SUPPORTERS'
newsletter
Summer 2024
still time to
get your tickets!
Welcome to our Summer newsletter
As the end of term is drawing closer we have been reflecting on the work we have done in schools this last school year. It has been wonderful to have been able to work in over 60 different schools across Exeter, East and Mid Devon delivering Grief Support, as well as training over 25 school staff in supporting bereaved children. Read on for some insights into our one-to-one work and future training.
It has been a positive term for fundraising too. We have been really encouraged by our local businesses and individuals who have taking on some great challenges to support our work – thank you! More on this in the newsletter, along with some upcoming events you could get involved with!
We have also been delighted to have been successful in applying for a National Lottery Community Fund grant! We are really proud of this achievement. This funding will help us cover some of the costs of running our charity over the coming few years and in particular will help us with providing one-to-one support and developing group work. We continue to keep our focus on fundraising alongside this to ensure we can cover all of our costs both this year and into the future.
We hope you enjoy reading this update and if ever you’d like to find out more about our work, come and visit, or have a talk at your community group/place of work, please do get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!
Have a great summer and hope to see some of you at our Silent Disco on the 25th July!
Nicky
Nicola Clarke - Balloons CEO
PS - I thought you’d like read to see this short write up from one of our volunteer Grief Support Workers about using arts and crafts as part of the sessions.
Get your gold lamé trousers out and dust off your dancing shoes as our Silent Disco is booked for Thursday 25th July. Please join us for 3 hours of fun dancing to music from either the 80s or 90s or, if that is not your thing, there will be a request channel for anything from Rock and Roll to Garage and Hip Hop – your choice!
Tickets are £17.50 and can be purchased by clicking on the disco ball above!
There will also be a fabulous raffle on the night with fantastic prizes on offer including:
- Overnight stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Exeter
- River Cruise with Stuart Line Cruises
- Round of Footgolf for 4 players
- Afternoon tea for 2 at the Exeter Golf and Country Club
children and young people supported so far this year, through our one-to-one sessions delivered by our team of volunteers.
“One of the things I love about delivering Grief Support Sessions is giving children and young people the space to talk and explore their memories and feelings surrounding their bereavement. I enjoy being creative and it has been great to bring this to the sessions. Here is an example of a memory box which a young person made in a session recently, they wanted to use it to put in small items, photos and written memories of their loved one who died. They told me that they enjoyed making things in the sessions because ‘talking whilst doing something made talking easier’.”
Fundraising
roundup!
There are so many ways to fundraise for us - here are a few examples of fundraisers that have set themselves a challenge!
Mark and Sam - 100km Coastal Walk in 24 hours
Esmée and Élise - walking the length of Devon from south to north
Ruby - Sponsored Swim for 1 mile
Corrine - Wingwalk
Exeter RAG - Skydive
thank you so much!
Comforting quilts
These quilts are kindly made and donated to Balloons by Project Linus. We often give these out at the end of our sessions to bring a feeling of reassurance and comfort. Here are some words from a child about what our support meant to them...
Balloons Charity Skydive
Saturday
14th Sept
2023
There’s still time to join our team doing a tandem skydive, with Skydive Buzz, at Dunkeswell!
If you are interested in signing up to the challenge and raising funds for Balloons at the same time – email admin@balloonscharity.co.uk to find out more
Scan or click here to donate to our work! We are so grateful for all contributions.
Last month we celebrated ‘Volunteers Week’ by holding our summer social to say thank you to our wonderful Grief Support Workers, Trustees and Supporters. It was a great chance to get together, hear some moving stories and celebrate the work that has been achieved. We are so grateful for all they do and this was the perfect chance to say thank you. If you’d like to join our team of volunteer Grief Support Workers – click on the picture to find to more about our next training course.
Balloons (Devon) - Registered charity number: 1158666 | www.balloonscharity.co.uk
“I really loved working with A. She was kind and good to talk to. I really liked the box we created for Nana and Grandpa and all of my gifts. Especially my quilt which has lots of my fav things and squares for Nana and Grandpa. I felt more confident after speaking to A and looked forward to Fridays when she would come in to see me. I will miss her. I do feel better after having Balloons visit me.”
Contact us
If you would like to get in touch with us, please use the details below - we’d love to hear from you:
Telephone 01392 982570 or email admin@balloonscharity.co.uk