Our Mamma Mia ball is here

Hello Sunshine News readers,

I really don’t know how it’s happened but our annual ball is taking place this evening… EEEK! There is a good chance that whilst you’re reading this, our team will be making the finishing touches to the event and of course, topping up our tan and glamming ourselves up for a fabulous evening of fun, food and fundraising.

Our ball is such an exciting time for the team but by gosh I can’t even begin to explain how much time and planning goes into an event like this. We’re really looking forward to welcoming all our guests, together with event partners, St James’ Square Law Firm to the Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park this evening where we’ll be celebrating all things ABBA as this year’s theme is ‘I Have a Dream, The Mamma Mia Ball’.

It goes without saying that we’ll have full event coverage in next weeks column with our Fundraising and Events Coordinator Erin who has been a Super Trooper planning what I’m sure will be an astounding event where we hope to raise lots of Money Money Money for our children.

This week I wanted to share some wonderful news with you all. We are exceptionally grateful to have been awarded £5,000 from Home Group through their Community Benefits Project to enable us to continue to provide free of charge family events, parent and carer support sessions and training workshops throughout the region.

The sessions and events are a life line to many local families who care for children with complex and life limiting conditions, providing fun family time to make precious memories together. Regular readers will know that we also recently held our first ever parent and carer coffee morning which was a huge success.

It gave parents and carers the opportunity to come together and meet others who understand the barriers our families face. We want these sessions to continue and remain free to attend for the families we support because we know how hard these families have been impacted due to the cost of living crisis, and that this support is more vital now than ever before, so donations like this one from Home Group are vital.

Last week, families coordinator Bev, events fundraising Erin and I attended the Home Group Community Benefits Projects Celebration event at the Sunnybank Secret Garden in Newcastle’s West End (Which is a hidden gem in the heart of Pendower by the way).

The sun was shining as we met with other beneficiaries of the project and thanks to this donation, we are looking forward to working with Home Group on a series of family events in the coming months including a sensory play session in Newcastle and a family baking session in Gateshead!

Pictured are Home Group’s Gillian Roll Head of Strategy, Research and Product Innovation, who has been a fantastic supporter of The Chronicle Sunshine Fund and Nusheen Hussain Executive Director of Business Development, who is a brand new friend! It was great to chat to them about their new office base in Newcastle City Centre, One Strawberry Lane, which will have dedicated Community space in conjunction with Newcastle Connected Voice.

Charities like ours can use this space for events and meetings and given its city centre location, we know many of our families will join us there for future events.

That’s all from us this week! Be sure to check out our Facebook and Instagram for live updates from our ball this evening!

Siobhan x