Dear All

We hope that this year has started well for you and you feel ready for all the challenges it will bring.

We face the challenge of raising enough funds to run our Summer Schools this year so, as promised last month, I am launching our 2007 Summer School Appeal. Please read on for a number of interesting ideas.

Bike Ride

Our Reigate to Brighton Bike Ride will be on Sunday 24th June. Not only do we need riders but also people to help man the checkpoints along the route and a driver for the minibus to take riders up Ditchling beacon!(for those too weary to do it by themselves!!) For more details, sponsorship forms, enquiries etc please contact Julia

Deaf Awareness Week

This is held from the 7th to 13th May. The signing lobby always seem to get lots of publicity during this week as the media like to show something “different”.

We thought this year we would try to address the balance by producing a school pack for Primary and Secondary Schools to include an assembly pack and useful tips and information for making the most of situations for deaf children in the classroom.

If you would like a pack for your child’s school, please contact us asap to let us know you’re interested. Packs should be ready by March.

Deaf awareness week is also a good time to do some fundraising , so if you need an excuse to hold a coffee morning or dinner dance why not coincide it with that week?

Family Stories

We are in the process of updating our literature and would love some of your stories, anecdotes, tips etc. that we maybe able to include. Connevans have very kindly donated a Pink Clock which is just new on the market. For every story, anecdote etc we will enter your details into a draw for the clock and the winner will be picked out at the end of March, so please get writing now. It would be great to have some pictures as well.

Questions

Have you got any burning questions that need answering regarding your child’s deafness, education, audiology or just general behaviour etc. Please contact us and we will do our best to get them answered for you by our host of professionals and parents. Also see our new Frequently Asked Questions page

Regional Work

We are hoping to launch some fundraising activities in the following 3 regions: North West, East Midlands and Yorkshire/Humberside. Keep a look out for further details

We are also hoping to establish regional coordinators and teams in the South West, South East and West Midlands areas. Once we have established a team we will then be planning a Family Information Day in each region.

We have arranged meetings in the South West and the West Midlands, so if you live in this area and can help out in any way please follow the links above. There is more information about our regions, including maps, on the website.

Summer Schools

We have already got information out about our Summer Schools in July this year, please see our website for more information and complete the application form. Please let us know about anyone you think might benefit from attending one of the Summer Schools and we will send them the information. For those of you who have been to Pre-School don’t forget to book for the Primary Summer School once your child is 4.

Summer School Appeal

Summer Schools are always our biggest outlay, but as many of you know who have attended in the past, they are worth every penny. We have estimated it costs in the region of £40,000 to run the two pre-school and one primary Summer School. That’s a lot of money to raise, but I hope with your support we can do it.

How?

A good question!! And I would welcome your own ideas and suggestions but for the time being here are some ideas I came up with:

Schools

Adopt DELTA as your school charity. We can provide information packs and collecting tins. Daniel Grave who is profoundly deaf from Taunton actually gave a power point presentation to his whole school about deaf awareness and how DELTA has helped him

The Naismith Family persuaded their school to adopt DELTA as their chosen charity for their Christmas collection and raised £350. Ask your school to do the same.

Sponsored Events

Why not join our very own Reigate to Brighton bike ride Sunday June 24th 2007. You could organise your own bike ride or organise another sponsored event? Marcus Johnston organised a sponsored bike ride in Cheshire and raised £2,023 . If you’re not particularly energetic, why not have a Snookathon/Darts challenge/Eating competition?!

Nadia Timms attended Winchester summer school last year and was so inspired she wanted to give something back. Her idea is to do a sponsored slim and raise money for DELTA: we’ll keep you informed as to how she gets on.

Rotary/ Round Table

Why not contact your local branch and ask them to sponsor a family at summer school or an information day for families in your region

Local Masonic Lodges

The Masons give thousands to local and national charities. Find out if there’s a Masonic lodge near you and put in an appeal

Work place

Many workplaces will sponsor you £ for £ when you raise money for your nominated charity. Find out if your company do something like this or do they have a charity fund? Often they will support their employee’s choice of Charity if they know they have been helped in some way.

Collection Tins

Ask your local newsagents/post office/shops to have one of our collecting tins

Brownies/Cubs/Guides/Scouts

How about bag packing in your local supermarket? All you need is some willing volunteers one Saturday and some collecting tins at each till.

Give each child a full smartie box, once they’ve eaten the smarties ask them to fill it up with change

Sell your story

Lots of Women’s magazines like to feature real life stories and will pay for the privilege. Why don’t you write an article about your child and how DELTA has helped them.

Busking

Are you a brilliant musician/singer or know someone who is?

Why not have a go at busking or get a group of you together to busk. It’s amazing how successful you can be in a busy shopping centre on a Saturday. (You may need to get a licence first, we can advise)

Students

Lots of our YDAG’s are students, so why don’t you ask your RAG organisers to adopt DELTA as one of their charities? 3 legged pub crawls are always good fun and you can get sponsored at the same time (not for the number of drinks you consume I might add!!!)

Birthdays/Anniversaries

If you’re approaching a special birthday or anniversary and don't want any presents. Why don't you ask your guests to make a donation to DELTA instead? The Robinsons did just that and raised a whopping £1,775 from their birthday celebrations.

Or if you’re having a big Birthday Bash, why don’t you include a raffle for DELTA during the event, it’s very easy to do and it’s amazing how generous people can be.

Book Clubs

Telford/Shropshire and Wrekin have organised their own book club. Where once you’ve bought and read your book, you donate the book and pay 50p for the next one. If you have a reception area or some space in an office at your work place this is a great way of raising money. More details of this will be in CHAT

Gift Aid & Pay Roll Giving

Don't forget that donations can be increased significantly in value by simply following our tips and ideas .

Barn Dance/Ball

Do you know a group of like minded people who like to have fun? Why don’t you organise a barn dance or Ball where you can raise money at the same time? Auctions and raffles are always good money spinners to add into an event like these.

I intend to have a totaliser so each month when money comes in we can add the amount and who it’s from and work out how much more is needed. We can also share ideas this way.

Please, please, please help. No matter how small your contribution it will all help towards our total.

We can provide information packs, collecting tins, literature, support letters etc but we need YOU to help us out and utilise your contacts and knowledge of where you can raise some money. Please tell us what you are doing and how it went.

Did you know ?

And finally did you know that two of the Osmond brothers have hearing impairments?

That’s it for now,

Please contact me or phone the office on: 0845 108 1437

With Very Best Wishes

Wendy x

DELTA (Deaf Education through Listening and Talking)
The Con Powell Centre
3 Swan Court
Cygnet Park
Peterborough PE7 8GX

Tel: 0845 108 1437 Fax: 01733 569322

web: www.deafeducation.org.uk

email: enquiries@deafeducation.org.uk

Registered Charity No: 1115603