A better life in childhood

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ContentsOur ethos

How it all started

Variety in the UK

Whom we help, how we help, why we are needed

Variety’s Sunshine Coach Programme

Variety’s Wheelchair Programme

Days out with “Variety at Work”

Grants for specialist equipment

Children’s playgrounds

Children’s hospitals and hospices

How we can help you

How you can help us

Ways to give

Get your company involved

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Our ethos

Variety is about increasing positive experiences for children throughout the UK who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged.

Variety is not about stopping a crisis or preventing a drama; it’s about providing both practical help (including coaches, wheelchairs and specialist equipment) and memorable childhood experiences.

Variety is about helping children to have fewer bad days and more great days by providing the independence, freedom and dignity that enable them to make the most of their childhood.

Variety plays a key role in building the self esteem of children who are disadvantaged and in making them the people who they become.

How it all started

On Christmas Eve 1928, as the Sheridan Square Movie Theater in Pittsburgh, USA, was about to close, a month old baby was found abandoned.

A note pinned to the baby girl’s dress read:

“Please take care of my baby. Her name is Catherine. I can no longer care for her. I have eight others. I have always heard of the generosity of showbusiness folk and I pray to God that you will look after her.”

It was signed “A heartbroken mother.”

All efforts by the police failed to find the mother, despite publicity from the local media.

The Variety Club had recently been formed by a group of businessmen in the entertainment industry. The members took the decision to oversee the baby’s upbringing and education. They named her Catherine Variety Sheridan.

From that unexpected beginning has grown Variety, the Children’s Charity, which helps millions of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children in many countries around the world.

Variety in the UKVariety was started in the UK in 1949 with a dinner at The Savoy attended by film moguls, agents and celebrities, all eager to freely donate their time and talent to help raise funds for children.

Since then, more than £270 million has been raised by Variety in the UK, funding over 5,300 Sunshine Coaches, almost the same number of wheelchairs, thousands of grants to individual children and support for children’s hospitals, hospices and youth clubs.

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Whom we help, how we help, why we are needed

How we help

Care for sick children.Variety funds specialist children’s hospitals and hospices. Children cared for at home may need essential specialist equipment to improve development and quality of life and to reduce anxiety for the children and their parents.

Personal development can sometimes be improved by the provision of equipment that encourages soft or sensory play.

Amongst the many ways Variety helps newborn babies is providing those suffering with acute respiratory conditions with special ventilators that are an effective, less invasive and life-saving method of stabilising breathing.

Mobility and development for disabled children.A wheelchair, customised to each child’s condition, provides so much more than mobility. It enables the child to gain confidence through true independence and so to join in more activities with friends, family and at school.

Organisations catering for children with special needs can apply for a Variety Sunshine Coach that will enable their children to explore new places, experience new activities and become more integrated with their local community.

Memorable childhood experiences.Each year, tens of thousands of disabled or disadvantaged children are taken on free trips organised by the Variety at Work team, supported by its volunteers and sponsors. Through these trips the children enjoy and experience together places they would not normally have the opportunity to visit, such as the seaside, a circus or a theme park.

Variety also funds equipment for youth clubs and organisations, particularly in disadvantaged communities, to enable them to expand their services and so attract more young people, keeping vulnerable youngsters off the streets.

Through our Swings and Roundabouts programme, we champion fair play for all by redeveloping public playgrounds with equipment that is accessible for both disabled and able bodied children, encouraging them to play together.

Why we are needed

Sickness.Children with acute and chronic conditions require advanced and specialist medical care. Two thirds of children who die have a chronic condition.

Amongst the hospitals that Variety helps fund, the Variety Children’s Hospital, at King’s College Hospital, is a world leader in fields such as liver transplants and neurosurgery for children. Each year the hospital treats over 40,000 children and young people for a wide range of acute and chronic diseases.

Disability.Life for a disabled child can be very challenging. Caring for them places a great strain on the parents: physically, emotionally and financially.

There are almost 800,000 disabled children in the UK.

Only 8% of the families receive help from their local Social Services.

The cost of raising a disabled child is three times greater than it is for a child without a disability.

The time required for caring often makes employment difficult or impossible for the parents.

A recent study showed that one in six parents of disabled children have had to go without food, one in five without heating; a quarter of the children have gone without specialist equipment or adaptations and 86% have gone without leisure activities and days out.

Disadvantage.Despite the UK being one of the world’s most advanced economies, the number of children living in poverty in this country is 3.5 million, 45% of them in severe poverty.

These children are not only disadvantaged in health and education, but struggle to break out of the cycle of poverty that is imposed upon them - and thus find it hard to reach their potential.

In the most deprived areas of the country, there is only one youth club per 14,000 young people.

Whom we help

Variety helps children across the UK who are sick, disabled or disadvantaged.

By helping these children, we also help the parents, siblings, carers, schools and organisations that contribute to the shaping of their childhood.

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Variety’s Sunshine Coach Programme

Our famous Sunshine Coaches are provided for schools and organisations that cater for children with special needs.

Having their own coach enables them to plan trips with more confidence. They no longer have to worry about public transport: the costs, timetables or suitability for children with disabilities and those who use wheelchairs.

Half our Sunshine Coaches are used five days a week or more.

Trips are organised for recreational, educational and vocational purposes, including accessing the mainstream curriculum at partner schools.

This is immensely valuable in allowing inquisitive young minds to explore places they would otherwise never visit, often acquiring new skills and improving self confidence.

Visiting other schools and participating in the local community brings the dual benefit of improving social and inter-personal skills for the children, as well as developing, in the wider community, a better understanding of, and empathy with, children with special needs.

“The Sunshine Coaches make a huge difference to the lives of all our students. They are used every day and without them we would not have access to the wide variety of activities that they make possible.

Our Sunshine Coaches ensure that students are able to enjoy experiences not normally available to them, enriching both their everyday lives and their education.”

- Sir Tom Finney Community High School, Preston

“Classes use the coach to go on ‘Out and About’ activities and trips. It’s also used to take children on placement trips with mainstream schools. This has the double benefit of helping our pupils to develop their social skills and helping mainstream pupils to mix with children who have special needs.

Many of our families find it difficult to take their children out due to concerns about the public’s perception of their child’s behaviour. The coach gives us the opportunity to allow children to experience activity centres, parks, farms, zoos etc., which otherwise they would never visit.”

- Hatton School, Woodford Green

5,300OVER

SUNSHINE COACHES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY VARIETY

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Variety’s Wheelchair Programme

A wheelchair provides so much more than mobility. Powered wheelchairs liberate disabled children. They enable them to be far more independent, which they demonstrate by joining in more activities with friends, familyand at school.

Many of the emotional benefits come from not feeling reliant on someone else; being able to do more for themselves.

With a powered wheelchair:

100% 97% 87%of families report they are able to do

more togetherof children show significant and sustained improvement in their sense of well-being

of children show increased confidence or self-esteem

Working with medical specialists and technicians we first make sure we fully understand each child’s condition and requirements. Only then can we provide a wheelchair specially adapted to meet his or her specific needs.

We also help young people with the ability and ambition to compete in wheelchair sports to make their dreams a reality, by providing sports wheelchairs. Some have gone on to compete at the highest level, becoming Paralympic medal winners.

Mia’s story

Seven year old Mia has Osteogenesis Imperfecta. It is a rare brittle bone disease causing muscle weakness and joint looseness. Mia experiences considerable pain and is unable to walk long distances.

Her mother, her main carer, suffers from Bi-Polar disorder.

Despite her problems, Mia is a determined little girl. The large buggy she had been using to travel short distances made her look and feel babyish; something she was unkindly teased about at school. To avoid the teasing, she stopped going on the school trips she loved.

Mia’s family and physiotherapist realised that what she really needed was a powered wheelchair, which is just what Variety provided. Her independence filled Mia with new confidence and self esteem. Now she joins in more with friends, goes on family outings and those much treasured school trips.

“We, as a family, can never thank you enough for helping us raise money to buy the wheelchair. We really are so grateful. Lots of love, Mia & family”.

Georgia’s story

Fifteen year old Georgia was born with a rare skeletal dysplasia, known as dwarfism. Her bones permanently fused together when she was a toddler. She used to walk unaided but her condition worsened. Now she is unable to bear her own weight or lift simple objects like a kettle.

At just 2ft 8ins tall, many aspects of everyday life are literally out of reach for Georgia. What she desperately needed was a specialised Snapdragon wheelchair costing £18,000. This would provide much needed mobility and enable her to adjust her height, to eat at the table or to reach a cupboard.

Variety heard about Georgia’s plight when she appeared with her parents on a morning TV programme to launch their own appeal for the wheelchair. Variety immediately stepped in, identified her exact needs and agreed to provide her wheelchair.

Georgia is believed to be Britain’s smallest teenager and, despite the limitations of her condition, she remains determinedly upbeat.

“I forget I’m small and see myself the same aseveryone else” says Georgia.

Now her new wheelchair will enable her to do more of the things that everyone else takes for granted.

4,000OVER

WHEELCHAIRS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY VARIETY

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Days out with “Variety at Work”

Our Variety at Work programme provides memorable childhood experiences that inspire personal development and improve social interaction.

Each year Variety takes tens of thousands of children on fun or educational days out. The trips are free, thanks to our volunteers and the many companies and organisations that support this programme with donations in kind.

A trip to the seaside, that many kids take for granted, can be transformed into “the best day ever” for a child who has never seen the sea, made a sandcastle or explored a rock pool.

While we are creating happy childhood memories, we are also inviting curious minds to explore the world around them, improving teamwork, co-operation and interpersonal communication. Positive changes in attitude and behaviour are frequent benefits.

Just a few of the generous companies who are long term and loyal supporters of Variety at Work’s programme ‘Days Out’:

95% 94% 89%of children have been helped

to develop interpersonal communications

of children show a positive change in attitude and

behaviour

of children experience reducing feelings of isolation

after the outing

35,000AROUND

DISABLED OR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN ARE GIVEN FREE DAYS OUT EACH YEAR

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RAMINDER THAMRAT, HEAD TEACHER, WILLIAM DAVIES PRIMARY SCHOOL

“We took Year 5 to Harbour Park. We have a few boys who are in constant need of attention from adults, due to behavioural issues.

This visit provided us with the opportunity to invite the mother of one of the boys to accompany us. This boy was able to have a whole day without any problems. It also helped him to spend time with his mum. She had recently experienced serious health problems; the child had been doing some of the caring and was therefore very worried. He is often isolated from his peers due to his dominant nature and he was able to bond with some of the class. He now has a positive experience, outside of school, to share with them.

Children from very deprived economic backgrounds do not normally get opportunities to actually have experiences outside of their home or just have fun. They benefit immensely from these visits. Some of these children have problems and issues with confidence or behaviour. These are noticeably improved.

The Variety at Work programme gives us the opportunity to help develop a more cohesive partnership with parents, children and the school. We are able to encourage positive behaviour, set challenges and provide enjoyment for our children whilst developing their social skills.”

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BRENDA HUMPHREYS, TEACHER, HOLMLEIGH PRIMARY SCHOOL

“Many of our children have very difficult home lives and are in care or live in poverty. We are a school for behaviour and learning difficulties. A trip to the London Aquarium is something that they would not be able to do in their own lives, so the opportunity for us to take them is invaluable.

All the children were amazed by the ray tank. Many sat and put their hands on the outside of the glass to see if the rays would come up to them. It was fantastic to see such difficult children sitting in such a serene way.

All trips provided by Variety do so much for our children and staff. Children cannot wait to go on these fabulous trips. They learn so much outside school as opposed to being stuck inside. There is also a huge improvement in good behaviour. Our policy in school is that if children play up, and show up our school, they do not get chosen again. Our children thoroughly enjoyed the circus party.“

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SUE BLOWS, HEADTEACHER, HATTON SCHOOL

“Many of the families would never usually have the opportunity to attend such an event, due to their children’s behaviour, as most of our children are on the autistic spectrum.

This outing to Disney on Ice allowed families to access a public event, with the support of school staff, in a comfortable environment. Many of our families have limited income and are unable to work, due to difficulties with child care for children with autism.

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The Disney characters were recognisable by the children, so they were able to sit and engage in the event for a longer period of time than would normally be achieved. It also provided them with a reason to try to communicate with other people nearby.

Children with autism respond much better through sensory interaction and the visual displays, lights, costumes and music stimulated many of their senses. Siblings also came along to the event. It was wonderful to see families enjoying their time together.”

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Grants for specialist equipment

Grants are made to individuals and organisations to fund specialist equipment for children who are chronically sick, disabled or disadvantaged.

Typically, in-home equipment will be designed to alleviate debilitating symptoms, assist monitoring or help to improve mobility, for example, by making car travel easier through the funding of specialist car seats.

Sensory and soft play items are funded for individual children and organisations. Often these are to enable them to experience safe play and to explore and improve sensory development.

Youth clubs and youth organisations can apply for funding of equipment needed to offer new activities, or further develop existing ones, in order to attract and retain members.

Youth organisations help young people to improve their social skills, teamwork and self-esteem. They create a sense of belonging, often missing in their own lives, and keep them off the streets, away from undesirable influences and dangers that are all too prevalent in many deprived inner city areas.

CAITLIN (Eye-gaze communication device)

Caitlin, a lively girl of 14, was diagnosed with Dystonic Cerebral Palsy, a condition resulting from brain damage. It causes twisting and repetitive movements that are involuntary. In Caitlin’s case, it also limits her means of communication to facial expressions and body language, which she found very frustrating.

Variety funded a Tobii high-tech eye-gaze device that has given Caitlin the chance to hold her first conversation with her family. The eye-gaze system attaches to Caitlin’s wheelchair and allows her to communicate by ‘eye pointing’, for example by blinking or dwelling on a desired area of the screen in front of her. It has transformed Caitlin’s life.

“This is the first time Caitlin has been able to communicate with us. The eye-gaze device has opened up a brand new world for Caitlin: now she never stops talking and is constantly playing music and games! Thank you Variety and everyone who has made this possible.”

- Karen, Caitlin’s mum

PIRATE CASTLE (Canal boat with disabled access for young people)

Founded in 1966, the Pirate Castle has become a real institution in London’s Camden Lock. It provides water-based activities for children and young people who are disadvantaged or disabled.

In order to provide better facilities for disabled children, a major fundraising campaign culminated in the launch of a new canal boat: The Pirate Prince. Variety contributed to the costs of fitting out the new boat which now boasts full disabled access, allowing wheelchairs to move around the boat safely, as well as providing steering and throttle controls that can be accessed from a wheelchair. These enable disabled children to take their turn at being captain of the boat under the ever-watchful eye of the experienced crew.

HUNDREDS OF GRANTS ARE PROVIDED TO

INDIVIDUALSAND YOUTH ORGANISATIONS

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MAYLAND ABC (Boxing club equipment)

Mayland Amateur Boxing and Sports Development Club was started in response to a clear need to redirect more positively the energies of the local youth. Many of them were the subject of a dispersal order. This means that they were not allowed to walk around in groups of more than two.

Following a successful two month trial, the project received a further 6 months’ funding which paid for a qualified boxing coach. Volunteers were recruited and they managed to pull the community together, involving not only the young people, but also their parents and committee members from all over the village.

The Club has grown from 12 junior members to 30. All of the equipment comes from donations in kind or has been loaned to the club. To be able to take their members into the Amateur Boxing Association circuit, the club needed suitable training equipment so that the boxers could train and prepare for competitions under ABA rules. Variety stepped in to fund the purchase of sparring gloves, head guards and protective gear.

“We have made a great impact on our local community. The club has helped to increase self-awareness, assertiveness and to raise self esteem among the members who are very dedicated and committed. Two ofour boys have been asked to compete in regional competitions, really putting Mayland on the map.”

- Ken Bloxham, Club Secretary

ETHAN (Sensory play)

Ethan, now age six, was born ten weeks premature and diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one. He cannot walk, talk or sit unaided. He is totally dependent on his mother for his care. The limitations his condition imposes often results in him becoming very frustrated and upset. Access to sensory equipment at school had a beneficial effect and helped calm him down.

Variety, supported by corporate partner H. Samuel, funded an interactive ball and bead bubble tube with a cushioned base for Ethan.

“Although he cannot walk or talk, when he saw what you had provided he was over the moon. His face lit up and he was jumping in my arms and giggling so much that I cried. To see him so happy means the world to me. He hugs and kisses the bubble tube and lays beside it changing the colours via the big remote button. It’s his favourite thing in the world. I am a lone parent with two other children. Life is a struggle. I could never have bought anything like this for Ethan. It has meant so much. I am forever grateful.”

SCARLETT (Specialist car seat)

Scarlett is a little girl of 3 affected by severe hypotonia, which means her muscles are very weak. She cannot yet walk and it has taken a lot of time just to reach her current mobility level. Scarlett suffers from epilepsy and, when she has a seizure, she sometimes stops breathing. At night, she has to sleep with a monitor attached, and oxygen must be kept in the house at all times. The gravity of her seizures is inevitably a great source of anxiety for her parents, who frequently have to make lengthy trips to the hospital with Scarlett. Just getting her in and out of the car was difficult and distressing.

Variety funded a special car seat, with a swivel base, to make getting in and out of the car easier and less stressful for both Scarlett and her parents. The seat provides better support, comfort and safety for Scarlett and reduces the risk of back injury for her parents.

“Scarlett is much happier travelling in the car now. It was quite hard to get Scarlett in and out without 'man-handling' her, but the job is now so much easier for us! Scarlett loves going out and about, and, since she came off her anti-convulsant, she has become so much more aware of her surroundings. It's like a big fog has lifted off her brain, so everything that we do with Scarlett now is having much more impact and she has started interacting. I'm sure that, if she could speak, she'd tell you how much she loves her car seat! Thank you so much for your kind help.”

- Maria, Scarlett’s Mum

Ethan’s Mum

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Children’s playgrounds

Variety’s ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ campaign champions a change in the way playgrounds in public places are planned and built.

We believe there should be fair play for all regardless of ability or handicap. Starting in London, and ultimately rolling our across the UK, playgrounds are being redeveloped so that children with sensory or physical disability can play alongside their able bodied friends and siblings.

No longer will a child in a wheelchair have to be content with just sitting on the sidelines and watching the other kids play. Purpose built swings, slides and many other features will let them join in the fun in a safe and secure environment designed with them in mind.

In partnership with The Royal Parks Foundation, Swings and Roundabouts has started by redeveloping thirteen playgrounds in London’s eight Royal Parks. The first playground, in South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park has been kindly sponsored by our founding partner The Maurice Wohl Charitable Trust.

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Children’s hospitals and hospices

Children with acute, chronic or even terminal illness need very specialist care. Variety has always been proud to support many children’s hospitals and hospices by raising funds to provide wards and equipment.

The Variety Children’s Hospital at King’s College Hospital in South London treats over 40,000 children a year. It is a world leader in advanced specialist techniques such as children’s liver transplants and neurosurgery.

Variety is currently helping to expand the hospital’s ward capacity and medical facilities in a £25m project that will see the building of a new wing. This will integrate with the existing facility and, for the first time, create an environment designed specifically for children and young people, from first arrival to treatment and recuperation.

Our ‘Breath of Life’ campaign reaches hospitals specialising in care for newborn babies with respiratory distress syndrome. This life-threatening condition can now be treated in a less invasive way through the use of specialist technology that delivers precisely controlled vapour without cumbersome masks. In addition to improving survival rates, it allows mother and baby to bond and feed, rather than be separated, improving weight gain and early development. Our aim is to provide at least one of these units to every single specialist paediatric hospital or ward in the country.

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How we can help you

This booklet explains what Variety, the Children’s Charity, does. If you thinkwe may be able to help your family or organisation in any of the ways we have described, then please get in touch.

Application forms for all our major services can be found on our website: www.variety.org.uk

You’ll find the headings for each service on the home page. To find a wheelchair application form, for example, click on ‘Wheelchairs’ and you’llbe taken straight to the wheelchairs page.

Click on the ‘Find out more’ button and you’ll find application forms you can download at the bottom of the page. Follow the same steps for coaches and grants.

If you prefer you canEmail us at: info@variety.org.ukWrite to us at: Variety, the Children’s Charity, 93 Bayham Street,London NW1 0AGOr call us on: 020 7428 8100

How you can help us

There are two things we always need more of: people and funds.

One thing we are never short of is families who need our help. So by volunteering your time, fundraising for us or making a donation yourselfyou will enable us to help more children.

We understand that everyone has been through difficult economic times in recent years. But disadvantaged families and those caring for very sick or disabled children have been particularly hard hit. Cuts in services from local and national government have resulted in increased hardship at the very time when help is needed most.

You can be sure that, however you decide to make your contribution toVariety, you will be making a real improvement to a young person’s life:giving him or her a better and happier childhood.

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Volunteer for us

We always need people. It might be to help run a fundraising event or help us in our office in North London or one of our regions around the UK. For more information, visit our website at www.variety.org.uk or contact Louisa Mason on 020 7428 8100 or email her at louisa.mason@variety.org.uk.

Make a donation

You can make a single donation by cheque or debit/credit card.

You can fill in the form below or make the donation online atwww.variety.org.uk. Just click on the ‘Donate’ button.

Cheques should be made payable to Variety, the Children’s Charity.

Fundraise for us

We always have a number of challenging events that you can sign up for. Like all charities, we’ll usually ask you to donate a registration fee and then agree to raise money by getting yourself sponsored by friends, family and work colleagues.

If you want to organise your own event and donate the proceeds to Variety that’s fine with us - and thank you.

Whichever way you choose, we’ll give you as much help and encouragement as we can.

Leave a legacy in your will

Leaving a legacy to Variety in your will is a wonderful way to make a lasting contribution to improving the lives of future generations of sick, disabled or disadvantaged children.

The process is simple. Our legacy team can give you more information. Contact Monica Smith on 020 7428 8117 or email her atmonica.smith@variety.org.uk or discuss it with your solicitor.

Ways to give

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Get your company involved

We offer a wide range of opportunities for businesses to become involved with Variety, including combining team-building with

supporting our activities and attending our star-studded events. Our roots are firmly in the entertainment

industry so we receive enthusiastic support froma long list of celebrities.

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Variety, the Children’s CharityVariety House

93 Bayham StreetLondon

NW1 0AG

Tel: 0207 428 8100www.variety.org.uk

Variety, the Children’s Charity is registered in England & Wales No. 209259 and in Scotland No. SCO038505

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