The Prizes
The Chatterboxes are grateful for the support of local businesses for donating the following prizes.
An original painting (Lulworth Castle) by internationally renowned artist Mirek J. Lucan worth over £1,000
https://www.lucanart.com
Bayside Fitness Club - 2 Adult Memberships for a Year (Value £744)
https://www.ymcabournemouth.org.uk/about/bayside-fitness-club
The Junction Leisure Centre - 2 Adult Memberships for a Year (Value £432)
https://www.thejunctionbroadstone.co.uk
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway - 2 Adult & 2 Child Day Admission Vouchers - Including Steam Train (Value £63.00)
Coastal Cruises - Poole Harbour & Islands Cruise for 4 (Value £56)
https://www.cityexperiences.com/poole/city-cruises/poole-harbour-island-cruise/
Hotel Collingwood - Sunday Lunch for two people (Value £51.90)
https://www.hotelcollingwood.co.uk/
Abbotsbury Swannery - 2 Adults & 2 Children (Value £39.80)
https://abbotsburyswannery.co.uk
Marsham Court Hotel - Bournemouth - Afternoon Tea for 2
(Value £38.00)
https://marshamcourthotel.co.uk/
Palmers Brewery - Bridport - 2 Brewery Tour Vouchers (Value £36.00)
Sand World - Weymouth - Day Family Ticket - 2 Adults & 3 Children (Value £33.50)
The Nothe Fort - Weymouth - Family Ticket (Value £24.50)
Two Rivers Meet - Fun Swim - 2 Adults & 3 Children (Value £21.45)
https://www.bcpleisure.co.uk/centres/two-riversmeet-leisure-complex
Stewarts Garden Centres - £20 Gift Voucher (Value £20.00)
Asda Poole - Gift Basket (Value £20.00)
https://storelocator.asda.com/south-west/poole/west-quay-rd
Moors Valley Country Park - One Day Car Pass (Value £16.50)
https://www.moors-valley.co.uk
Moors Valley Country Park - One Day Car Pass (Value £16.50)
https://www.moors-valley.co.uk
Pause Cat Cafe - Bournemouth - Free weekday entry for two
(Value £10.00)
All values were correct as at 11/11/24
The Cause
The Chatterboxes, is a youth action project run by young people with disabilities aged 11-25 years old. They aim to give disabled young people the opportunity to fulfil their potential whilst improving their well-being, self-esteem and independence.
They raise awareness of disabilities and create a community which is equal for all whilst being surrounded by friendship and laughter.
Activities include: Peer-to-peer support, Filmmaking, Magazine design, Cookery, Arts and crafts and much more! AQA Awards are also completed by members as well as using a peer mentoring scheme throughout our projects.
Young members also deliver awareness workshops/ training in the community, create youth friendly literature and organise community awareness events.
There is a focus on transitions and supporting members to build skills to help them in the future.
Over 52 young people attend each week.
As a project we support young people with disabilities such as Autism, Learning Disabilities, visual impairments, Down Syndrome to name a few and have seen a year-on-year increase in young disabled people accessing the project with complex issues. Due to not meeting threshold requirements, many disabled young people are not able to access additional support through statutory services.
Sadly, we see this rise continuing but as a project aim to be able to provide 1:1 support and guidance to individual young people and their family.
The range of issues included are:
• Child sexual exploitation and the understanding of consent.
• Self-harm and Suicidal thoughts
• School exclusion/ off rolling
• Drugs / Alcohol and other addictions
• Mental Health issues including anxiety
• Sexuality: LGBT+ identity.
We want a community in which disabled children and young people’s needs are met, aspirations supported and their rights respected. We want them to experience inclusion in every aspect of their lives, achieve their full potential, and being partners, alongside their families in developing The Chatterbox Project.
One of our attendees said this of the Chatterboxes.
“I have Cerebral Palsy and due to being bullied at school I suffered with depression, was unsociable and lonely and struggled making new friends. And then I found The Chatterboxes. They have helped me so much in terms of making new friends, building my confidence and keeping me from going back to that dark place. I believe everyone needs a place like The Chatterboxes. A place where we are all accepted no matter who we are or what we've been through.”
It costs YMCA Bournemouth over £115,000 per year to run the group for these amazing young people.
This prize draw is just one of the ways we are raising funds to keep the group going.