It takes two to tutu
Our new celebrity backed campaign highlights the loneliness disabled children face with 45% regularly feeling lonely and 15% feeling lonely every single day. That means 270,000 disabled young people in the UK feel alone 365 days a year.
Help be the solution by supporting Flamingo Chicks. With our multi-faced programmes, we can provide opportunities for all.
Flamingo Chicks is a multi-award winning charity and inclusive community giving disabled and ill children the opportunity to explore movement through dance. From a small community group founded in 2013, we have become a national force championing inclusion for disabled children.
35,323 children have danced with us since we began and last year we did more than ever before:
- 11,589 children engaged in our sessions (up by 57%)
- Conducted 285 workshops (up by 20%)
- Hosted 106 regular classes (up by 26%)
- Empowered 40 Agents of Change, our youth advocacy group
- Welcomed 847 intergenerational volunteers, up by 48%
- Hosted 5 intergenerational tea dances and 3 Parent and Carer events
- Trained 23 individuals in Makaton, promoting communication inclusivity
- We also launched our brand new Mobile Stage and interconnecting canopy, bringing a riot of colour and sensory exploration, delivering 26 workshops!
We’ve kept up the momentum in 2024 diving straight into ‘robot term’ – underpinning all our sessions with a STEM sub-theme linked to the curriculum and sustainable development goals. We’ve delivered 2 advocacy hijacks at Downing Street and the Cabinet Office – raising awareness of the issues faced by families of disabled children and training up staff in inclusive practice.
This year is a huge milestone for us, OUR TENTH BIRTHDAY!
HOW WE HELP DISABLED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
We deliver ground-breaking inclusive programmes designed to support disabled children and their families through five core pillars:
1) inclusive dance classes
2) peer-to-peer support networking
3) intergenerational volunteering
4) youth-led advocacy
5) global outreach
These pillars unite creating support, systemic change and a fairer, more inclusive society.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO
This year, we want to raise a minimum of £20,000 to reach 11,000 children in 2024 and shine a spotlight on the importance of creating opportunities for disabled children to move and make friends.
Funds raised will enable us to:
- DELIVER inclusive and immersive classes, workshops, a tour and a free, on-demand virtual class reaching a total of 11,000 children
- SUPPORT parents and carers through supportive and educational events
- TRAIN others to share excellent practice
- ADVOCATE with powerful campaigns
This will include:
- 20 ‘Performance Deconstructed’ Stage Shows
Magical touring workshops delivered from our enchanting mobile, pop-up stage which has moving props, fabrics, smells, sounds and costumes to nurture confidence, imagination and curiosity. With new themes centered around conservation and technology, help engage our participants in immersive experiences that align with the National Curriculum and global sustainability goals.
- Volunteering for all - uniting the generations and enabling disabled people to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of giving back
Our Award winning Volunteer programme sees 847 intergenerational volunteers contribute to our work. We particularly encourage socially isolated, older and disabled volunteers to take part and we're committed to maintaining and growing this in 2024.
We also promote opportunities for generations to interact such as our unique tea dances which bring care home residents and younger Flamingo Chicks for carefree afternoons of dance, music and friendship.
- First ballet prosthetic
Working with Koalaa Prosthetics and our Agents Of Change, your support will enable us to design and create a new prosthetic for children with upper limb difference.
- Brand new Olympics and Paralympics virtual class featuring cameos from athletes!
An on-demand accessible 'active learning' dance class featuring Makaton, available for free. Great for schools or use at home.
- Training
We want to better showcase our techniques and up skill more people on inclusive practice to create a ripple effect of opportunities for disabled children, across more of the UK. Your support will enable us to develop our in-house training offer which includes Makaton training, inclusive dance practice and disability awareness.
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Please donate, fundraise and support our May 100 campaign to help us reach 11,000 children this year.
We also have a great selection of rewards to thank donors for supporting including CELEBRITY DESIGNED TUTUS! There's amazing creations from Lorraine Kelly, Andy Day and Amy Dowden amongst others.
For inspiration and to find out more about us, visit: flamingochicks.org/may100/