1. family and parenting
2. children

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Autumn 2014
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help us make every precious moment count
020 8449 8877 3 Beauchamp Court, Victors Way, Barnet, EN5 5TZ
Registered Charity No. 1081156
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did you know?
“I am delighted to
have this opportunity
to welcome our new
Chief Executive, Ru
Watkins who took up
office in July this year.
We are very pleased
to have Ru at the helm
of Noah’s Ark – especially at such an
exciting time for the charity. If you have
not already done so, I urge you to read
his full biography on the Noah’s Ark
website www.noahsarkhospice.org.uk
– but suffice it to say, Ru brings with him
a wealth of experience and abounding
energy. He is also keen to meet you:
our friends and supporters, to thank you
personally for making our work possible
and to hear your views about how we
can improve and develop. Please do
get in touch with Ru and introduce
yourselves.
In our last Newsletter we mentioned that
we were seeking your advice on how we
communicate with you. Thank you to all
those who took part in our survey and to
those who contacted us to let us know
what we do...
Noah’s Ark provides practical care
and emotional support to families with
children who have life-limiting or lifethreatening conditions living in the North
London boroughs of Barnet, Camden,
Enfield, Haringey and Islington. We
support the whole family and need
to raise over £1.3 million annually to
provide these vital services.
The children we work with have a
range of conditions and often have
very complex needs. Our services aim
to help the children and their families
make the most of the time they have
together and we continue to support
families after bereavement.
Our Family Link Workers help families
negotiate the complex social care,
benefits and clinical arenas. Our
nurse-led team of Specialist Carers are
trained in the needs of the child to allow
parents to take a much needed break.
their thoughts on ‘aboard the ark’. As a
result of our evaluation, we will now be
mailing ‘aboard the ark’ twice a year: in
May and in November – and in touch
with you in between times via e-news. In
order to move to this more modern,
economically wiser and environmentally
friendlier position, we need everyone’s
email address. Please send us your email
address at [email protected]
so that we can keep you updated
about the wonderful work of Noah’s Ark
and abreast of ways in which you can
help us.
This Christmas we will be thinking
especially about the precious moments
we share with our own families and
friends and asking you to think about the
children and families we support here
at Noah’s Ark. Thank you for helping us
to create precious moments that make
ever-lasting memories.
If you would like to get in
touch with the team at
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
our details are below:
Wishing you season’s greetings and
every good wish for 2015.”
020 8449 8877
Michael McInerney, Chair of Trustees
They provide sessions of care for
children in their own homes which can
lessen the need for medical or hospital
visits. Our play Specialists offer fun play
to ease the anxiety of the child who is
receiving treatment and help them cope
with difficult feelings. Our Family Support
Volunteers also provide support for
families in a home or community setting;
helping out with driving to hospital
appointments, shopping, playing with
siblings and helping with homework.
Our Parent’s Group is held six times a
year and enables mums, dads and
carers to get together, share ideas and
support each other in facilitated groups.
Brothers and sisters are very important
to Noah’s Ark, and our Family Activities
Workers organise monthly activities
for the siblings to meet and have fun
with other children who are in similar
situations to them.
To learn more about our services or
to make a referral please call
020 8449 8877.
Aboard the Ark
Editor: Ghazal Tipu
Design & print: DS Print Services
Special thanks to airbusiness for distribution
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Registered Charity No.
no. 1081156
We will be sending e-news
once every 4-6 weeks. If you
would like to receive e-news
please email us at enews@
noahsarkhospice.org.uk
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
3 Beauchamp Court
Victors Way, Barnet
Hertfordshire EN5 5TZ
@NoahsArkHospice
www.facebook.com/
NoahsArkChildrensHospice
www.noahsarkhospice.org.uk
It is with sadness that we
share with you the news of
the sudden death of Ted
Gladdish, our former CEO. Ted
was with Noah’s Ark in a parttime capacity until June this
year and died suddenly whilst
golfing in Spain in September.
Our thoughts are with his family
during this sad and difficult time.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
A member of Together for Short Lives
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is a charity registered in England (1081156)
and incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (3901606)
interview with
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Chief Executiv
e Ru
started to put together a care
model that encompasses social
as well as clinical care. You have
to remember that many of our
children will be with us for a long
time, so we need to match their
expectations as they mature.
Why were you interested in the role
of Chief Executive at Noah’s Ark?
When I left the Army, I worked for
several years in the Business and
Corporate sector. I got out of bed
each morning and thought ‘that’s
great – got stuff to do’, but there
was something missing in my career.
The missing bit was the ‘addback’
– getting out of bed and knowing
that you will make a difference, and
can help make life more bearable
for someone. Luckily enough, the
mix of a military and business career
gives you many different skills and at
times a particular skew on life.
So when I was asked to join Noah’s
Ark, I realised I could make a
difference to many people and
use a lot of my skills, as well as get
out bed with a real aim for the day.
Also, Noah’s Ark is unique in what it
delivers, and I love that desire to do
the best and get better - that is part
of the Noah’s Ark culture.
What are your plans for the next
six months?
My plan is grow and build a Noah’s
Ark family across Barnet, Camden,
Enfield, Haringey and Islington.
According to national research,
we are only reaching 20% of the
children and families that need our
help. So we must grow to help them.
We need to innovate and think
differently about how we do our
work and deliver our care. We have
We are going to increase our
volunteer base and offer a
development pathway. I am
really excited about this and know
that we will be leading the way
nationally. We need to ensure we
also listen to people as they can
help us.
We need to grow our income so
we can support the children that
need our help - so we need to
re-engage with our supporters and
remind them we are here. Part of
this is how we generate income,
so we need to partner within
and outside the sector and with
businesses. We need to gain more
statutory funding. There are a lot of
opportunities out there, so we now
need to get on with it.
We need to develop our retail
outlets and use our shops differently
as drop in centres perhaps, or
locations for us to promote Noah’s
Ark. We are just going online in the
retail world, and having come from
the UK’s No 1 white goods retailer,
I am now looking at how we
improve this. It’s a great start but
we need to do much better.
I also want to see us start the
construction of the Environmental
Centre at Byng Road in early
January 2015. Laying the
foundations is the trigger to
building the hospice. I prefer to
call it a ‘Beacon’ but more of that
next time.
Critically we need to communicate
what we are doing across London
and most importantly across our
growing Noah’s Ark family.
make a memory campaign
Text MAKE20 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 NOW
Watkins
What are the challenges ahead for
Noah’s Ark?
Growth for any organisation is difficult
and there are many challenges
in terms of income, how we work
together as a team, who is part of
the team and not losing our culture or
ethos. So there are quite a few internal
challenges for us to work on and many
external ones, but even only after 12
weeks, I feel really heartened that the
innovation, passion, commitment and
many of the skills we need to conquer
the challenges are there.
You have been at Noah’s Ark for 3
months – what have you learned
during that time?
I have actually learnt a lot in many
different areas but, most importantly,
I have learnt that we are really needed
across North London and that the
Noah’s Ark family want to make a
difference in the boroughs we work in.
With that knowledge behind you,
you have to commit 100% to growing
the charity.
What have you enjoyed in your
role so far?
I tend to be a bit of a mix of
thinker and doer. There are some
great projects to deliver such
as the ‘Beacon’ hospice and
communications campaigns, and
thinking how we can be more
effective. I also love getting involved,
so I have really enjoyed the variety of
the Chief Executive role.
One area I do really enjoy is meeting
up with our Noah’s Ark family in
terms of staff, volunteers and, really
importantly, the families and the
children. You have got to be really
selfish to feel hard done by when you
see what some of our children and
families go through, so when one of
the children comes up and asks for a
race at sports day or just tells me about
their first day at school, then you know
that Noah’s Ark has made a difference
and that is what I love.
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“Our sons Wiktor, Borys and
Alexander were born three
months premature as a result
of complications during my
wife’s pregnancy. Unfortunately,
Alexander suffered severe brain
damage and passed away a
few hours after birth. For a month,
the doctors battled constantly to
stabilise Wiktor and Borys. After
three months of care, Borys was
finally discharged from the hospital,
though Wiktor had to stay in the
Intensive Care Unit for a year
battling for his life. During this time,
he suffered several life-threatening
complications, which caused
Cerebral Palsy.
Wiktor is unable to talk but has
developed his own way of
communicating his emotions. His
illness affects the muscles in his
hands and legs which hinder his
movement, however it doesn’t
stop him from playing with his toys
or showing acts of excitement
by gently kicking his legs. Wiktor
enjoys playing with his sensory toys
and loves his games for children
with special needs. He also enjoys
watching his favourite programme
“Something Special”.
Wiktor needs our 24-hour care and
commitment. Apart from the regular
duties of changing and cleaning,
his medication and liquid food are
ingested directly into his stomach
through a tube. Flu has threatened
Wiktor’s life on three occasions,
resulting in him being admitted into
hospital. His difficulties swallowing
cause further complications, as
excess saliva and mucus can block
his airway or lungs. Such a scenario
has seen him also admitted into
hospital under the Intensive Care
Unit in an attempt to unblock his
respiratory system. His lungs get
weaker every time such equipment
is used on him, so he needs regular
physiotherapy to loosen the mucus
in his lungs and airway.
The torment we face every time
Wiktor is rushed off to an Intensive
Care Unit is mentally and physically
exhausting. Our son is disabled and
the reality is that there is nothing we
can do to change that, however,
Borys blowing bubbles at the summer ball
we want the best for him because
we love him so much.
Noah’s Ark has supported us since
July 2009. Our children are always
happy to take part in the inclusive
events and outings. This year, the
summer ball yet again provided
lots of activities for children with
additional needs. My sons loved
the sensory activities and group
singing, and Wiktor especially
loved the bubble machine. These
activities greatly develop Wiktor’s
development.
One of the services that provides
great support to our family is the
Sibling Support Programme. My
son Borys has the opportunity to
spend time with other children
and engage with them. It allows
us the freedom to devote more
time to Wiktor. When Rebecca,
our Specialist Carer, plays with
Wiktor it greatly benefits him. It
also allows us to catch up with
important housework, which is
a bonus.
This wonderful charity has been
like one big family, aiding us
through joyous and sorrowful
moments. They are always
eager to help and
most importantly,
thanks to them, all
the children are
happy and they feel
included.”
The Borkowski family
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Registered Charity no. 1081156
fundraising n
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page 14!
for your
did you know?
There are a number of ways
you can support us!
• Make a donation
We are funded almost
entirely by voluntary
donations from people
who want to make a real
difference to life-limited
and life-threatened children
and young people.
• Sign up for a regular gift
Regular giving means we
can plan for the future.
rainbow run
It was a sight to behold as 150 runners were covered
in powder paint at our first Rainbow Run held at Allianz
Park, Hendon in July. As they ran around the perimeter
of the 5km route, the participants were bombarded
with all the colours of the rainbow. We are delighted
that we raised over £14,000 from the participants, and
would like to thank Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents for
their sponsorship support.
“I was planning on pushing both my daughters
in their wheelchairs for the entire course!”
• Join TEAM Noah and take
part in a challenge event
We have many exciting
events throughout the year.
• Hold your own
fundraising event
Why not get together with
friends, family or colleagues
and hold your own event?
We can help you with ideas,
posters and collection tins.
• Company giving
We can work with
companies in many ways
e.g. Charity of the year,
sponsorship opportunities,
employee fundraising, and
cause-related marketing
promotions.
• Text donate
Make a quick £5 donation
by texting NOAH05 £5 to
70070.
• Leave us a Legacy
Leaving money in a Will is
one way in which you can
continue to show
your support.
• In-kind donation
Maybe you would prefer to
donate a service, or goods
that can be auctioned?
Among the runners were Karen and her
two daughters Nix and Addy who we
have supported since 2010.
“When Nix had major surgery, Noah’s Ark
provided specialist care and volunteer
support, which helped us to manage
the post-op experience. Without them
we would have really struggled as our
local nursing team said they didn’t have
the resources to help at all. The support
has continued and we as a family really
appreciate it.
So when I found out about the Rainbow
Run I thought it would be a good way
to try to raise some money to say thank
you and at the same time have a bit
of fun! My three-year old said at the
end “Mummy, the Rainbow Run was
fantastic. Can we do it again?”
I was planning on pushing both my
daughters in their wheelchairs for the
entire course, but realised once we hit
the first field that wasn’t really going to
be possible as it was just too bumpy!
Two hands on a chair meant a
smoother ride, so being independent
and rising to that challenge just
wasn’t going to happen all the way.
But, as always – Noah’s Ark came
to the rescue - and Laura happily
helped us along the way. In fact,
I think we were almost beating off
offers of help at one point! (Note for
our sponsors, I did push them both for
part of each field, I promise!) We will
definitely be doing it again next year,
though I shall learn from this year, and
protect the girls’ wheelchairs before
we start. And I’ll make sure I have
help on hand for the cleaning-up
process when we get home! We’re
still dusting off the blue powder from
the wheelchairs!”
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Schools…Get involved!
Highgate Pre-Prep and Junior School raises
£13,000 for Noah’s Ark. A BIG thanks!
Are you a teacher or a School
Governor? Or are you a parent with
school age children? And do you
love the work that we do? We are
keen to work in partnership with new
schools and want to hear from you!
Schools benefit from working with
us. Learning about the realities that
face life-limited and life-threatened
children and their families enhances
children and young people’s
personal and social development.
And through fundraising, children
and young people learn about the
value of working together and giving
back to the community. Mia Thai
in Year 13 of Hertswood Academy
told us “Raising money for Noah’s
Ark has made us gain a real sense of
community cohesion and we have
thoroughly enjoyed it.”
There are many ways in which schools
can support us too:
• Make Noah’s Ark your school, house
or year group’s Charity of the Year.
• Take part in our Bunting Challenge
- a Guinness World Record attempt
for the longest string of bunting
Reaching out to
faith communities
We know that families accessing Noah’s Ark services come from a
range of cultural and religious backgrounds. From varying weekend
events between Saturdays and Sundays, to catering for religious dietary
requirements, to providing a quiet room which
can be used for prayer, we try to ensure all
our families feel comfortable and respected
whenever they are at one of our events.
Whether your synagogue is looking for
volunteering activities during Mitzvah day,
or your local church is organising charity
collections during Christmas or Lent, we hope
you will think about supporting us as your
charity of choice.
flags. We need as many schools to
take part as possible!
• Hold a fundraising event - cake sale,
dress down day, quiz or talent show.
Why not hold an event in the run
up to Christmas during our make a
memory campaign?
Sarah Latchford, Community
Fundraising Officer, is available to
speak at PSHE and citizenship lessons
and school assemblies. If you would
like more information or wish to book
Sarah as a speaker, please contact
her at slatchford@noahsarkhospice.
org.uk. A huge thank you to the
schools that have supported us and
continue to do so.
thank you
Thank you to Ian Hill and his team
for raising over £5,500 cycling
around the Isle of Wight...to
the Going Noah Fast team for
raising nearly £5,500 even when
the exhaust fell off during the
Ramshackle Rally...to Mill Hill, The
Shire and Hendon Golf Clubs for
selecting us as their Charity of the
Year...to everyone in TEAM Noah for
raising over £9,500 so far from the
Royal Parks Half Marathon...and to
Angle House Orthodontics for their
fundraising Winter Ball
To find out more about how you can
get involved contact Priya, Community
Fundraising Manager, on 020 8449 8877 or
[email protected]
Ian Hill and his team
6
Registered Charity No. 1081156
in the Spotlight…
Diyen Ramani
Diyen Ramani will be braving the Moroccan Sahara in
March 2015 with TEAM Noah. He and his wife have been
supported by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice since 2011
Why are you taking up the challenge?
I am taking up this challenge in
memory of our bebo, Kayen Ramani.
He had so many happy days with
Noah’s Ark, and I am so grateful for
that. I would like other children and
families to benefit from the charity’s
great work.
My son Kayen is my inspiration, with
his beautiful smile, warm cuddles, and
personality. His memory has inspired
me to conquer my fears. We ought
to be learning something new every
day, because before you know
it, time has flown by and can’t be
brought back. Live everyday as if it’s
your last.
Do you have a fundraising target?
My target is to raise close to £2,000,
and anything more than that would
be a bonus. Staff at Noah’s Ark are
so friendly and helpful, and I know will
support me to reach my target.
am not looking forward to the lack of
home cooked food!
What would you say to someone who
is thinking about signing up for this
challenge?
Signing up is an opportunity to raise
funds for a local cause that is so in
tune with children’s and families’
needs. Noah’s Ark has simply been
a life-line to my family and many
others in North London. We’ve felt
so supported during our time of
bereavement.
If you are interested in signing up
to the Sahara Trek or would like an
informal chat, please get in touch
with our Fundraising and Challenge
Events Officer Elena Damiani at
[email protected]
Sahara: The Trek
What training are you planning to do
for the challenge?
I’ve already started to do long walks
every evening, and plan to do longer
endurance walks as I build up my
stamina.
Join TEAM Noah for a 7-day challenge trek in the Moroccan Sahara
accompanied by professional English-speaking Berber guides who have an
excellent knowledge of the region. The guides are first aid trained and will
support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by a team
of support staff including cooks and camel handlers who together make
your journey possible.
What are you looking forward to the
most and the least on the trek?
I am simply looking forward to the
challenge of trekking the Sahara
desert, which I’d never imagined
doing in my life! I am most looking
forward to sleeping under the stars as
it’s something I have always wanted
to do. Every night I will look out for our
bright shining star Kayen, and I know
he will be guiding me on the trek. I
Test your survival skills during the days of trekking in inhospitable landscape
and cross sand dune fields, rugged stony ground, dried up river beds, large
rocky outcrops and wide gushing rivers with your camels in the same way
the Berber communities do!
Enjoy delicious Moroccan meals and then rest under the starred sky during
the night or sleep in a Berber tent if the weather requires. Throughout the
trek you will gain an understanding of the Berber way of life and learn about
important survival skills in the desert, such as how to cook bread in the sand,
how to navigate by the stars and where to find water. Simply epic!
follow us! @NoahsArkHospice
www.facebook.com/NoahsArkChildrensHospice
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make a
Make a Memory
This winter, we will be asking you to make a memory.
We all have cherished memories from our
childhood. Whether playing on the streets until the
sun went down, climbing trees, getting covered in
mud, or jumping in puddles: these memories of play
and exploring the world will stay with us always.
Many of the seriously ill children that we work with
are unable to experience the world in quite the
same way. They require 24/7 care; many are
in and out of hospital and for some families,
simply getting out of the house can prove an
overwhelming task.
At Noah’s Ark, our Specialist Carers and our
inclusive activities create precious moments for
our children and families both in their homes and
at our events: precious moments which make
everlasting memories.
Help us make everlasting memories for the children and families
supported by Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.
#MakeAMemory
Text MAKE20 £10 to 70070
Precious Moments
Concert
Thursday 27 November, doors open 6pm
We are delighted to invite you to a magical evening of
festive music at our first Precious Moments Concert, which is
supported by Stephen James BMW. Enjoy performances from
local schools and community choirs – including singers from
the Crouch End Festival Chorus, Coldfall Primary School, and
Rhodes Avenue Primary School - under the musical leadership
of David Temple and Amber Salladin.
Launching our ‘make a memory’ campaign, this will be an
evening for all the family to enjoy with Christmas carols and
well known songs at one of the most beautiful churches in
North London, St James’ Church in Muswell Hill.
Doors will open at 6pm for a festive drinks reception and the
concert will begin at 7pm. Tickets are available to purchase
now for just £15 per adult/ £8 per child.
To purchase a ticket please visit:
https://preciousmomentsconcert-noahsark.eventbrite.co.uk
or call Gina on 020 8449 8877
make a memory campaign
Text MAKE20 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 NOW
8
Registered Charity No. 1081156
corporate ne
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in the Spotlight…
Accountancy Action
Accountancy Action is a
specialist in accountancy
and finance recruitment
across Hertfordshire,
London, Bedfordshire and
Cambridgeshire. Their
philosophy is “redefining
recruitment since 2001”
Why did your company decide to
start supporting us?
We chose to support Noah’s Ark as
you are a local charity and we know
that the money we raise will make
a real difference. It also helps that
Noah’s Ark engages with us regularly
and we know that you are thinking of
ways in which we can get involved.
We’re more than just helping people
find a new job. As a business, we’re
big believers in good citizenship
and promoting best practice at all
times. This includes being aware, and
ensuring our consultants are aware,
that our sector has a great deal of
impact on the lives and communities
around us. We feel this is often
forgotten in our sector.
How do you think we add value to
your brand and organisation?
The charity supports families and we
have a passionate, family culture
here at Accountancy Action. It is
also refreshing to support a children’s
charity that is not mainstream. You are
a bit quirky and niche, which reflects
our own brand and personality,
therefore we see the partnership as a
perfect match. Everyone at Noah’s
Ark is enthusiastic and we are always
made to feel that every donation, no
matter how big or small, counts. We
love the fact that representatives of
the charity visit us and engage with
our events. This is great for our clients
to understand more about why we
support Noah’s Ark and it also makes
us feel more involved with the charity.
How has Accountancy Action
supported Noah’s Ark?
Our clients really get behind our efforts
to support Noah’s Ark. Whether it is the
Annual Golf Day which raised over
£2,000 or our Easter egg collection for
the Easter Eggstravaganza where we
collected over 450 eggs, our clients at
Accountancy Action are so generous!
People, employees and clients, want
an opportunity to make a positive
difference. We pledged to donate
£2 for every new Twitter follower
of Accountancy Action during
Children’s Hospice Week, which raised
£1,000, and we held a Christmas
jumper day in which employees
attended their company meeting in
their best Christmas Jumper!
Would you encourage other
organisations to support Noah’s Ark in
the same way?
Most definitely. Noah’s Ark offers a great
corporate partnership and bespoke
ways of working together. The charity
looks at your business and fundraises
around key events in your diary.
Stephen James
Enfield
supports make a
memory appeal
Stephen James Enfield, an
authorised BMW dealer, is
currently supporting Noah’s Ark
Children’s Hospice. Throughout
the year they have auctioned
off their Head of Business,
held a golf day and charity
auction, and collected Easter
Eggs. We are also grateful they
are supporting our Precious
Moments Concert in November.
Morgan Stanley
Clifford Chance
Charity
Football
Cup
Twelve city legal
firms gathered for the
Morgan Stanley Clifford
Chance Football Cup to show
off their football skills and raise
money for charities including
Noah’s Ark. They raised over
£23,000 of which £4,250 went to
Noah’s Ark. Thank you!
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Spending time as a family:
Bubbles, singing and laughter
In July, 113 family members attended our annual ‘Summer Ball’ party. We
worked with three organisations that specialise in providing inclusive activities.
Performers from charity ‘Spread a Smile’ entertained families with imaginative
magic, singing and story-telling,
‘Bag Books’ provided sensory story
sessions and ‘Movers and Shakers’
held a lively music activity with
singing, clapping and movement.
Throughout the day, the children,
parents and carers could also
try arts and crafts, get their faces
painted and play video games
on the Wii and PS4. A highlight for
everyone was the bubble station
which provided lots of fun, smiles
and laughter.
did you know?
• We are able to take referrals
directly from families as well as
professionals.
• Once a referral has been
accepted a member of our
Family Link Team will visit the
family to talk about what
support or service might be
helpful.
• We look at the needs of the
whole family.
• Our Care Team works together
to create an individual support
plan for the family.
• Every family has access to a
Family Link Worker, family days
and sibling groups for brothers
and sisters over the age of six.
• Families with a greater need
for support may be offered
a family support volunteer
or respite from one of our
specialist carers.
Building confidence and teamwork at
Sibs Weekend Away
Our model of care is holistic. We understand the ripple effects of having
a life-limited or life-threatened child in the family and support the whole
family including siblings.
Twenty young people enjoyed a weekend of rafting, quad biking and
outdoor pursuits at the fifth annual Siblings Weekend Away in August. As
well as being great fun, the outdoor challenges provided an opportunity
to build teamwork skills, gain confidence and make new friends. The
Sibs weekend away, together with other events throughout the year,
allow these children and young people to prepare for what may be
difficult times ahead. The weekend helps to foster close and supportive
relationships between the siblings. A big thank you to Skanska Balfour
Beatty for supporting the Weekend Away.
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Registered Charity No. 1081156
• Our Parents’ Group meets
six times a year and offers
opportunities for parents to
share worries and solutions, and
to socialise over lunch. The
sessions are facilitated by the
Family Link Team, and a crèche
is provided.
We care 24/7
A day on the farm
Twenty five children and their families
enjoyed a trip to Belmont Children’s
Farm in August.
This event enabled the children we
support to enjoy fresh countryside
air away from the city. Many of the
children make regular visits to the
hospital so outings like these allow
a break from their routine and help
towards their development.
A day of inclusive sports
Every child deserves to play and feel included. We know, however,
there are barriers to play and leisure opportunities for life-limited and
life-threatened children, despite their parent’s best efforts.
Every year we organise a Sports Day encompassing a range of
inclusive sporting and leisure activities.
Physical activity is so important for
children’s psychological wellbeing
and development, because without
sufficient play opportunities, seriously
ill children are at risk of being isolated
from their peers.
The trip allowed the children to learn
about animals outside the classroom
setting, since these opportunities are
not always accessible to them. One
participant is visually impaired, and
spent half an hour with Volunteer Leon
listening to the different bird songs.
Belmont Children’s Farm was
chosen especially because of its
accessible facilities. Laura Bridle,
Family Activities Worker, made sure
the tractor rides were adapted to
ensure we could accommodate
all our wheelchair users.
This year, 51 family members took
part in our Sports Day which was held
at Ashmole Academy in Southgate
in July. During the morning the children and their families had the
opportunity to take part in a variety of sports activities including sitting
volleyball, accessible tennis and cheerleading, suitable for a range of
abilities and all wheelchair friendly. In the afternoon they finished with
relay races and a certificate presentation.
Memory Day
It is important for Noah’s Ark families to
have a time to remember the children
who have died and to celebrate their
cherished lives. As part of a developing
service for bereaved families, our
fourth annual memory event was held
in September and was attended by
parents, siblings and relatives. Families
shared poems and tributes, and lit
candles in memory of their children. We
are grateful to Christchurch School in
High Barnet for providing the venue and
to all those who attended who made it
such a special occasion.
Music Session
at Arts Depot
did you know?
• In the last five years we have
increased the number of
families we support annually
by three-fold, from 56 families
in 2009 to 171 in 2014 to date.
• It currently costs £26,000 a
week to run our services
and we only get 10% from
statutory funding.
Robbie and a group of children
enjoyed a jamming session with
their specialist carers.
make a memory campaign
Text MAKE20 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 NOW
• We are only reaching 20% of
those needing our help.
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Vacancies
An evening with Chief
Executive Ru Watkins
Our new Chief Executive, Ru
Watkins, held a meet and greet
evening with our volunteers at
Stephens House & Gardens in
Finchley in October.
Ru was keen to meet with the
volunteers, so that he could
present his exciting plans for the
development of Noah’s Ark, and
share how volunteers can get
involved.
Noah’s Ark will focus on the
investment and training of our
most important resource; our staff
and volunteers. A part of the
plan is to provide a development
pathway for our volunteers across
all areas of our work that will allow
them to learn new skills.
He said: “Noah’s Ark has reached
an important milestone in its
development. This year, we have
been supporting 124 children and
152 families as a whole, including
33 bereaved families. However, we
know we are only reaching 20% of
those needing our help. Because
of this, it is our intention to expand,
by growing and developing our
programme of community and
home-based care. Allied to this
expansion, we will be increasing
our outreach and volunteer
programmes. We strive to be the
best at everything and recognise
that our volunteer workforce is a
key asset in achieving this.”
The evening also included a
feedback session, which allowed
the volunteers to share their views
and ask any questions.
Given its success we will be
holding more events like this in
the future.
Volunteers in action
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Registered Charity No. 1081156
We have two internships to support
us during our exciting period of
growth. Please get in touch if you
are interested!
Fundraising Intern
If you are keen to gain experience
working in a fast paced,
professional fundraising team and
you have good business acumen,
this is the job for you! You will play
a pivotal role supporting our Senior
Corporate Fundraiser and helping
Noah’s Ark’s growth in corporate
fundraising.
How to apply: Email CV and
cover letter to Sarah Cadogan at
[email protected]
Marketing &
Communications Intern
Are you a marketing and
communications graduate with
impeccable communication and
marketing skills looking to gain
experience in the third sector? We
are offering a six month unpaid
placement to a conscientious,
self-starter who is ready to hit the
ground running!
How to apply: Email CV and cover
letter to Ghazal Tipu at
[email protected]
Deadline: 30 November 2014 for
both internships
Get Involved
Family Support Volunteers
in the Spotlight…
Clare, Family
Events Volunteer
CMI Sustainable Business Manager, Clare
Parsons, has been an Events Volunteer for
the last three and half years with us.
Why did you choose to volunteer for
Noah’s Ark?
I learned about the charity when
I met a member of the Noah’s Ark
team and knew that I could help
make a tangible difference to
the families. I also wanted to do
something for a charity outside of
my corporate work.
Tell us about the support you
provide for the children and families
at events?
I provide support mainly at sibling
events. I help with transport, escort
siblings in taxis, oversee events, get
involved with what the kids are
doing and make sure they enjoy
themselves. I like the ongoing
relationships – it’s lovely to see the
same families again, and pick up
conversations.
Which events have you volunteered
at recently?
Most recently, we did a scavenger
hunt at Stratford Westfield. Before
that, we had an animation day and
also visited White Hart Lane which
was great fun. What was really
good was the Sibs Weekend Away.
It was amazing to watch the kids on
zip wires, mountain bikes and giant
swings!
How do the events help the siblings
of the seriously ill child?
It gets them out of the home
environment and gives time to the
family to focus on the referred child.
It also helps them to have peers
who understand their situation. I’ve
Shop
addresses
seen siblings grow in confidence
as they get to know the staff and
volunteers – you can see their
development.
What do you get from your role as
Family Events Volunteer?
It’s great to spend time with the
kids because they’re hilarious
and I enjoy interacting with their
different personalities! I like to see
them getting used to the groups
and understanding what each
other is going through. It gives
me a different layer of respect for
those who face these challenges
everyday.
Would you recommend Family
Events volunteering and why?
Absolutely! I think the rewards for
the volunteer are equal to the
benefits you are giving to the
family. Noah’s Ark is an incredible
charity to work with.
Have you ever fundraised for
Noah’s Ark?
I did the Himalaya Trek last year.
It was an amazing and beautiful
trip, and I met a great bunch of
people. I had a year to fundraise
towards my target of £2,750 during
which time I did a 30-day Bikram
challenge, bucket collections and
talked to friends and family to raise
money. I actually beat my target
and raised £3,750! It was even more
motivating and special because
I volunteer - I can see how well
Noah’s Ark spends its money, so I
did as much as I could.
Family Support Volunteers support
Noah’s Ark children and families.
You can either support a family in
the home - playing, helping with
homework, gardening or ironing or support families at a Family Day,
Parent or Sibling Group. This is a highly
rewarding volunteer role, which can
also provide invaluable experience
working with children. If you are
interested in finding out more please
email Tom Smith, Family Support
Volunteer Manager, at tsmith@
noahsarkhospice.org.uk
Fundraising Events Volunteers
Are you looking to get experience in
fundraising? Then this is the role for
you! Come along to our fundraising
events throughout the year to help
run stalls, raise awareness and
perhaps even organise a fundraising
event of your own! Fundraising raises
vital funds to provide our services
for children and their families.
Please email Amy Walker, Volunteer
Development Manager, at awalker@
noahsarkhospice.org.uk for more
information.
Charity Shop or Warehouse
Volunteers
We have three busy shops in High
Barnet, Finchley Road, and a third in
Borehamwood where we recently
celebrated our first year! Volunteers
help to sort donated goods, restock
the shop floor, serve customers and
undertake a variety of roles that help
our shops to thrive. Volunteering at
our shops is a great way to make
new friends and give back to the
community. Please email Amy Walker,
Volunteer Development Manager, at
[email protected] for
more information.
Barnet 103 High Street, Barnet, Herts EN5 5TZ Tel: 020 8440 8656
Finchley Road 287 Finchley Road, London NW3 6ND Tel: 020 7443 7766
Borehamwood 24 Shenley Road, Borehamwood WD6 1DR Tel: 020 8953 4209
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tice board?
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Precious Moments Concert
27 November – St James Church,
Muswell Hill
We are delighted to invite you
to a magical evening of festive
music. Enjoy performances from
local schools and singers from the
Crouch End Festival Chorus. An
evening for all the family to enjoy.
ation on any
For further inform
or to tell us
of these events
ising please
about your fundra
raising team on
contact the fund
7.
020 8449 887
rkhospice.org.uk
Visit www.noahsa
..
fundraising pack
to download your
Virgin Money London
Marathon
Sky Dive
28 February 2015
Experience the unparalleled feeling
of freefalling at 120mph from
13,000ft! Do something exciting
today and get your family, friends
and colleagues involved.
26 April 2015
Could you help us build a team for
the London Marathon? If you are
applying for a place through the
ballot system and are looking for a
charity - choose Noah’s Ark. There
is no minimum sponsorship to raise if
you have your own place and you
will be part of an amazing team:
TEAM Noah!
Bupa London 10,000
25 May 2015 – St. James’s Park
Celebrate your May Bank holiday
raising money for your favourite
charity! A 10k run, the Bupa
London 10,000 starts and finishes in
St. James’s Park and follows an anticlockwise route around the City of
Westminster and the City of London.
Santa Run
Sahara: The Trek!
Collections, carol signing and bag
packing will take place throughout
December. So keep your eyes out
for the bright red t-shirts, Santa
hats and our fabulous collection
buckets!
21 – 28 March 2015 – Morocco
Join TEAM Noah for a 7-day
challenge trek in the fantastic
Moroccan Sahara, accompanied
by professional English-speaking
Berber guides, who have an
excellent knowledge of the region.
The guides are first aid trained
and will support you throughout
your journey. Trek 100km over 3 full
days in the desert; a truly beautiful
place to discover, while the
incredible star-strewn night skies are
unforgettable.
Haydn Chamber Orchestra
Easter EGGstravaganza
Christmas Collections
Throughout December
7 February 2015 – St Michael’s
Church, Highgate
Tickets are £25, £20, £15 reserved,
and £10 unreserved. For further
information, please contact
Pauline Treen on 020 8340 5643.
14
Registered Charity no. 1081156
3 – 4 April 2015 – Capel Manor
Gardens, London
Come down to Capel Manor
Gardens, Enfield, this Easter Bank
Holiday to keep your little bunnies
busy with lots of fun Easter activities.
Nightrider
6 June 2015 – London
Nightrider is a unique 100km moonlit
cycle ride past London’s iconic
landmarks. Starting at Alexandra
Palace, you will cycle over Tower
Bridge, through Canary Wharf,
around the buzzing Piccadilly
Circus; see the London Eye lit up
and cycle over the crossing on
Abbey Road.
✂
7 December – Victoria Park,
East London
Join 3,500 wannabe Santas and
descend on the capital on a
Christmas mission to raise vital funds
for us. This is a 5k or 10k sponsored
run with a difference. Do not miss
the Christmas Event of the year and
be part of Santa’s TEAM Noah!
designed by awarding-winning illustrator Jane Ray
We are thrilled that award-winning illustrator Jane Ray has
designed Noah’s Ark Christmas cards, and general cards for all
purposes. They are now available to purchase from our eBay store
and charity shops. You can also call and order the cards from
Rebekah Severn on 020 8449 8877. Buy now while stocks last!
Alison Goodman, Noah’s Ark Director of
Income Generation, and Jane Ray
Christmas card
Available in packs of 10 for £3.95
General card
Available in packs of 10 for £3.95
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If you would like to make a donation, please complete the form below. There is also an option to
become a regular giver, which helps us to plan for our future. Thank you for your support!
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HSBC, 171 Darkes Lanes, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1BU
Sort code: 40-37-19 Account No: 41368109
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, 3 Beauchamp Court,
Victors Way, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 5TZ
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Your gift already makes an
incredible difference, help us make
it go even further by completing
this Gift Aid declaration form. If you
are a UK taxpayer you can increase
the value of your donation, as Gift
Aid means that every pound you
give us, we will receive an extra 25p
from HMRC at no extra cost to you!
I would like Noah’s Ark Children’s
Hospice to treat all gifts of money
that I have made in the past 4
years and all future gifts of money
that I make from the date of this
declaration as Gift Aid donations.
To: The Manager
I confirm I have paid, or will pay
an amount of Income Tax and/
or Capital Gains Tax for each tax
year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least
equal to the amount of tax that all
charities or Community Amateur
Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate
to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax
year. All other taxes such as VAT and
Council Tax do not qualify. Further
information on Gift Aid can be found
on the HM Revenue and Customs
website. Please notify Noah’s Ark
if you: (1) Want to cancel this
declaration. (2) Change your name
or home address. (3) No longer pay
sufficient tax on your income and/
or capital gains. Please note: If you
pay Income Tax at the higher or
additional rate and want to receive
the additional tax relief due to you,
you must include all your Gift Aid
donations on your Self Assessment
tax return or ask HM Revenue and
Customs to adjust your tax code.
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Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Please pay Noah’s Ark Children’s
Hospice by Standing Order from the account detailed in this instruction subject
to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this
instruction may remain with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and, if so, details will be
passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.
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updates on Noah’s Ark. If you do not wish to receive this information, please tick this box
Please return your donation slip to:
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, 3 Beauchamp Court,
Victors Way, Barnet EN5 5TZ
Registered Charity no. 1081156