Local legs needed for Brighton Marathon

LOCAL legs are needed for the Brighton Marathon 2014 to help Meningitis UK/Meningitis Trust stamp out the deadly disease.

The national charity is urging people to take on Britain’s no. 2 marathon (after London) on Sunday, April 6.

Meningitis UK/Trust has 15 guaranteed places available for the event, which will see more than 18,000 participants, and independent runners can choose to lace up for the charity.

Full support will be given before and after the epic 26.2-mile challenge and runners receive a free running vest or T-shirt and information pack on how to prepare.

Meningitis UK/Trust South and South East community fundraiser Kelly Jobanputra said: “We hope locals will lace up for this fledgling challenge for us, so we can fight the dreaded disease on all fronts.

“Every penny our runners raise will help fund cutting-edge research to eradicate meningitis, support those touched by the disease and raise lifesaving awareness.”

The merged charity needs to raise over £10,000 every day to fund its life-saving and life-changing services.

Tragically, meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia continue to affect thousands of people in the UK every year and kill more children under five than any other infectious disease.

Meningitis can strike with incredible speed and the symptoms are notoriously difficult to detect, often being confused with flu.

To sign up or for more information, call Kelly Jobanputra on 0845 120 4766 or email kellyj@meningitis-trust.org.

I CAN’S CHATTERBOX CHALLENGE SINGALONG FOR UNDER 5’S HAS LAUNCHED

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN AT  

WWW.CHATTERBOXCHALLENGE.ORG.UK

I CAN, the children’s communication charity, has launched their 13^th Chatterbox Challenge event, the annual singalong for children in early years settings across the UK. With sponsorship from Openreach and TTS, and the continued support of Humf from the popular children’s TV show, I CAN are calling on parents and carers to encourage their child’s early years setting to register to make this year’s event the best yet.

Chatterbox Challenge: Sounds like fun with Humf develops the communication skills of children under 5 through songs and rhymes based on sounds, noises and even silence to highlight the difficulties faced by 1.2 million children in the UK with their speech, language and communication.

Children are sponsored to perform in front of families and carers and, thanks to the support of Openreach and TTS, the funds raised will enable I CAN to help more children who struggle to communicate and express themselves.

Chatterbox Challenge Week, when the majority of events will be held, is 10-16^th February 2014. Early years groups are encouraged to register now online (www.chatterboxchallenge.org.uk) to receive their free Chatterbox Challenge fundraising pack.

The activities in the pack are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and will develop a range of skills including attention and listening, one of the early learning goals.

Virginia Beardshaw, I CAN Chief Executive said, “The Chatterbox Challenge is a firm favourite in the early years calendar, when children under 5 learn nursery rhymes and take part in activities aimed at making them confident communicators. We are grateful to Openreach, TTS and Humf for their support in making this year’s event bigger than ever before.

 “The vital funds raised by children, their families and early years settings help I CAN in our work to support the 1.2 million children in the UK who have communication difficulties. We hope parents and carers will encourage their early years settings to register online and save Chatterbox Challenge Week in the diary.”

Liv Garfield, Chief Executive, Openreach, said, “Communication is at the heart of the Openreach business and we know how important it is for children to develop good communication skills to succeed in life. This is our seventh year sponsoring I CAN’s Chatterbox Challenge as part of our ‘First Mile’ programme. The Chatterbox Challenge is an engaging way for young children to develop their communication skills whilst helping raise vital funds for children who struggle with speaking and understanding. Openreach believe that by sponsoring the Chatterbox Challenge, more children will receive the help they need to get the best start in life.”

Catherine Jeffrey, Deputy MD, TTS Group Ltd said, “TTS are focused on providing quality, educational resources to early years settings. With children at the centre of everything we do, it is great to be involved with I CAN and the Chatterbox Challenge – helping children across the UK to develop their communication skills. With TTS vouchers and a nursery kit out to be won, we hope many early years groups will register and fundraise for a chance to win.”

Rebecca Harvey, Head of Marketing from Entertainment One said, “We’re delighted that Humf will once again be featured on a range of activities that will engage children on this very important issue and drive support for this year’s Challenge.”

Chatterbox Challenge: Sounds like fun with Humf activities have been written by I CAN speech and language therapists and teachers and activities are linked to the EYFS prime areas Communication and Language and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The Challenge activities can be used with all children, including those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Speech, language and communication are crucial for reading, learning in school, for socialising and making friends, and for understanding and expressing emotions or feelings. 1.2 million children in the UK have long-term difficulties with their speech, language and communication and will need extra support. Chatterbox Challenge: Sounds like fun with Humf raises vital funds for I CAN’s work with children with SLCN.

Chatterbox Challenge: Sounds like fun with Humf week is 10-16^th February 2014 but groups can also hold their Challenge at any time convenient to them. Groups are encouraged to register online today at www.chatterboxchallenge.org.uk. 

WWT Arundel makes the natural world accessible to all

Finding a day out that accommodates all the  family’s needs doesn’t have to be a nightmare -  what if we told you there was a way to combine close-up natural encounters with gentle paths, wheelchair access, mother and baby facilities, rest and shade stops and beautiful views?

Well look no further.

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is an easy, safe place to enjoy the wonders of wetland wildlife. Adults and children can have nose-to-beak encounters with some of the world’s most rare birds, surrounded by stunning scenery. And it’s not just birds – WWT Arundel is famous for its water voles, too!

Spending time near or on water is an essential day-out experience and makes for unforgettable memories – you can adventure on it, gaze at it and marvel at the myriad forms of wildlife that cluster round it – water is never boring!

There is always something to see and do at a WWT Arundel Wetland Centre, 364 days of the year and you’ll find getting about and joining in is easy for everyone. We offer a variety of different experiences – you can choose as much or as little activity as you want. Fully accessible experiences range from Wetland Discover Boat Safari, pond dipping stations and bird hides that guaranteed close-up wildlife encounters. Throughout the year, WWT Arundel Wetland Centre has a programme of indoor and outdoor events which are perfect for nature lovers.

While we can’t guarantee the weather, you’re never far from shelter at WWT Arundel. There is ample free parking, comfortable hides, easy buggy and wheelchair friendly pathways, wheelchairs and walkers available to use (donations welcome), fully stocked cafes (with moveable seating) , gift shops and disabled and parent & baby facilities. Great facilities mean all your needs are catered for, alongside the wild and wonderful experience of being able to envelop yourself in the natural beauty of the wetland environment.

Entry to WWT Arundel  starts at £11.50 per adult, or £30.90 for a family (essential helpers are admitted free of charge and assistance dogs are welcome), which contributes to WWTs vital conservation work in England and all around the world – so by having a great time at our centres, you’re also supporting conservation.

For a full list of specific centre facilities and directions, go to http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/arundel

Nostalgic Tufty artwork on sale to the general public for the first time in 60 years

Colourful artwork featuring retired road safety squirrel Tufty Fluffytail, who is celebrating his 60^th birthday this year, are now available to own as a print, postcard, greetings card, mug and fridge magnet.

It is the first time that vintage artwork featuring the red squirrel with his signature blue and yellow clothing has been released to the public for sale at www.rospaprints.com.

The 12 Tufty images, which are mainly from the 1960s, feature the squirrel and many of his companions, including Policeman Badger and Willy Weasel, in a variety of road safety scenarios. The creatures, which were created by the late Elsie Mills MBE in 1953 to help communicate simple safety messages to children, are also portrayed on the beach and at a bonfire party, in recognition of how Tufty branched out into other aspects of safety.

In addition to the Tufty artwork, 10 iconic safety posters dating from the 1950s-1970s, have also been released. They cover a variety of safety topics including cycle safety, with a 1967 message to cyclists not to become trapped by turning traffic. For pedestrians, there is a 1970 appeal to stop, look around and listen before crossing. A 1965 poster urges children to always do their kerb drill, while a 1964 winter safety poster has the message: “Ice and snow, mind how you go.”

Among the artists behind the artwork are Gus and Leonard Cusden.

The newly released items come from a long-forgotten collection of more than 700 historical safety posters and Tufty artwork, which RoSPA staff found while clearing out an old warehouse in 2011. The entire RoSPA Collection - as the archive has become known - features items dating from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Forty images went on public display and were released for sale last year, with the new release of images taking the total number available from www.rospaprints.com to 62.

All of the images are available to purchase in a variety of forms, from prints and canvases to mugs, fridge magnets, greetings cards and postcards. Visitors to the print-on-demand website can preview their chosen items and add messages inside greetings cards.

Tom Mullarkey, RoSPA chief executive, said: “When we first discovered our forgotten archive, we were astonished at the wide variety of styles used by the different artists and the high calibre of their work. We also saw that their messages remained valid, despite the passing of time.

“We are immensely proud of this aspect of our charity’s history, with artistic talent promoted over many decades and a continuous effort to improve the quality of everyday life.

“We are delighted to make some of our images, particularly those of Tufty, available to the public and we hope people will enjoy them and be inspired by them, as we are. To all those with an interest in or working in the field of accident prevention, we hope the posters provide a reminder that you are part of something that has a tremendous legacy and that this will encourage you to press on to save lives and reduce injuries both now and in the future.”

Visit www.rospaprints.com to see the full collection of artwork available to the public.

Tufty had a long and varied career in road safety. In 1961, the Tufty Club was set up as a nationwide network of local groups through which millions of children learned about road safety. At its peak, there were 24,500 registered Tufty Clubs. Tufty’s image was changed to keep up with the times in 1979 and again in 1993. Then in 2007, he made a guest appearance in the cult BBC series Life on Mars.  

Tufty has his own web page - www.tuftyclub.org.uk - and still receives emails from former Tufty Club members. Although Tufty is now retired, RoSPA remains active in tackling the principal cause of death among children - accidents - through its work on the road, in the home, at leisure and at school. See www.rospa.com for more details.  

RoSPA still produces a range of Tufty educational materials for use by children’s groups, teachers and road safety professionals, available at www.rospashop.com.