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New Charitable Fund From Children’s Alliance Available To Projects In Surrey
The Children’s Alliance charity is looking for community projects to fund in Surrey now to create better starts and brighter futures for all children. So far, they have secured £60,000 in grants to fund community projects all over the UK. From small wild swimming groups to long running sports clubs anybody can apply for funding, the project just needs to have something to do with water and swimming!
Children’s Alliance aims to give children the best start in life. It was founded by Water Babies’ late CEO Steve Franks in 2019 - Water Babies is the world’s largest baby and toddler swimming school.
Although the organisation has been campaigning in parliament and active in communities since 2019 it has just secured charitable status - a major milestone in Water Babies history. With charitable status in place the team can continue the campaigns and projects they have been working on, and look toward a future full of opportunities to make a difference to children.
The charity has benefitted 477 children to date, through the provision of SEN swimming lessons, surfing sessions, specialised swimwear and repairs to sensory pool facilities. So far it has worked with;
Leigh Trust – Providing swimwear for five inner city schools in Birmingham for Muslim children.
Dame Vera Lynn Charity – Providing ongoing hydrotherapy sessions for severely disabled children.
The Wave Project – Using surf therapy to support 50 children in North Yorkshire with their mental health.
Access Sport – Provision of over 400 swimming sessions for disabled children.
We Are Beams – Provision of swimming lessons for children with AS or ADHD, aged between 7 to 11, and water-based messy play sessions for babies and toddlers.
Now Children’s Alliance welcomes applications from projects in Surrey who would benefit from funding. This money could directly support a local community group, a school, a club, a special needs organisation or anything that in some way betters the lives of children and lets them experience the mental and health benefits of being in the water. 1 in 6 children in the UK struggle with social, emotional or mental health, but by supporting local initiatives Children’s Alliance aims to make a real difference in a child’s first five years, which will have a long-term impact on their life.
Paul Thompson, Founder of Water Babies and Chair of Trustee’s at Children’s Alliance, says: “We’re thrilled to have gained charity status for Children’s Alliance and have already started working with communities to support children and young people accessing water and experiencing the benefits water can bring. Children are at the heart of Water Babies, and Children’s Alliance formalises our charitable work and provides an action plan of how to give back to families and communities, helping to provide better starts and brighter futures for children.”