brought forward because of the state of health. At first the surgery appeared to have gone well but then a post on his Facebook told how his heart was struggling and was then heavily relying on medication to keep him going. His kidneys then began to fail; sadly, Hendrix
passed away at just 18 months old after putting up a heroic fight. “After a beautiful weekend spent together, Mummy and Daddy climbed into bed with Hendrix, and as mummy held his bare skin against hers, with Daddy’s arms around them both, Hendrix peacefully slipped away, and we are happy in the knowledge that he is already playing up in heaven, happy and healthy. Good night our boy, this isn’t goodbye. All our love forever and always. Mummy, Daddy and Dixie xxx” Posted to Facebook Monday, October 27 More than 4,500 people had been following the progress of Hendrix Kirk though his page on the social media site Facebook with support and well wishes for the family pouring in from across the country; but Hendrix’s Mum and Dad are still fighting to help others facing similar complications through their continued fundraising, adding to the thousands of pounds already raised to help improve the Leicestershire facilities. Heart Link, was originally formed as a support group for parents and families who have a child suffering from a heart defect. Since 1981 they have collected nearly £5 million pounds and this
has been used to fund projects large and small. #heart4hendrix is about getting people all over the country to show support and donate small or large to Leicester Charity Heart Link and we want to get this hash tag trending across social media to increase awareness and hopefully donations! So far supporters such as Anna Kennedy OBE, Leicester’s own Sam Bailey and Charlie Clapham (Hollyoaks’ Freddie Roscoe) and even Peter Andre have all been showing their support by posting a picture of themselves doing the heart sign and donating online via https://www.justgiving.com/heart4hendrix/ let’s see #heart4hendrix take the UK by storm an amazing tribute for a beautiful baby boy. Make sure you remember to show your support in 3 simple steps: 1. Take your #heart4hendrix selfie 2. Post it on all your social media accounts (and remember to get your friends to share) and tell everyone you meet about #heartforhendrix 3. Make your donation, no matter how big or small, to https://www.justgiving.com/ heart4hendrix/
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Independent
Living For people living with physical and/or mental impairments it can be hard to
see a future without the full time support
of their families; however, here are just a few of the professionals dedicated to helping disadvantaged people to achieve independence and committed to giving everyone freedom and choice in their community. Independence CAN be a way of life.
The Malmaison
The Mini Crosser
: More than your average scooter‌. Your mobility scooter needs to give you the freedom to live your life to its fullest. It must be durable, agile, comfortable, easy to use and have features which enable you to do the things that you want to do and more. The innovative Mini Crosser Scotland has this very scooter. Made in Denmark specifically for Nordic conditions, the Mini Crosser is the best-selling electric scooter in Northern Europe and provides some of the most innovative uses of mobility technologies out there. Each scooter provides high functionality, strength, comfort, durability, safety and overall economy and their adaptability of use means that there is a Mini Crosser scooter for you and your needs, whatever they may be. Built to last they provide exceptional value for money and comfort with accelerator controls, different seat sizes, extra support, padded armrests, electric add ons and even weather proof adaptations such as windscreens complete with wash and wipe and the crosser’s cabin model which includes a built in heater features you will be amazing at all that the scooter provides. The crosser is even adaptable to off-road terrains with a twin motor model for extra power, grip and ground clearance and a roll bar should you want to be extra daring meaning wherever you want to go the Crosser will take you there! With so much adaptability The Mini Crosser is a sound investment and will last for many, many years to come. Suitable for all you and all your needs whatever your size, age and needs the Crosser will work with you aiding you in living your life as you want to. www.mini-crosser-scotland.co.uk or call 03332 400 856.
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H.W.Pickrell Gardiners Lane North, Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex CM11 2XE Mobile: 07860 894331 Fax: (01268) 284951
Telephone: (01268) 521033
email: sales@hwpickrell.co.uk www.hwpickrell.co.uk
NEW & USED ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT AT AFFORDABLE PRICES We specialise in the sale and purchase of quality used wheelchair accessible vehicles and ambulances. They can be bought as seen or refurbished and sign-written to your own requirements. 12 months M.O.T and 12 months warranty, Independent Engineers inspection report supplied F.O.C. • FREE DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE • ALL BUSES COMPLY WITH THE LATEST REGULATIONS • LEASE HIRE. LEASE PURCHASE AVAILABLE • ALWAYS LARGE STOCK OF ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES • OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK SUNDAY BY APPOINTMENT
All current stock available to view at:
www.hwpickrell.co.uk
LIVE IT YOUR WAY
Jeakins_pickerell HP.indd 1
s at Visit u e L MS if x e & Naid s Show
Down on the beach
27/5/11 10:15:04
Hobbies & Sports
Unprecedented flexibility and independence to safely and comfortably handle a range of challenging terrains including: Mud, Grass, Sand, Steep Slopes, Cobbles, Steps and even Snow. Best of all its extraordinary manoeuvrability means that it can handle tight corners indoors and is kind to your carpets and floors.
Tel: 0330 555 0545 or See Our Videos at www.mybility.co.uk/videos Mybility-HPadvert-revisedV2.indd 1
£9 75 0
Call for a Free Demonstration
Al l fo in a rs n ta d r nd ea ar dy d m to od go el
The Mybility Stand Up All Terrain Wheelchair also has a flexible seating system that allows you to electronically adjust your body posture at will to either lie down flat, stand up, or choose any angle In between.
26/02/2014 10:53
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Crelling Harnesses Ltd
Experts in their field What makes Crelling Harnesses experts? Well, for a start Crelling have been creating
What are the main products within the Crelling range?
harnesses for over 30 years with the first
You can of course find a wide range of
friendly approach means they will always find
innovative harness designed by the late Thomas
harnesses for use with wheelchairs, but aside
out exactly what you need and deliver. Their
Crelling MCSP (chartered Physiotherapist.)
from that you can find harnesses and belts for
products are adaptable and can be used in
The team of highly experienced staff are
vehicle seats, aircraft seats, stair lifts as well
all manner of purposes and are suitable for all
approachable and honest in recommending
as bathing and shower seats. You can find
types of NHS wheelchair’s. The team will do all
the products that they truly believe will aid the
pretty much any kind of seat harness you would
they can to find out what you specifically need
lives of the individuals, their carers and family.
be looking for, when it comes to harnesses
and match you with the product that will ensure
Always looking to develop their products, the
Crelling will have what you need whatever the
you get complete satisfaction from a harness
Crelling team are forward thinkers and never
circumstances in which you need to use it.
that will last for years to come.
rest on their laurels looking at new research and innovative ways to enhance their existing range and help their customers with products that will assist them in their everyday life.
How can they help me get what I need? The companies’ experience and no nonsense
For further information or to purchase from the ranges visit www.crelling.com or call 01253 852298 for friendly assistance.
Crelling Harnesses Ltd
Special needs harnesses for vehicle seats, wheelchairs, shower & bath hoists, commode chairs, walking reins and more. Tel: 01253 852298
Fax: 01253 821780
www.crelling.com Email: info@crelling.com
We make simple belts and full supportive harnesses for all kinds of special needs, including challenging behaviour.
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Stuff Sack for everyth in g Make wet clothes, soggy swimsuits or dirty nappies a thing of the past with this handy Stuff Sack. It has tape-sealed seams and advanced fabric technology making it 100% waterproof. Simply roll the top and clip, safe in the knowledge thqat both odour and wetness will stay locked inside until laundry time. £7.99 www.rosyandbo.com
Seat Protector An easy way to protect carseats, pushchairs and highchairs from all the surprises your little nipper may have in store... the fast wicking fleece insert will make light work of soaking up any unexpected accidents! £10.49 www.rosyandbo.com
Bibbleplus+
The functional and stylish solution for older children and adults who have difficulties with drooling and dribbling With the success of Bibbles.co.uk the team quickly found a demand for Bibble bibs for older children & adults with various disabilities which caused problems with drooling and dribbling. They developed the product to suit and now have a range of fantastic designs for the adult and older child market. The range features great colours and designs available in 4 different sizes and with the unique combination of cotton and fleece wetness is absorbed which prevents the wearer’s clothing and chin becoming wet and uncomfortable. A great practical choice made with the same commitment to quality as the original Bibble but meets the needs of a different market too!
Receive 10% off your 1st order with code ACHIEVE
www.bibbleplus.co.uk Achieve 107
Sen Your Advertisement Proof Families with a schoolchild who
has special educational needs have
Progress Magazine January 2014 Edition
Please return this proof sheet with any amendments or your approval by
additional considerations to take into
account so here we take a look at some
FRIDAY
of the people out there who offer special
10/01/2014
education or can help you make the
right choices for your child together; from schooling to budgets we’ve got
Tough Furniture
it covered.
“Learners make good progress in developing independent living skills and in the extent “
to which they can carry out personal care tasks for themselves Bogs Lane, Harrogate, HG1 4ED
2011 Ofsted Inspection
Henshaws College - a great place to learn Henshaws College provides a personalised education for young people with learning difficulties, sensory impairments and physical disabilities. We will empower you with the skills and independence you need to achieve the future you want. • A curriculum rich in skills for Life, Learning and Work • Nationally recognised excellence in IT and Assistive Technology • Education, Care and Therapies working together to support learners • Expertise in visual impairment • First class Residential, Sports and Media facilities • Day and residential placements available
Henshaws College - part of your Local Offer For more information call 01423 886451 or email admissions@henshaws.ac.uk
www.henshaws.ac.uk Registered Charity No: 221888
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Quartz Healthcare:
Personalising the way you pay for healthcare provisions
There has been a lot of talk and changes about the way in which the Government provides for individuals with support needs in the UK, ultimately resulting in the introduction of Personal Budgets as part of the Personalisation Agenda; Quartz Healthcare are experts in the recruitment and provision of healthcare professionals and are keen to demystify the enormous changes that have taken place for those needing care. What is great about this scheme of ‘Personalisation’ is the provision of choice for individuals and their families and carers about what support they receive and where they receive it from; no matter what your level of need or setting or where those services originate the key is to empower people with the control of how their care is delivered.
What’s different?
The Personalisation Agenda’s focus in to provide choice and control to individuals and families over how, when and who their care is delivered; taking into account every aspect of the care recipients circumstances (not just their health care needs) such as social, family, economic, educational and cultural factors Social carers work with the individual and their family to draw up their personalised Support Plan, the emphasis of which is on what the care they receive is there to help them achieve; whether it be returning to work or moving
towards independent living, the Support Plan has a clear purpose to help accomplish these goals. Using this Support Plan a self-assessment questionnaire is completed which assesses all aspects of life which are impaired or affected and the financial circumstances of the applicant; providing they are eligible for support from their Council, an estimated Personal Budget will be advised and the decision making begins!
How does it work?
“The important difference is that Personal Budget can be used for care solutions you would benefit from which may currently not be within reach. It offers more flexibility than the current care system allow.” Quartz. A culmination of the initial Support Plan and the estimated Personal Budget are used to research and choose the services and care needed to achieve the Support Plans aim whether that be by employing a personal assistant or using an agency such as Quartz to find the right carer for you as well as how the Personal Budget will be used to fund that support and will answer vital questions such as: • What is important to you? • Who can help me make important decisions?
• What do you want to change in your life? • How will you arrange your support? • How will you spend your personal budget money? • How will you manage your support? • How will you stay in control? The Support Plan needs to be clear in its aim and how that aim will be achieved and will then be approved by the Social Worker before funds are released directly to you. “The Aim of a Direct Payments is to give more flexibility in how services are provided. People have greater choice and control over their lives and are able to make their own decisions about how their care is delivered. Following a Community Care Assessment, or reassessment, you can now choose whether to have services provided directly by Community Services or have direct Payment.” Quartz. If you feel you need more help or guidance on the matter of paying for care and in respect of ‘Personalisation’ of care needs, please contact Quartz Healthcare who can offer you professional, friendly advice on your options.
www.quartzhealthcare.co.uk
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Layering in Therapeutic Artwork
I am sure people are becoming more concerned about the scale and number of abuse cases appearing in the news recently. Is this a trend to be concerned about? I have worked for many years in the healthcare industry, and unfortunately abuse of our more vulnerable members of society has always been there. What has happened in recent years is that we have become more aware, and there are more procedures, along with advanced technology to catch these people quicker. As an employer of over 80 care staff, avoiding abuse is always something at the front of our minds. Luckily in the 20 years I have been involved in healthcare, I have only had to investigate three cases of abuse resulting in a successful prosecution. Although this is three too many, as a percentage to the totally people that have been cared for in this period, it is a fraction of 1%. So I think we need to keep this in proportion. My concern is that we could become so focused on this problem then the true nature of our work – the care – will be pushed to one side, and then isn’t that a form of abuse too? We spent a lot of time making sure we employ the right person for the job. Most abuse cases could have been avoided at the recruitment stage, which is why we spend so much time and resource at this point. Care is a professional occupation, which needs recognition in a positive, not negative way!
www.quartzhealthcare.co.uk Contact Ian Woodley on 01603 626265
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Art can be used in play therapy to express what children are unable to put into words. Sometimes a child may add layer upon layer to a piece of art, both within a single picture and in consecutive pictures. Why do they need to express themselves in such a way? Why layer within a single picture when the end result does not show the different stages and the initial picture often bears little or no resemblance to the final one? Whatever the layers of images represent, a client would not use so much energy in covering and re-covering unless it has significance. Charlie, aged 6, longed for his mother who was often busy with work. He painted a large, strong green figure and then covered it with mixed colour paint, a glue-drizzled and scribbled page, and dirty paint water. He folded the two sides in to the middle and pressed down with his palms. Multiple layers covered up the strong green figure. Was he was putting barriers up between him and the green figure and any negative feelings? Or was he adding multiple layers in order to protect and keep safe the green figure? At another session Charlie painted five consecutive paintings in quick succession. The first three were of individual coloured figures; the fourth one was larger and green. The final painting had several red figures and a large yellow sun. Charlie did not discuss these images; maybe he was unravelling his feelings about his family, with a final picture of all of them together. In the final three paintings a layer of water gave the paintings a dream-like appearance could represent a conflict between what he wants that person to be and what they are really like. Or maybe each image represent an aspect of his Self as he tries to make sense of who he is, in his quest for wholeness? Paying close attention to the potential reason behind layering, a play therapist can judge the progress the client is making in therapy; hazy and incoherent artwork may represent confusion that requires time to reorganize. Artwork which develops a story may indicate that the client is beginning to make sense of difficulties. If the client is able to verbalise an early trauma this may indicate that this memory is now in the conscious awareness and can be worked on through more creative play. Based on a paper by Kirsty Campion – PTUK Registered Play Therapist www.playtherapy.org.uk
ProMove: The Heavy Hoist Alternative When out and about taking your hoist may not always be a viable option; they are often heavy and cumbersome and there may not be the space in whichever form you are travelling to bring it with you. Yet of course if you have some limitations on the ease of your mobility the last thing you need is something else which will limit your mobility and freedom. However with the ProMove sling you can leave that heavy hoist at home by taking something far more convenient and lightweight! The ProMove Sling is a disabled lifting sling for when you can’t take your hoist with you. It can help disabled people transfer from a wheelchair to just about anywhere. It’s incredibly light and portable so you need not worry about any limitations. It makes a lift and transfer safe, comfortable and dignified. It’s easy to use and is designed to be placed beneath you in a seated position, your team of two or more operatives can then easily lift and move you to another position or location. However the sling can also be used for an individual lying down by adopting a log roll technique or the aid of a slide sheet. The function and accessibility of the sling means it can be used in a wide range of circumstances by individuals, emergency services, airports, and also schools, colleges and social care. Indeed the ProMove can be used in an endless list of situations thus opening things up for those with mobility restrictions. Ideal for use on holiday or for day trips out, and pretty much anywhere you may need to transfer. The sling is available in three sizes and has been extensively tested for its suitability and safety. Visit www.promove.uk.com to purchase one or to find out more.
First class further education is a dream of many parents for their children; for parents whose children have special educational needs a fight to provide their children with suitable, engaging education during their secondary school years is not uncommon. On completion however, what provisions are available for the next stage in your child’s development? Thankfully ,specialist further education providers such as Henshaws College exist for just that purpose. Henshaws College, based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire was formed to provide expert education for school leavers with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, sensory impairments or autistic spectrum conditions. Independence is at the heart of everything Henshaws do as they aim to prepare students for adulthood by developing their skills for independent living. With the opportunity for students to attend as a resident or on a day basis, they receive specialist support to help them achieve their full potential, now and for the future. Each student benefits from personalised learning programmes, delivered by specialist staff in tailored facilities designed to support their on-going success, empower them to make the most of their talents and expose them to new opportunities. The programmes encompass 4 main elements; independence, employability, personal development and health and wellbeing which are designed around individuals to maximise their abilities. Programmes are offered at a range of levels including Pre-entry/Sensory, Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1.
With every third student on the autism spectrum, the College’s highly trained education, care and therapy teams have many years of experience in this area and Henshaws is currently working towards National Autistic Society accreditation. The College is also building on its existing services for students with autism by opening new residential and teaching facilities on campus in September 2015.
feel for life away from their families and parents can feel confident in leaving their child in the facilities here knowing each residence has its own senior care officer and dedicated staff team to support the students who live there. Before starting at College, every student is assessed by a specialist multidisciplinary team including care staff and therapists to establish which specialist aids and equipment may be needed. Many of the rooms have ceiling track hoists and wet rooms, making them fully accessible to students with physical disabilities. “I’ve made lots of friends and the staff are all lovely. I feel at home now and I’m glad I came. I’m happy and I love being here.” Victoria, student.
In conjunction with their on-going academic and vocational development students can receive tailored therapies including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and therapeutic trampolining. Specialised facilities on campus include “I’ve made lots of friends and the Both residential a horticultural area, sensory staff are all lovely. I feel at home and day students rooms and even a recording are encouraged to now and I’m glad I came. I’m studio. Just as important are challenge themselves the life skills any independent to make the most of happy and I love being here.” young person will need when their talents in line venturing out alone which are embedded into with their aspirations and prepare themselves the curriculum and also provided for through a for a future in employment or voluntary work, diverse enrichment programme at the College. further education or supported living. To this This helps students to develop their social skills, end, Henshaws are always looking for local confidence and communication skills as well as businesses that can offer work placements and giving them some much-needed leisure time to even run their own professional printing service relax with friends. The enrichment programme, on site to provide real-life experience in a variety comprised of social, creative and leisure of potential roles. pursuits including sports, music, a weekly disco and a variety of day trips is a firm favourite Henshaw College could not continue their with the Henshaws students. “It’s a unique truly life-changing work without the support of experience because you learn how to look individuals, communities and other enterprises after yourself while making friends and being so please visit their website www.henshaws. independent” Chelsea, student. ac.uk to find out more, it is genuinely inspirational! “I like College. It makes me The residential students are able to get a real happy.” Alex, student.
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Dance Voice is a Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) charity based in Bristol, one of the UK’s leading centres dedicated to community-based creative arts therapy. DMP is one of the creative arts-based therapies, founded on the principle that movement reflects a person’s pattern of thinking and feeling. The process uses movement and dance to facilitate emotional, physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being.
www.dancevoice.org.uk +44 (0) 117 953 2055 admin@dancevoice.org.uk
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www.toughfurniture.com
Play Therapy Play Therapy UK (PTUK) - the UK Society for Play and Creative Arts Therapies Limited - is a not for profit organisation dedicated to promoting the use of play and creative arts as ways of enabling children to reach their full potential. The Society exists to further the good practice of therapeutic work with children. This includes improving children’s emotional literacy as well as alleviating behaviour and mental health problems. We believe that the use of various forms of recognised therapies to help children fulfil their potential and overcome emotional and behavioural problems has reached a critical stage in the UK.
PTUK leads the way in innovative methods of children’s emotional well-being. PTUK conducts continuous research measuring what happens in real life conditions, taking into account all the variables of the child, the environment and the therapists. An analysis of 8026 cases from 507 PTUK practitioners showed that between 74% and 83% of children receiving play therapy, delivered to PTUK/ PTI standards, show a positive change. There are currently over 700 Play Therapy UK (PTUK) registered play therapy practitioners. However, England and Wales needs an estimated 16,000 therapists to work with children between the ages of 4 and 12. There are plenty of career opportunities.
For more information about Play Therapy contact:
www.playtherapy.org.uk ptukorg@aol.com
01825 761143
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Accessible
Holidays
It’s starting to get grey outside and many of us are looking at holiday
options for 2015 to keep us going through winter; for some amazing options from the UK to France and Portugal we’ve found some great, disability friendly, alternatives for you to get your quota of sun and fun!
Irton House Farm
Outstanding family friendly, self catering holiday accommodation on a working farm in the stunning Peak District, Derbyshire. Open all year, our cosy log cabins are truly “home from home”; luxurious 4 star Gold and fully equipped with everything you need for a relaxing and memorable holiday. Explore the countryside and help feed the farm animals.
www.hoegrangeholidays.co.uk info@hoegrangeholidays.co.uk 01629 540262
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Appin House Appin House of the Scottish West Highlands provides the perfect getaway for all the family, with their lodges and purpose built house the self-catering accommodation boasts breath-taking views over Loch Linnhe and the hills of Mull in the background and is the ideal location to get outdoors and explore or simply to relax and unwind.
www.appinhouse.co.uk 01631 - 730207 Appin House, Appin, Argyll, Scotland PA38 4BN
Planning a holiday? Visit...
Accessible Derbyshire! www.accessiblederbyshire.org is a new ‘one-stop’ website which brings together - in one place - all the information you need to plan and enjoy an accessible break in Derbyshire and the Peak District. In our 'accommodation' section you can browse our selection of over 50 luxurious, accessible holiday properties. Choose from log-cabins, cottages, hotels and caravan sites and when you've selected the ones with just the right facilities for you, take a 'virtual video tour' to see for yourself exactly what's on offer. Perhaps you fancy a break in one of the awardwinning accessible log cabins at Hoe Grange holidays, Brassington? Or maybe you'd like to relax in a level-access lodge with wet-room at Darwin Forest near Matlock or Sandybrook near Ashboune? Rivendale caravan site also have well-equipped lodges to offer as well as lovely, level-access bed and breakfast accommodation. Or, if you really fancy getting away from it all, then the 'room for all seasons':
a specially converted, fully-accessible barn at Lane End Farm in the beautiful village of Abney might be just right for you. Whatever it is you are looking for there really is something for everyone! Once you've chosen where to stay you can take your pick from a wealth of accessible activities to make your break complete. Whether you want to relax with a level stroll round a pretty village followed by afternoon tea in a quaint café or sumptuous meal in a local pub, or fancy a more adventurous accessible activity such as cycling, sailing or climbing the hills on a Boma 7 all– terrain wheelchair – our website will leave you spoilt for choice. So, with superb accommodation, fabulous activities, breathtaking scenery and mouthwatering food all within easy reach at the heart of England what are you waiting for? Your accessible break is just a click away. Come and enjoy Accessible Derbyshire!
Accessible Derbyshire: One life: live it! www.accessiblederbyshire.org Twitter: @AccessibleDS Charities no.1155675
Accessible Derbyshire was founded by Gillian Scotford and Jane Carver: two Derbyshire mums with 6 children between them, three of whom are disabled. As well as providing a 'one-stop' website for the best in accessible leisure and tourism in Derbyshire and the Peak District, Accessible Derbyshire – which launched in March this year, is also a charity (charities no: 1155675) which aims to improve the lives of disabled People, their families and carers, living in or visiting Derbyshire and the Peak District. The charity aims to make the Peak District the most accessible National Park in the country and has already funded a number of projects as well as specialist equipment in holiday properties to improve accessibility. For more information or to help by making a donation, please visit our website or our Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/ accessiblederbyshire Thank you.
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Everyone needs a holiday… We all need to get away every once in a while, whatever our circumstances and with I Need a Holiday Too everyone can get the break they deserve. Providing a unique opportunity for wheelchair users to get a break away on the beautiful coast of Brittany, France, in a stunning transformed old cotton mill on the banks of the River Jaudy, La Roche Derrien, Carl and Jacqui welcome you to an accessible holiday of a lifetime. Accommodation is stunning and provides facilities with the comfort of modern living in a rural traditional setting, yet you are only ten minutes away from the Breton beaches, several towns and all the other attractions you would expect on a holiday. A break with I Need a Holiday Too provides accommodation for disabled or wheelchair users as well as family, friends and carers too. The mill itself allows for group bookings yet maintains an air of independence providing everyone with their own apartment and all the facilities and comforts you would expect. There are communal areas for socialising during your trip too, so the location is ideal for your larger group or small gathering. An affordable holiday, Carl and Jacqui’s aim to keep accessible holidays accessible in every way, including the costs for an individual and their carers their packages are in keeping with other non-disabled packages in the area. Their services don’t stop at accommodation however, the team also offer support workers, adapted transport and a host of equipment to help guests remain comfortable throughout their stay. In addition, all apartments have tiled floors, wide doors, turning circles, level access showers, shower chairs, raised toilets with grab rails as standard, plus many more features to make your stay as enjoyable and easy as possible.
Irton House Farm A warm welcome is waiting for you at our superbly scenic, fully accessible self catering cottages in the Lake District. www.irtonhousefarm.co.uk 017687 76380
So, do you need a holiday too? If the answers yes then get visiting www.ineedaholidaytoo.com or call 0800 9496801 to find out more!
Algarve Vale Do Lobo
Calvert Trust Exmoor enables people of any ability to experience challenging and enjoyable activity holidays. At our fully accessible residential centre on the edge of Exmoor National Park all activities are specifically designed and equipped to cater for everyone. Stay with us for a few days, a week, or come just for the day; however long you are here you will discover it's what you CAN do that Counts!
01598 763221 116
exmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk
Villa for 4 2 minute walk to the beach Free use of tennis courts, pool and gym at Vale Do Lobo Tennis Centre Good discount on twilight golf Large private balcony with seaviews
Tel: 01935 891241 peakevenetia@rocketmail.com www.1valedolobo.co.uk
Fiesta Tots - equipping family fun. We will stock all sorts of products to cope with rain or shine.... Rain covers, wet weather clothes & water-proof bags for the wet and buggy & carseat sun shades for when it’s shining.
Then there are the travel products to keep little ones cool, entertained, fed and watered. Oh and don’t forget our collection of SKIP HOP ZOO products.
Shop now open at; 11 Piries Place, Horsham, West Sussex.
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bod
Step back in time for a journey you will never forget... Experience the grandeur of the Isle of Man’s Victorian steam and electric railways, perfectly frozen in time. Sit back, relax and enjoy a journey through the beautiful and ever changing Manx countryside thanks to Victorian engineering that has well and truly stood the test of time.
2015 Season
Special Events
Isle of Man Steam Railway
Rush Hour on the Railways
Friday 6 March to Sunday 8 November 2015
Manx Electric Railway Friday 20 March to Sunday 8 November 2015
Snaefell Mountain Railway Friday 27 March to Sunday 8 November 2015
3-6 April 2015
Manx Heritage Transport Festival
29 July to 2 August 2015
Island at War
22 and 23 August 2015
www.bocaddon.com 01503 220192
North by Electric
Peaceful, Wheelchair friendly Holiday Cottages that give you easy access to all of Cornwall. Bocaddon Farm, Lanreath, Looe, Cornwall
Step aboard your tram car at the Manx Electric Railway terminus at Douglas known as Derby Castle. Sit back and relax as the spectacular Manx countryside passes slowly by. The Manx Electric Railway hugs the Island’s east coast scenery as it winds its way north towards Laxey and Ramsey. Laxey is the starting point for the Snaefell Mountain Railway, a unique Victorian enterprise which winds its way up above 2,000 feet for breathtaking views.
South by Steam Opened in 1873, this narrow gauge railway still operates its original locomotives and carriages. The railway runs through an ever changing landscape to a choice of destinations in the south of the Island. Board the train at Douglas and step back in time to the golden age of steam.
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, NEWS AND INFORMATION, CALL 01624 662525
www.gov.im/publictransport
isleofmanrailways
@IOMRailways
www.fenfarm.co.uk
01206 383275 www.fenfarm.co.uk Fen Farm Caravan Site, Moore Lane, East Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8FE
Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site is ideal for people looking for a quiet family retreat. It is situated by the sea and close to a country park in a small village on Mersea Island . There are 90 fully serviced static owner occupied caravans on the park, as well as plenty of room for tourers, tents or motorhomes of any size.
4 nights for the price of 3 *excluding Friday and Saturday evening. 7 nights for the price of 6 all season. 118
Eastham Hall
Situated within just a few minutes of the classic British seaside resort of Lytham St Annes you will find this charming rural retreat. Eastham Hall Caravan Park is the only caravan park
“
located within Lytham and offers the serenity of its surroundings as well as the elegance and
An absolute gem of a site, family run and excellent value. Visited with my wife and 2 children (aged 7 & 8). We Paul, guest will definitely be back.
”
and bars the town has to offer followed by a visit
teenagers all benefiting from an inspiring vista
to one of the local beaches. Just 7 miles down
from all angles there is really no need to leave
families alike.
the road and you have the option for a hair-
the park to enjoy a memorable break; bordered
raising day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, or the
by the protective shelter of deciduous trees the
Lytham and St Annes are actually two
renowned Blackpool Illuminations, after which
park attracts a plethora of local wildlife from
you can return to the serenity of
woodpeckers to hares affording the park an
the Park.
award-winning conservation programme and
energy of Lytham just a stone’s throw away making it an ideal destination for couples and
separate towns each with their own indelible characteristics which combined offer the perfect combination of festivals, coastal walks, beaches and not forgetting the nearby Blackpool attractions for noisier days! This area and the park itself truly caters for all types and interests and with the area being voted Top 10 Place in the North West to live you don’t need to take my word for it. Founded over 50 years ago, this delightful park is still owned and managed by the Kirkham family who throughout the years have maintained a perfect getaway for holidaymakers; with fishing, riding and golfing close by and the wonderful ‘Leafy Lytham’ just a mile and a half away you can explore the array of shops, cafes
visitors the chance to be serenaded by skylarks “Just returned from a wonderful break at
or listen to the owls in an evening.
Eastham Hall, the staff are all very friendly and helpful, they had given us fantastic directions
Booking is simple and all the rates are easily
to the park, we didn't need the satnav at
accessible on their website (including some
all! Brilliant. Also they give you a map of
special Spring discounts) and for those of
supermarkets, Lytham town etc. Very helpful!”
you who fall in love with the park, there are
Joan, guest.
opportunities to purchase your own holiday home from the park office so you can relive your
The park itself boasts an impressive 330 pitches
favourite sites and attractions and truly discover
ranging from overnight pitches to seasonal
all this area has to offer year after year.
tourers and static holiday homes; with an on-site shop open 7 days a week, laundry facilities,
Website: www.easthamhall.co.uk
children’s play area and dedicated dog area
Tel: 01253 737907
as well as playing fields and Wi-Fi for the
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Personalised silver jewellery capturing your loved one's fingerprints, handprints, footprints, handwriting and more
Fine silver jewellery, gifts and keepsakes
www.jwls.co.uk