Impact report 2023/4

Welcome Gen Dearman

ChiefExecutiveOfficer

AsweconcludeanotherimpactfulyearatChallengers,ithasbeenayear markedbyanever-growingdemandforourservices,financialconstraints andatoughfundraisingenvironmentforallcharities Thebiggesteffecthas beenfeltbythefamiliesthemselves,aswellasourstaffteamwhocontinue todoafantasticjobatputtingsmilesonthefacesofthechildrenand youngpeoplewhoattend.

Weareproudtohavedeliveredover70,000hoursofplayacrossourservicesthisyear,including 37,000hoursofrespiteforparentsthroughshortbreaks.Wehaveinnovatedbywelcomingthe wholefamilytoChallengersthroughourFamilyFunDaysandFamilyCookingBreaks Weare pilotinganewwayofworkingwithSurreyCountyCouncil,whereparentscanusedirectpayments giventothembysocialcaretobookadditionalsessionsatChallengers-offeringthemgreater choiceandflexibility.Thisyearwecelebratedthecompletionofournewplaygroundbuildin Guildford-aninclusive,accessiblespacewhereallyoungpeopletocomeandplaysafelyand freely,andthefirstspaceintheUKwitharevolutionaryWe-Go-Swingwhichallowswheelchairand non-wheelchairuserstoplaytogether.InApril,welaunched‘TheHub’,whichprovidesfamilieswith holisticsupportandthechancetomeeteachother Attheendoftheyearweweredelightedto refreshourcharitablemissiontobetterreflectourwork,andwelookforwardtodevelopingour strategyatthestartofnextyear

Wearesogratefultoeveryonewhohasbeenpartofthejourneyoverthelast12months,thankyou forbeingpartofTeamOrange!

Russell Harvey

ChairofTrustees

ReflectingonthepastyearatChallengers,Iamhumbledbythe resilienceanddedicationdisplayedbyourteam,supporters,andthe familiesweserve Thecurrentenvironmentischallengingforcharities, butdespitefacingincreasingdemandandfinancialconstraints, Challengers’commitmenttoprovidingessentialservicesfordisabled childrenandyoungpeopleremainsunwavering.

Genandtheteamhavebeenambitiousandcreative,ensuringthatwereachasmanyfamilies aswecantoprovidethegreatestimpact.Fromdeliveringthousandsofhoursofvitalplayand respite,topilotingnewinitiativeslikeourtransitionprojectandcollaborationwithSurreyCounty Council,wecontinuetopushboundariesandmakearealdifferenceinthelivesofthosewe support ThecompletionofourinclusiveplaygroundinGuildfordandthelaunchof'TheHub' exemplifiesourdedicationtosupportingdisabledchildrenandtheirfamilies,aswellasthewider community

AsChairoftheBoardofTrustees,I’dliketoextendmyheartfeltgratitudetoeveryonewhohas contributedtooursuccessoverthepastyear.Yourcontinuedsupportenablesustocontinueour vitalwork,bringingjoyandlaughtertothechildrenandyoungpeoplewhoattend,andgiving theirfamiliesessentialrespitefromcaring-thankyou

About Challengers

Our Vision

Aworldwhereallchildren andyoungpeoplecan playtogether,freely.

Our Mission

Totransformthelivesofdisabledchildren,youngpeople andtheirfamiliesthroughthepowerofplay.

Challengerswillnotexcludeanychildbasedontheir additionalneeds,eveniftheyaremultipleand complex.Wearecommittedtofindingwaysto supporteverychild,andensuretheyhavethe opportunitytoplayandenjoytheirtimewithus.

Locations

Our Services

Pre-school:ages2to5

Play:ages4to12

Youth:ages13to18

555Service:ages8to19

(alternativeprovisionforyoungpeople whoarecurrentlyoutofeducation)

Guildford

Chichester

2023/24 in numbers

This year we delivered 75,817 hours of play

Play: 21,590 hours

Youth: 17,214 hours

555 Service: 6,288 hours

Pre-school: 30,371 hours

Transition days: 354 hours

young people

We’ve supported 752 sessions

We’ve organised 18,036

We’ve planned and run events

32

92% of parents say attending Challengers positively affects their child’s happiness

90% of parents say attending Challengers helps reduce their child's isolation and loneliness

We’ve received support from volunteers 70

95% of parents say Challengers helps their own mental health as a parent/carer

New for 2023

Guildford Playground opening

Weofficiallyopenedournewstate-of-the-artplaygroundin September2023.It’saversatilespacewhichisequippedwith featuresdesignedtofacilitatefunandadventurefordisabled andnon-disabledchildrenalike.

WeareespeciallyproudtohaveinstalledtheUK’sfirstWe-Go-Swing,enabling wheelchairandnon-wheelchairuserstoplaytogether.Tomarktheoccasion, weheldopeningpartieswherefamiliesandfunderscouldcomealongand enjoyeverythingthenewplaygroundhastooffer.

Did you catch us on TV?

If you missed our BBC News feature, you can watch it here

“Every mum wants to see their children play. For us, it’s incredibly difficult to see that in normal day-to-day life.”

The Hub

WewereexcitedtolaunchTheHub,fundedbytheNation LotteryCommunityFund,toprovideholisticsupporttolo families.TheHubhostseventseveryweek,including1-1 supportsessions,coffeeandcrafts,parentingworkshops familyfunevents–allcompletelyfreeandopentoevery TheideabehindTheHubistoencouragepeer-to-peer support,bringingfamiliestogethertohelpreduceisolation.

Natasha Morris, Parent Ambassador, speaking on our new playground

Pre-school

Meet Chase

Chase is 4 years old, has autism and is non-verbal. He has been attending Challengers’ Farnham Preschool for 15 months, and his mum Selina has seen a huge improvement in his development since coming to us. She told us more about his Challengers experience...

ChaselovesChallengers!Herunsstraightinanddoesn’tlookback.Theteamset upsomanydifferentandexcitingactivitiesforthechildren,andheenjoysplaying withwater,sensoryandmessyplay.Ashe’snon-verbal,itcanbedifficultforhimto communicateandhegetseasilyfrustrated.

SincecomingtoChallengers,hehasimprovedmassivelywithbehaviourslike scratchingandlashingout Thankstothesupportfromtheteam,he’salsogetting moreusedtousingPECScardsandit’samazingtoseehimtryingtocommunicate inhisownway

WhenChaseisatChallengers,itgivesmesometimetoresetanddojobsthatI can’tdowithhimaround.Italsogivesmethespacetosupportmyownmental health,andtimetodosomethingIenjoylikegoingforarun.

Beingaparentcarerofadisabledchildcanbe exhausting,andChallengersgivesusrespite whichisreallyimportantforourfamily.Icanrelax knowingChaseissafetoplayandbearound others,inaplacewherehewillneverbejudged.

ThestaffhavebeenamazingwithChaseand havealsobeenagreatsupporttome.Theyare sokindandhelpfulwithpaperworkoranything elseIneedhelpwith.Theytrulyareangelsin disguise

Chase with his brother and mum Selina

We asked mum Shelley to share her story…

Play Meet Sara

Sara is 10 years old and has been attending Farnham Play since 2018. She has a learning and physical disability that impacts all areas of her development. She is also non-verbal and has complex communication needs.

AttendingChallengershasbeenimmenselyhelpfulforSara'smentalhealth.It's somethingshealwayslooksforwardto She'shappyandanimatedwhenshelines uptogointothePlayschemeandtiredwhenshecomesout-bothsignsofagreat dayforher!It'sespeciallybeneficialtousasafamily,asit'sbecomingincreasingly difficulttofindactivitiesforhertodooutandabout.

Challengersprovidesasafe,caring,andnon-judgmentalenvironmentforSara.She canenjoythethingsthatsheloves,specificallythesoftplayandsensoryroom,andit givesherachancetointeractwithchildrenwhohavesimilarneeds Althoughshehas notexpressedthisverballyduetohercommunicationdifficulties,I'mhopefulthatshe hasbuiltconnectionswithotherchildrenwhoattend.

WhileSaraisatChallengers,bothher fatherandIhavesomemuch-needed respiteandtimetofocusonourother children.Weknowsheisinsafehands, andhavingsometimeforourselves meansweareabletocontinueworking andkeepthatveryimportantpartofour individualidentities.

Sara with her brother

Meet Matthew Youth

Read more about Matthew’s experience of attending Challengers

Matthew is 17 years old and has a rare genetic condition - a micro deletion of his chromosome 3. This results in a brain disorder, autism and severe learning difficulties, as well being non-verbal, doubly incontinent, and having low muscle tone.

Matthew’s mum Jacqui told us...

Matthewhasasunnypersonalityandlovessocialising,nurseryrhymes,booksand ToyStory.HeenjoyseverythingaboutChallengersandisalwaysexcitedandhappyto attend,runningtogreetthestaffonarrival.

MatthewenjoystheactivitiesandsocialisingwitheveryoneatChallengers.Welove thatithasgivenhimsomeindependenceawayfromhisfamily,andtheabilityto makefriendsandenjoyawidevarietyofactivitieshewouldn’tusuallygettodo.

Ahugebenefitofattendingistheaccesshegetstoacommunity Matthewreally enjoysbeingwithhisfriendsandhasgrowninconfidencesincegoingtoChallengers. We’vealsonoticedhe’smorephysicallyactiveandwillingtotrynewthings,including differentfoodwhichheisveryreluctanttodoathome!

WhenMatthewgoestoChallengers,wegetto pendtimewithhissiblingsandtohavesome much-neededtimeofffromcaringforhim,safe ntheknowledgethathe’shavingfunandhis eedsarebeingmet.

heleadersandstaffaresoprofessional,caring ndthoughtful,whichenablesusasparentsofa ulnerable,non-verbalyoungpersontohave eaceofmindthatheishavingagreattimeand beingwellcaredforatChallengers.

Meet ‘A’ 555 Service

‘A’ is 17 and has been attending Challengers’ 555 Service twice a week since September 2023. He is profoundly autistic, non-verbal, and has complex needs which means he requires 24/7 care and supervision. Here A’s mum Jo shares his story...

MysonA’sneedsareextremelycomplex.Hehasnosenseofdanger,iseasily triggered,andattimeshecanbeextremelyviolent AsasinglemotherraisingAby myselfwithnofamilyorfriendstohelp,Iwassinking...thatwasuntilwestartedat Challengers

Everyschoolhehaseverattendedhasfailedus,andbeingoutofschoolishugely detrimentaltohisdevelopmentandourfamily’swellbeing.UntilChallengerscame along,noonehadevertrulyhelpedus.Theyhavebroughtanimmenseamountof joyintoourlives,andIcan’tbegintoexplainhowmuchitm andreliablehelpfrompeoplewhoIcanonlydescribeasm

WhileAisinthesafecareofhisamazingYouthworkers,I canstopworrying,switchoffandrelax.Ihavenever seenanyonehavesuchapositiveimpactonmychild before Hehasneverenjoyedbeinglookedafterbyother carersthattreatitas‘justajob’.Everyonewhoworksat Challengersgenuinelyseemstowanttobethere,and it’sclearthattheypourtheirheartandsoulintoit.

Challengerswastheonlyplacewillingtotakeon thechallengeofmyson,andafteryearsofhearing howdifficult,dangerousandimpossibleheis,I’m nowhearingthatheisadelighttolookafter–wordswhichhealmyheart.

Iwasonthevergeofabreakdownlastyear,andthere’s noexaggerationinmesayingthatChallengersisthe onlythingthatkeepsmesane.Wearebothsograteful tohaveChallengersinourlives

Staff spotlight

We are lucky to have a team of almost 200 staff members who make it possible for us to to deliver our vital work, transforming the lives of disabled children and their families.

Olivia has been working at Challengers for 5 years at our Farnham Play and Chichester Youth schemes, alongside training to become a primary school teacher with SEN specialism. Here she tells us more about her experience of working at Challengers...

ItallstartedwhenIwasatcollegeandlookingforaflexibleandenjoyablejob.Inever expectedthatfiveyearslaterIwouldstillbehere,approachingmyfinalyearof university.Igettoworkwithinspiringchildrenandyoungpeoplewhohaveawide rangeofdisabilities,needsandpersonalities,andensurethattheirpersonal,health, social,andemotionalneedsaremetwhilethey'reatChallengers.

WhatIlovemostaboutmyroleisthatIgettohavefunandplay,butworkingwiththe youngpeoplehasdefinitelytaughtmealotaboutpatience,courageandhowto simplyenjoylivinginthemoment!

EachdayatChallengersisunique,andthat'swhatmakesitafantasticplaceto work.Iabsolutelylovemyjobbecauseit'shighlyrewardingandhasallowedmeto learntransferableskillsthatwillbenefitmeinmyfuturecareerasateacher.Ithas alsoboostedmyconfidenceandhelpedmegrow,personallyandprofessionally.

KnowingthatIworkforacharitywhichmakesoursocietyamoreinclusiveplaceis evenmoremeaningful ThemostrewardingaspectofmyroleisthatIgettosupport childrenwithcompleximpairmentstoaccessplayopportunitiesthattheywould struggletouseotherwise.It’sheartwarmingtoseetheyoungpeopleforming friendshipstoo.

OneofmyfavouritememoriesatChallengershasbeensupportingayoungchildwith aphysicaldisability,usingoneofourspecialistswings.Hehadneverbeenabletouse aswingbefore,andseeinghisfacelightupoveranexperiencethatsomanypeople takeforgrantedwasdefinitelyoneofmyhighlights!

All about training

Staff truly are at the heart of everything we do at Challengers, and we wouldn’t be able to make such a positive difference to families without our highly trained team members.

Themajorityofourtrainingisprovidedin-house,with trainingprogrammesdesignedtoenhancestaffknowledge andequipthemwiththenecessaryskillstofullysupportour youngpeople.Therearedifferentlevelsoftrainingrelatingto differentlevelsofresponsibility,andeachtrainingmodule helpsstafftoincreasetheirconfidenceandabilitytoprovide ahigh-qualityservicewhichourchildrenandyoungpeople canenjoy

Wecreatecustomisedtrainingplanstoensurethatevery childcanparticipateandhaveagreattimeatChallengers, particularlyforchildrenwhorequirecomplexmedicalor behavioursupport Thesearechild-specificandinvolve workingcloselywithourteamstocreateprotocols,plans, andtrainingsessionstomakeeveryonefeelsafe,whilealso havingfun.

Ash, our Training and Safety Lead, said:

“Ourtrainingethosrevolvesaround empoweringourteamwiththeknowledge, skills,andconfidencetoprovideexceptional care,sothateveryonecancontributeto creatingasafeandinclusiveenvironment whereallchildrencanthrive.

Weareconsistentlypraisedbyparents,local authoritiesandotherrelatedSENDservicesfor ourhigh-qualitytraining,andweareproud thatChallengers'trainingisconsideredtobe 'bestofthebest'inourfield.”

Fun learning all about hoists in our ‘Moving People’ training

“Challengers staff are a brilliant group of dedicated, kind, understanding, patient and fun people. They are the heart and energy that makes Challengers such a life changer for so many families.” Parent survey 2023

Volunteer impact

This year we were lucky to receive support from 70 volunteers, who together gave more than 1000+ hours of their time to Challengers.

Volunteersplayacrucialroleinhelpingusachieveourcharitable missiontotransformlivesthroughthepowerofplay.Volunteeringisn't one-size-fits-alleither.Wehavevolunteerswhohelpoutatevents,at ourservicesandintheoffice,aswellasourTrusteesandParent Ambassadors.

EventManagerBeckyexplainswhyvolunteeringissoimportant...

70 volunteers

1,279 hours

“Havingdedicatedvolunteerstohelpatourcommunity outreachandfundraisingeventsistremendously important.Asasmallteam,wecanonlydosomany thingsatonce,andhavingvolunteerstohelpusmeans wecanreachmoresupportersandraisemorevital fundstosupportdisabledchildrenandyoungpeople.”

Challengers’FinanceteamhasbenefittedfromhavingvolunteerWilltohelp sinceDecember2022 Heprovidesvaluableassistancetotheteamby processingtransactions,helpingtokeepthewholeteamontrack. HeadofFinanceAndysaid:

Finance volunteer Will

“Willhasgainedpracticalaccountingexperienceduring histimewithusandwe'veseenhisknowledgegrow quickly,sohe'sbeenabletotakeonmoretaskslike postingjournalsandreconcilingourbankaccountskillswhicharegreatforhisCVandexperience.

Asavaluedmemberoftheteam,Willoftenparticipatesin officelifeandjoinssocialeventsoutsideofwork Heenjoys comingintotheoffice,andwehopetheexperiencehehas gainedwithuswillhelphiminfutureroles.”

Anotherformofvolunteeringwhichishugelybeneficialis providingprofessionalservicesfreeofcharge.Readmoreabout JakeHatt,CEOandProduceratFreeBirdFilm,whohaskindly usedhisprofessionalskillstoproduceimpactfulvideosto supportourfundraisingcampaigns

Star fundraiser

Supporter Tom first took up running as a hobby during the 2020 lockdown. Four years later he completed his first ever marathon - running for Challengers! In April Tom proudly took on the Brighton Marathon running in orange, inspired by the difference the charity made to his and his brother Matthew’s life.

Tom and Matthew

MatthewhasalearningdisabilityandattendedChallengersschemesfor14years Formost children,playisaconstantintheirlives,howeverforyoungpeoplelikeMatthew, opportunitiestoplay,bethemselvesandsocialisearealmostnon-existent.

AtChallengers,wepassionatelybelievethateverychildhastherighttoplayandbe included,andthat‘swhyourworkissoimportanttothefamilieswhodependonus

Here’s what Tom had to say about his experience:

“MatthewandIwerebothextremelyfortunateto growupwithChallengersinourlives.For14years,it meantthatwhileMatthewwashavingloadsoffun, myfamilywasthrownanimportantrespitelifeline.

MyMumandDadgotthechancetohaveabreak fromtheircaringresponsibilities,Igottohavethem tomyselfforabit,andwewereabletodostuff togetherthatMatthewdidn'tenjoyorjustcouldn't copewith.Itfeltgreattogivebacktoacharity whichhasgivenourfamilysomuch.”

To see what Challengers means to families like Tom’s, watch our ‘Free To Be Me’ campaign video

Tom’s brother Matthew

Community support

Every year we celebrate Challengers with a month of all things orange - Orange October!

It’safun-filledcelebrationwhereweencourageschools,workplaces,andindividualstojoin usin‘turningorange’andraisingfundstosupportdisabledchildrenandyoungpeopleat Challengers.Frombakesalesandparkruns,topumpkincarvingandfancydress-weloved seeingoursupportersgetcreativeandhavingfuninaidofagreatcause.

We want to extend our gratitude to everyone who took part this year, including:

St.Joseph’sCatholicPrimarySchool FreemantlesSchool OnslowInfantSchool

StNicolas’9thGuildfordScoutGroup

Guildfordparkrun Hilly’sTeaShop

Our friends at Hilly’s Tea Shop all dressed up in orange

TheOliveTree,SuttonGreen ramsac PGLMarchantsHill AzetsUK HowdenInsurance

Parent ambassador Natasha and daughter Lilly enjoyed the orange parkrun

Our families carved some amazing Challengers pumpkins for Halloween

Nicolas

Supporter Emma hosted an orange themed street party

St

’ 9th Guildford Scout Group organised their very own orange day

We’re grateful to have benefitted from some fantastic partnerships this year which have included generous gifts in kind, fundraising, and volunteering from our corporate supporters.

CharityoftheYear

WehadthreeremarkableCharity oftheYearpartnershipswithFluor, Azets,andStevens&Bolton-all sparkingexcitinginitiativesthat broughtstafftogethertoraise money.Fromgolfdaysandstaff BBQs,totoycollectionsand(our personalfavourite)awetsponge thebossfundraiser!

GiftsinKind

Corporate support

Challenges

Thank you to

SkiptonandMetroBankorganised anEastereggcollectionforour children,WaverleyBlindsdonated anelectricblackoutblindtoour FarnhamPre-School,children lovedthefreeXboxandgames donatedbyEAGames,andwe weredelightedtoreceive100 wrappedChristmaspresents donatedbystaffatFluor!

Staffatramsaccompleteda 24-hourgamingmarathon; EthosMetricstackledtheThree PeaksChallenge-scaling mountainsinsupportofour mission; andBrewers DecoratorCentres,RBSand Azetscourageouslytookpartin theSpinnakerTowerabseil

ramsac, our long term supporters

Stevens & Bolton cycled for Challengers

An egg-cellent gift from Skipton and Metro Bank

Brave team members from Azets and Brewers

Christmas presents kindly donated by Fluor