The Children’s Societyand

Bella Italia

April 2012

The Children’s SocietyThe Children's Society is a leading children’s charity which aims to create a society where children and young people are valued, respected and happy.

The children you are helping us to support

We work with many groups of disadvantaged children. We aim to:

•protect young runaways from the dangers of life on the street

•give children in care a say over decisions that affect them

•give disabled children a voice and more control over their lives

•provide relief for young carers and a chance to enjoy their childhood

•help young refugees and migrant families rebuild their lives.

Campaigning for change

Through our campaigns and research, we seek to:

• influence policy and perceptions to improve children’s welfare and protection

• give young people a better chance in life.

The scope of our work

With over 70 programmes and children's centres throughout England, we offer care, respite, legal support and mentoring schemes that help turn lives around.

In 2010-11 we reached approximately:

• 48,000 children and young people

• 13,000 children under five and their families through our children’s centres.

Family is one of our key prioritiesChildren’s centres

We have a growing network of over 30 children’s centres across England for families with babies and young children. They offer:

• Creative, educational and fun play sessions• Parenting classes• Health and well-being sessions • Numeracy and literacy classes for adults• English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)• One-to-one counselling• Help and advice on getting into work

Parents also volunteer at our centres, developing their skills, friendships and confidence.

When families have nowhere to turn

Supporting families in crisis

• Respite care for families with disabled children

• Family mediation

• Support for refugee and migrant families

• Positive parenting groups

• ‘Communicate Together’ programmes

• Support for families of children who go missing

• Outreach and drop-in support for parents who are struggling to cope

Case study

What parents say‘Since my daughter has attended PALS she has developed very well and has a lot of confidence mixing with other children. She has more confidence with her speaking and also her understanding. I feel she has really learned a lot…I don’t have any worries about her ability to learn, listen and understand.’

‘Before my child started going to PALS he didn’t really mix with other children but since attending, his social skills have improved a lot. He never really concentrated on things but now he finds it easier. He used to have problems with speech and language but I’ve noticed he’s doing a lot better now and says a lot more words than he did before he attended PALS. I feel he has a lot more confidence...and can now have conversations with me and speaks freely.’

What parents say

Support us through challenge events

• Virgin London Marathon, April

• London 10k, May

• Great North Run, September

We can also work with you to create large team events:

• 3 peaks in 24 hrs

• how about 24 children’s services in 24 hrs?

Tell us what would work for you – as a team or as a whole company, and we will do our best to support you!

Organise your own activity or event

• Organise a black tie event for your staff or your customers, and include an auction, a raffle, or a quiz.

• Collection of presents for children – we could provide you with a Christmas wish list.

• Come up with your own sponsored challenge (for example, we have our own iron man - one of our supporters in running one of the hardest events in the world with an ironing board….!).

• Have a fashion show combined with a collection of clothes – worth £10 in cash to us…prizes for the best outfit for one of our shops.

We can provide you with a calendar of events - our ideas and yours - to have fun and raise funds

Apprentice Challenge

We know you are great at running restaurants - how about running one of our shops?•Teams take over a shop for a day•Scored on planning, logistics, marketing, merchandising and stock sold•Great for teambuilding, great fun, and good for us, raising awareness and increasing our takings

Other ways to volunteer:• Supporting our events – cheering, bucket rattling, organising• Mentoring – supporting young people• Working creatively – creating gardens, tidying play areas….

Supporting you to support us

• Fundraising ideas/pack

• Posters, flyers

• Press support

• We can call you, or even visit you, and let you know how you can get involved with what we’re doing

• Merchandise - balloons, banners, t-shirts… and more

• Email and telephone hotline

• Inspire you with visits to our projects

• Keep you all in the loop about how everyone is doing in each region, each restaurant…

Supporting you to support us

• Website pages about the partnership

• Promotional space on the home page

• Updates on promotions, with links to Bella Italia website

• News articles, support via our

digital programme - Facebook, Twitter

• Promoting kid’s competitions, menu, children’s packs

• Working with you to make the partnership a success

Thank you…any questions?