2016 | Review

2016 Programmes review

How the help we provide is funded 3

Chief Barker 4

Variety Grants Specialist Equipment 6

Variety Bespoke Wheelchairs 10

Great Days Out 12

Sunshine Coaches 17

Youth Clubs 18

How you can help 20

Does someone need our help? 21

Fundraising for Variety 23

Thank you 24

No of Beneficiaries Cost of Programmes

182 Grants £0.44m

63 Sunshine Coaches £2.18m

70 Wheelchairs £0.38m

33,457 Great Days Out £1.00m

TOTAL £4.0m

Source of Income:

Expenditure on Variety’s Programmes:

Donations £4.1m

Legacies and bequests £0.2m

Intangible income

(Gifts in kind) £0.8m

Events (trading company) £2.7m

TOTAL £7.8m (up 15.5% on 2015)

Expenditure on charitable activities £4.0m (up 23% on 2015)

How the help we provide is funded

11%

54%10%

25%

Sunshine Coaches

GrantsGreat Days Out

Wheelchairs

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Review of 2016

The year was one of real achievement for Variety with a substantial increase in income, up 15.5% to almost £7.8m.This enabled us to increase our expenditure on our many programmes that provide practical, tangible help for children across the UK who are chronically sick, disabled or disadvantaged.

It was a celebratory year too. Our Great Days Out Programme (formerly Variety at Work) kicked off its 50th year by taking 900 children from all over the South East to an exclusive screening of the popular Minions movie at the famous Odeon, Leicester Square where they also had the opportunity to meet some of the Minions characters. During its 50 years this programme has taken over 2 million children on totally free day trips to remember, thanks to the very generous support of our corporate partners.

Variety’s long-running Wheelchair Programme also provides sports wheelchairs, to encourage participation in sport and to enable those with exceptional talents to reach their potential. To see children we have supported in their early years go on to represent Team GB in the Rio Paralympics was extremely rewarding.The courage of so many of the children we help never ceases to impress us, so we were delighted when four of our wheelchair recipients received a ‘Children of Courage Award’, presented by the St James’ Place Foundation.

Having presented our 5,400th Variety Sunshine Coach in March to Garratt Park School, September saw a record month when fifteen Variety Sunshine Coaches were presented to schools across the country.

Our Grants Programme has seen an 18% increase in the number of recipients all over the UK. We funded an increasing amount of sensory equipment, innovative new technology to support children with motor impairments and a transport incubator for Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity. This enables extremely

Variety Yorkshire celebrated its 30th Yorkshire Business Awards. The 2016 event raised £145,000 in just three hours with help from Sir Trevor McDonald as guest speaker. A posthumous Special Recognition Award was made to the family of the late Jo Cox MP for whom there was a standing ovation.Two very special events rounded off an excellent fundraising year. The inaugural Variety Hall of Fame Fellowship to BBC Radio 2 was a spectacular event with Gary Barlow headlining an impressive line-up that included Graham Norton, James Blunt and Jamie Cullum.

Our new event was the Variety Catherine Awards, which reflect the founding of Variety when a baby, who was later named Catherine Variety Sheridan, was abandoned in a cinema. Variety provided for her upbringing and education. Today the Variety Catherine Awards celebrate the exceptional achievements of remarkable women in business. It is destined to become an annual fundraising event.

Variety is fortunate to be the Charity of choice for many corporate organisations. Their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to Variety is very motivating for our hard-working staff and our many volunteers across the country. Without everyone’s help and support we could not reach out and improve the lives of so many children and young people each year.

Looking back on 2016 I can only feel proud of what Variety does as a charity and so grateful to all the people who make our work possible. The demand for our services shows no signs of abating and I know we all remain totally committed to helping as many children and young people as we can.

I feel honoured to have served the Charity as Chief Barker.

PAMELA SINCLAIRChief Barker 2016

high risk premature babies to be transported around the UK so that they can get the specialist care they so desperately need.

It was also a year when Variety was able to develop further its links with the entertainment industry, that are so much a part of our heritage. Variety does not spend large amounts on advertising so we are particularly grateful to the many celebrities from film, television, music and sport who give us such magnificent support and help us to promote our fundraising activities and our programmes.

In January, two committed supporters of Variety, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, were the subject of a star-studded tribute in London, attended by our corporate partners and compèred by Eamonn Holmes, himself a Variety Celebrity Ambassador.

Other successful fundraising events included the ever-popular Gastronomic Evening, with the attendees enjoying an exuberant performance from Michael McIntyre. During the evening a special award was presented to Richard Desmond, Chairman of Northern and Shell, whose support for Variety now extends to the donation of some 26 Sunshine Coaches.

The PROPS Lunch, now in its 25th year, was another cause for celebration and as usual the property industry responded splendidly, raising an astonishing £380,000 which enables us to support Variety’s Wheelchair programme.Not to be outdone, Variety’s Regions demonstrated that, when it comes to fundraising events, they know just how to do it. The North West’s Legends of Industry Awards had a host of stars lining up on stage including Warwick Davis, Ainsley Herriot, Kevin Whately and Angela Rippon.

Scotland’s Annual Ball was another successful event attracting 300 guests who saw Holby City star Joe McFadden recognised as a Variety Celebrity Ambassador.

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Fountaindale School’s story

Fountaindale is a Special Needs school catering for children with a wide range of conditions including: physical disabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairment and learning difficulties.

Some physical and tactile-averse impairments can make it impossible to hold things such as musical toys or instruments, denying children an opportunity to enjoy sensory stimulation.

The School wanted a particular piece of sensory equipment called a Soundbeam System and thanks to support from Crest Nicholson Regeneration, Variety was able to provide it.

The equipment can be used by a wide range of children because it converts simple movements into sound. Even a small movement such as the blinking of an eye can create a cascade of notes, cords or sound effects. The children have found their Soundbeam to be great fun and with a little encouragement, it has enabled them to interact with others, creating a medley of sounds and effects that they all enjoy together. Playing as a group greatly enhances their sense of wellbeing.

The real benefit of the Soundbeam System is that it helps each child to develop more of their potential; educationally, physically, socially and personally. It’s been a great success.

Chronically sick children, often with recurring, long term or multiple medical conditions, are a constant source of anxiety for parents and carers. Variety funds specialist children’s hospices and hospitals, including the Variety Children’s Hospital at King’s College Hospital in London, which is acknowledged as a world leader in its specialist paediatric fields.

Many children are cared for at home, so our Grants Programme focuses on providing help, tailored to each individual child’s medical condition and personal needs. Our aim is to provide equipment that will bring an immediate improvement in the quality of each young life, sometimes benefitting the whole family.

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Variety’s Programmes why we are neededVariety is committed to providing practical, tangible help for children all over the UK who are chronically sick, disabled or disadvantaged. We estimate, from various sources, that the number of children that these categories cover is 4.7m.

Chronically sick 0.9mDisabled 0.8mDisadvantaged 3.0m

Total 4.7m

19%

17%64%

Disadvantaged

Disabled

ChronicallySick

Variety Grants Specialist Equipment

Aimee’s story

Ten year old Aimee is a happy little girl who loves her Riding for the Disabled classes, swimming, the computer and especially playing with her big sister. This is despite a life-limiting neurological condition that means she has no speech, is in nappies and can only be fed by gastrostomy (directly into her stomach).

Unpredictable and severe seizures often occur at night and can last 3 to 4 hours, necessitating oxygen and emergency medication.She cannot stand to use the shower effectively which results in recurring hygiene-related infections.

Variety provided Aimee and her mum with an adjustable height bath, which means she can not only be washed more easily and thoroughly but enjoy her bath time too. Mum’s life has also got a little easier as she no longer has to lift her in and out of the bath.

Aimee’s mum says:

“Now she spends lots of time splashing around with her toys, her Jacuzzi bubbles, lights and music. Something as simple as a bath has made an absolutely massive difference to Aimee. Most of all she can be like everyone else at bath time. Thank you Variety for making this happen.”

William’s story

Like most seven year olds, William really wants to play with his friends at school but for William that has not been possible.

Suffering from Neuhauser’s Syndrome means he has problems controlling his movement. He needs a walker or his wheelchair to get around because of low muscle tone and poor balance.

Learning difficulties and visual impairment mean he can see only things with high contrast and if they are not too far away.Variety provided sensory toys for William which were installed in his school playground where he and some other children with special needs could access them easily.

William’s parents said:

“Having the freedom to choose when to play and what to play with makes such a difference. He loves being around other children and now he can join in with them. For the last four years he has only been able to watch his friends play but now he’s part of the fun and this has reduced his feeling of isolation. Thank you so much Variety”

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The cost of raising a child with disabilities can be three times that of an able bodied child; specialist equipment, adaptations to the home, frequent travel for medical treatment all add up. The demands of constant care all too often mean that parents are only able to work part time, if at all, resulting in financial dependency and further disadvantage.

Our wheelchair programme provides so much more than mobility. It provides independence, freedom to go where you want, when you want and the opportunity to join in more with friends and family. Greater participation in everyday life improves social interaction, eases some of the frustration and counteracts the sense of isolation that feeling excluded brings.

Henry’s story

Henry has to cope with the effects of Spastic Dyplegia, Cerebal Palsy and serious sight impairments. He’s very determined and can manage short distances by using walking canes. Henry now attends secondary school and while there is good wheelchair access there, a manual wheelchair does not enable Henry to participate in activities like football and Scouts or even join in many family activities.

What he really needs is a powered chair that will give him true independence so he can keep up with his friends and family at school and at home. That’s why Variety, with additional funds being raised locally, helped to provide a Trekinetic powered wheelchair. Along with improved mobility came improved self-confidence, and a consequent reduction in the frustration and anger that arose from being excluded.

Henry’s mum says:

“The new wheelchair has really changed his life. We recently took it on holiday with us and now that he can keep up with everyone he is super happy. Thank you so much.”

Variety Bespoke Wheelchairs

Callum’s story

If you had to sum up 17 year old Callum in one word it would be ‘determined’. He cannot stand or walk unaided, relies on a wheelchair for mobility and is dependent on his parents and carers for all his needs. His conditions of Lesch-Nylan Syndrome and Dystonia-dyskinesia result in an inability to avoid biting and harming himself on virtually a daily basis, making it extremely stressful for him and his parents.

In 2011 he underwent surgery at Kings College London for DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) implants. Complications led to many anxious moments but finally a successful outcome meant the symptoms improved.

Callum lives in the hill country of Brecon where his dad is a keen fell runner.

Joining dad on some of his runs is one of Callum’s greatest dreams and would give him an immense boost in self confidence. His therapists and teachers all agreed an off-road chair would greatly enhance Callum’s life so Variety stepped in to provide the balance of funds needed over what the family had already raised themselves.

Now nowhere is out of bounds. It all adds up to a much improved life. But most credit has to go to Callum for the sheer perseverance with which he pursues his dreams.

Sports wheelchairs have been funded by Variety for many years because we want to encourage young people with disabilities to reach their full sporting potential.

So when 17 year old wheelchair recipient Joy Haizelden topped her rapid rise to basketball fame by being invited to join Team GB at the Rio Paralympics we were absolutely thrilled for her. Joy, from Coventry Wheelchair Basketball Academy made her senior debut in the 2014 Women’s World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, helping the team to their highest ever championships finish.

Variety-funded sports wheelchairs have helped encourage other young basketball sportswomen too. Freya Levy, Megan Wood, Miriam Haizelden and Michaela Bell all won Gold at the European Championships.

International success for wheelchairbasketball superstars

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“This was a totally new experience for each child and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. No one had been on a boat before. Especially positive was the interaction and support for each other by the children with and without needs. Every child gained in confidence as a result of successfully participating in new challenges.

One child wrote afterwards about her experience: “I liked the yacht day because we saw lots of things that we’d never seen before. It was my first time on a yacht and the captain

let all of us have a turn driving the yacht and we got to blow the whistle when we went under the bridge. It was fun and people waved at us from the river bank and boats and we waved back.”

It’s experiences like these which encourage children to dream and strive to be better. Thank you Variety for giving them this opportunity and broadening their horizons.”

Community Links

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Great Days Out

Disability and disadvantage all too often go hand in hand: one leading to the other. For a child who has never seen the sea, a day at the beach or a seaside theme park is a day of wonder. Our aim with Great Days Out is to create happy childhood memories and when we hear the phrase “best day of my life” we know we have done just that. Tens of thousands of children go on our free Great Days Out every year.

“Students having low self esteem and not really communicating with other peers showed on this trip an increased level of conversation with others which was enlightening to see. Mixing with tourists in the City of London was something these students have never experienced. Some have never been to the City of London.

Now, when they see an image of specific landmarks they will have nice memories of that day.

Thank You”Eleanor Smith School

St. Peter’s Church of England Primary School has two special needs units, one for infants and one for juniors. The school is situated in an area of rural deprivation and has three hundred and forty four pupils on roll with a free school meals provision of 41%. The special needs pupils have a diverse range of needs and the majority have statements.

“The Sunshine Coach has enabled our children with high needs to access off-site visits during and beyond the school day and holiday periods, including residential visits. This would not be possible without our own coach due to transport costs and the necessity of bus escorts to support the children with complex needs. The Sunshine Coach has given the children the opportunity to attend SEND Sports and Activity Programmes. This participation has had a positive impact on the progress the children have made both academically and socially during their time here at St. Peter’s.”

ST. PETER’S CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Forest School provides for 108 children, age 3 to 16 years, with a wide range of challenges in their lives including: moderate and severe learning difficulties, physical difficulties, Downs Syndrome, ADHD, autism and complex medical difficulties.

The new coach is used every day to help pupils access their curriculum and out of school activities such as woodland adventure walking, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and training, Riding for Disabled. Disability sporting events such as canoeing, sailing, tournaments, swimming lessons and residential visits to outdoor activity centres.

“The pupils benefit enormously from being able to go out into their local community to learn, on a regular basis, about independence skills such as shopping and road safety. The highlight of the week for many of our pupils is going swimming at our local pools. Our non ambulant pupils are able to access a local swimming pool for a Halliwick swimming session. Now we can deliver a full and relevant curriculum to our students with a variety of special needs. The bus is booked out for morning and afternoon sessions every day during term time.”

THE FOREST SCHOOL Jill Bryant, School Business Manager

Sunshine Coaches

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Fulfilling children`s and young people`s potential is one of Variety’s biggest goals. It means being able to access activities and experiences that can not only be enjoyed, but may spark a new interest or reveal a hidden talent. Every day, across the UK, over 1,000 Variety Sunshine Coaches are taking children from special needs schools and organisations to discover new experiences in the world around them.

Canterbury Gold

“The funding for the tents and emergency shelters made a significant difference to both the members and the leaders. For the members it provided a high level of comfort and for the leaders, the assurance that the tents would be totally reliable and safe. They allowed us to undertake an arduous Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award Expedition in the remote and beautiful wilderness of the Cevennes Region of the Massif Central in France. All entrants passed. Many thanks for your help, it really did make a difference to us!”

Youth Club

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Sateda

“We have been able to use the tablets in one to one sessions with young people when they have had difficulty in communicating with us about their feelings. This took the form of using them for games. We have also used them to record video messages between mothers and their adolescent children during a group programme specifically aimed at young people who are violent to their parents. This provided a safe restorative method of communication which has encouraged the families to start talking again.”

Attlee Centre

“The young people were not able to take part in boxing here at Attlee. They were reluctant to travel to other youth centres due to postcode related issues or not having the funds to join a boxing club. These factors hindered the young people’s confidence and demotivated them in many ways.

The successful moment came when we received the funding from Variety and could tell our young people that we could now run boxing sessions as we had the funds to buy the equipment. The difference this has made was in giving the young people an opportunity to learn a sport that teaches discipline, self control and anger management. The sessions were a

huge success and we saw new faces registering to take part. The smiles on the young people’s faces were priceless. We would like to say thank you for choosing to fund Attlee Centre.”

Being part of a youth club creates a sense of belonging and taking part in activities provides camaraderie and an opportunity to develop life skills like teamwork. Variety provides grants to youth clubs for sports and recreational equipment so the club has more facilities and can provide a greater range of opportunities for more children.

Variety has been helping to improve the lives of children and young people for almost seventy years. That’s why we understand what life is like for children, and their families, confronting real challenges every day just to do the things that most of us take for granted: getting up and getting dressed, getting to school, eating and joining in activities with friends and family.

Our aim continues to be to enable those young people to reach their potential regardless of their personal and financial circumstances. We provide practical help that makes a difference.

You too can make a difference to a young life by helping us in the way that suits you best.

How you can help improve a young life

Do you, or does someone you know, need our help?

• Donate to Variety via our website www.variety.org.uk

• Fundraise on our behalf with friends, family or work colleagues

• Take part in a challenge event in aid of Variety

• Volunteer in your local Variety region

• Donate a gift-in-kind (products or services)

• Remember Variety, and all the children we help, in your will

• Enrol your company as a corporate supporter

Our programmes include:

• Sunshine Coaches for schools and organisations catering for children with special needs.

• Wheelchairs, including bespoke powered wheelchairs and sports wheelchairs.

• Grants for specialist care, sensory and recreational equipment.

• Grants for equipment for youth clubs.

To find out more visit: www.variety.org.uk/what-we-do where you will find application forms and guidelines at the bottom of each Programme page.

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A nationally recognised children’s charity

Strong staff engagement

Have your brand on some of our work

World class events

Corporate challenge events

Meet our beneficiaries and build local links

Personal touch from our account managers

Fundraising for Variety

If you’d like to have a chat about getting your company and staff involved with Variety just contact us by phone or email.

James Raynorp: 020 7428 8146 e: james.raynor@variety.org.uk

Interested in becoming a corporate partner?

Trusts and Foundations

Our thanks also go to each and every Trust or Foundation who generously supported our work last year. Get in touch for more details today.

Monica Smith p: 020 7428 8117 e: monica.smith@variety.org.uk

Our work would not be possible without the generous support of our Trust and Foundation partners. We would like to say thank you to the following organisations for their invaluable support this year:

The Hodge Foundation

The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation

The Elizabeth and Prince Zaiger Trust

The Geoff and Fiona Squire Foundation

The Rowlands Trust

The Atkin Foundation

The Desmond Foundation

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We’re always looking for exciting new corporate partners to support us in our mission to help young people. We have an experienced team to make sure you get the most of your partnership with us.

Thank you

On behalf of Variety, the Children’s Charity, I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to our trustee, Crew, committee members and staff who work so hard to make our mission possible, and the supporters and volunteers who continually champion our cause.

Thank you to our celebrity ambassadors, youth ambassadors and patrons. Your support adds something special to what we offer our funders, friends and beneficiaries. I would particularly like to thank our generous corporate supporters and their staff; without your crucial funding, in kind support and volunteer hours so much of our work in 2016 simply couldn’t have happened.

Finally I would like to pay tribute to the amazing young people that we work with, and their families. You are our inspiration and give us all the motivation that we need.

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Sarah NancollasChief Executive

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Variety, the Children’s Charity. Registered charity in England and Wales (209259) and Scotland (SC038505)

Review 2016

www.variety.org.uk

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