Posted on Fri, 16 Aug 24

Horden Community Welfare Football Club and Junior Academy provides football training, coaching and physical exercise activities for disadvantaged children and young people within the community. In addition to this, the Club also promotes community participation and healthy recreation.

Horden Community Welfare Football Club and Junior Academy received a grant from the Hays Travel Foundation to fund football training and coaching sessions for disadvantaged children in the local area. The charity used their funding to fund the likes of Tuesday evening football training and weekend morning football league and cup fixtures for the Junior Academy. The funding was warmly received by Horden Community Welfare Football Club and Junior Academy, as the number of disadvantaged children participating in training is continuing to increase.

The Club stated that the feedback that was received from children and their parents was excellent with children saying the likes of “I like football and want to play with my friends in the same team” and “It’s great, I have met some new friends, and we enjoy playing football, it’s fun.”

Posted on Fri, 16 Aug 24

Orchestras Live is a charity that produces and coordinates life enhancing orchestral projects. The work of the charity is centred around the fact that everyone regardless of ability or socio-economic background, should be able to experience the rich benefits of orchestras.

Orchestras Live applied for a grant from the Hays Travel Foundation to fund their Our Music: Our Way project, a music project engaging children and young people from across Redcar and Cleveland. The aim of the project was to develop the musical and creative skills of children and young people, and give them the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience.

To prepare for the live performance, workshops began alongside a music leader, and two musicians from the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Together, the young people and musicians co-created 2 multi-movement pieces that were developed from the young people’s creative ideas, and showcased what they were proud of, and what they hoped for the future. The concert took place at Kirkleatham Walled Garden to an audience of family, friends and supporters of the project, where the audience were played original songs such as ‘Our Strength Remains’ and ‘I see a future here.’

The project was very well perceived by the participants with some stating that “It was one of the best nights of my life” and it was magical “having my ideas used in the final piece.”

Posted on Tue, 10 Oct 23

The Grand Appeal is a charity based in Bristol that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of sick children and their families at Bristol Children’s Hospital and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol. The Grand Appeal supports young patients through the toughest moments of their lives through vital projects and support services.

The Grand Appeal received a grant from the Hays Travel Foundation to support Forest School sessions for patients undergoing neurorehabilitation at Bristol Children’s Hospital. The funding helped children who have lengthy hospital stays away from family and friends, which can take its toll on their mental health. At the forest school set at Bristol Zoo, the children were given the opportunity to take part in wild arts and crafts activities, campfires, scavenger hunts and animal feeding. With the help of the activities, it allowed for self confidence to be boosted, as well as socialisation and motivation to be increased.

The project has been greatly received by the children who took part, as well as their parents with some saying that the project has “Improved mental health by getting out in nature” and “This service allows children to experience a ‘normal’ life outside of hospital.”