A £7,500 grant has been awarded to Sir Charles Parsons School and Science College.

A £7,500 grant has been awarded to Sir Charles Parsons School and Science College in Newcastle upon Tyne to fund a challenge week in July 2010 involving 135 pupils from across Newcastle who have severe learning difficulties and complex special needs.

The week will allow the children to experience activities that are rarely available to them such as climbing, rafting, archery, camping, kayaking.

These activities provide the children with various ways of learning and will boost their confidence, self esteem and allow them to work with a variety of new teachers and leaders.

Noah McNeill from Ovingham has received a grant of £1,008 as a contribution towards his school skiing trip.

Noah is 11 years old and suffered eye cancer at 20 months. He attends a mainstream school and is a very independent boy, having been guided by his parents not to allow his disability to hold him back.

His school, Ovingham Middle School, are taking Noah’s class on a ski trip in March 2010 but an extra £1,008 was needed to fund a dedicated ski guide for Noah. Without this funding from Smile For Life Noah would not be able to attend and join his classmates on an experience of a lifetime.

Kim Uppal, aged 9, has received a smartboard and projector to help her develop her independence.

A grant has been awareded to Kim Uppal, a little girl aged 9 from Stevenage. Kim has severe Cerebral Palsy and is visually impaired. Her mum requested funding for a smartboard and projector to enable Kim to develop her independence and continue her education at home to the best of her ability. The smartboard will be in Kim’s sensory room which her parents have created for her at home.

Luke Edwards

In collaboration with SSAFA (Soldiers Sailors Airmen & Families Assoc) an award has been made to Luke Edwards who has suffered much poverty and trauma during his life; Luke’s brother died and his mother has cancer. Luke required some warm winter clothing and applied for a grant of £200. The trustees decided to award an additional £100 to purchase a TV for Luke s bedroom as a special Christmas present.

Callum Smith receives an award of £532.50 to ensure he travels safely.

Callum Smith is severely autistic and has various learning difficulties. His adoptive mum made an application for a specially adapted car seat which keeps Callum safe during journeys and prevents him from unbuckling his harness. Callum is 7 years old and lives in Morpeth Northumberland, an amount of £532.50 was awarded.

Karl Hassell and 6 school mates receive £2,000 to go on a once-in-a-lifetime Artic expedition.

Karl Hassell is 13 years old and suffers from Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. He attends Fountaindale Special School in Mansfied and has the opportunity to take part in an Arctic expedition in the summer of 2010.

Six of Karl’s school mates will be joining him on this once in a lifetime adventure. This project and will allow the children to carry out personal and scientific challenges. Karl required £1,400 to assist with his costs and our trustees decided to award a total grant of £2,000 – £1, 400 for Karl a £600 contribution towards the expedition.

Esme Martinson from Consett, Co. Durham has received an award of £2,770 for a sensory room that will make a big difference to her quality of life.

Eighteen months old Esme Martinson lives in Consett, Co Durham and has Cerebral Palsy and is a TOF child (children born unable to swallow). Her parents applied for a grant to provide a sensory room at their home where Esme will be safe and able to develop both physically and mentally. Smile For Life awarded a sum of £2,770 to provide the full area and equipment which will be suitable for Esme until she is 8-10 years old. This area will make a major contribution towards improving Esme’s quality of life.

James, who attends Percy Hedley Special School, receives a new laptop enabling him to communicate with his friends and family.

James Hutton,12 years old, suffers from Cerebral Palsy and a range of complex special needs. His main form of communication and output is his laptop, which he uses at home and school. James’ laptop, which his parents bought, broke and they could not afford to replace it; leaving James without a form of communication. Smile For Life awarded a grant of £600 to enable James’ parents to buy him a new one, which was given to him on his birthday in the week leading up to Christmas (2009).

Nathan Patrick, 7 years old, from Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne received a new laptop to enable him to stay in touch with friends during his treatment for leukaemia.

Nathan is 7 years old and lives in Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne. He received his very own laptop from Smile For Life following a request from his football coach and good friend, Lee Sterry. Nathan has leukaemia and has endured many months of gruelling treatment at Newcastle’s RVI. He is to receive a bone marrow transplant very soon and his laptop will help him talk to his friends and family and keep on top of his schoolwork during his long, and sometimes lonely, hospital stays.

Freya McGlone who suffers from Ataxic Cerebral Palsy has received £1,065 for a laptop and specialist software.

An application was made on behalf of Freya McGlone, an 8 year old girl who has Ataxic Cerebral Palsy. Freya required a laptop with specialist software to allow her to access the school curriculum and enable her to fulfil her academic potential. An award of £1,065 was made to make the purchase.

Dylan Robertson from Renfrewshire has been awarded a grant to purchase his very own play fort for his garden.

Dylan is autistic and very often requires peace, quite and solitude to manage his condition. His own fort gives him a quiet place to retreat to when he becomes distressed and aggravated.

Azhad received £730 enabling him to attend Percy Hedley School’s intensive workshops.

Percy Hedley School made an application on behalf of Azhad, who has Cerebral Palsy that affects all 4 limbs and his communication. Without Physiotherapy and continued education during the summer holiday he becomes very isolated and his progress declines rapidly.

The grant award of £730 will enable him to attend Percy Hedley’s intensive workshops for two weeks, which are specifically for children like Azhad.

Danny Lindores receives a grant for a special car seat ensuring he is kept safe during car journeys.

Danny Lindores has Downs Syndrome and is Hypermobile. Smile For Life will be providing his mum with a grant allowing her to purchase a special car seat that will prevent Danny from loosening his straps and putting himself and others in danger during journeys.

Emma Kirby, who has Aspergers Syndrome, receives £289 for a trampoline.

Smile For Life is providing Emma Kirby, with a grant of £289 allowing her mother to purchase a trampoline. Emma has Aspergers Syndrome, a condition that can be calmed dramatically by using a trampoline.

New double bed and bedding for Robyn who has Downs Syndrome and is in recovery from Leukaemia.

Robyn has Downs Syndrome and is in recovery from Leukaemia; Smile For Life is providing a grant of £431.96 for a new double bed and bedding as Robyn’s is broken and her parents cannot afford to replace it.

Jonny receives £271.10 for a short weekend break to help him overcome recent trauma and to help boost his self -esteem and confidence.

Christine from Killingworth Newcaslte-upon-Tyne has been granted £271.10 to enable her son Jonny to take a short weekend break. Jonny has recently experienced trauma and suffers with severe eczema – he is on constant medication. He also suffers from stress and anxiety and this break will boost his self esteem and confidence.

Grant awarded to Kara, a 7 year old from Walker in Newcastle. Smile For Life have provided a grant of £2,430 for the purchase of a R82 Wombat Activity Seat, which will give Kara the support she needs to improve her quality of life.

Kara, a 7 year old with Cerebral Palsy from Walker in Newcastle, has no independent mobility. Kara’s school, Percy Hedley, applied for a R82 Wombat Activity Seat for Kara to have at home. The chair will give Kara the physical support she needs and will allow her to take part in many activities, such as cooking at home, arts and crafts, eating meals with her family and simply watching TV. This chair will also ease the physical burden that is currently upon her family. Statutory services are unable to fund the chair; therefore Smile For Life has awarded £2,430 to cover the full cost of the chair.

£760 has been granted to Megan from Northumberland who has suffered from a brain tumour since she was 13 months. This grant will enable her parents to purchase a specially adapted tricycle, which will enable Megan, who is now 10 years old, to play with her friends.

Megan from Northumberland has suffered from a brain tumour since she was 13 months. She is now 10 years old and following years of gruelling treatment, has been left with severley impaired vision, a weakness down her left side and a poor sense of balance. Megan has bravely battled this condition most of her life but is beginning to feel exluded when playing with her friends, as she is unable to ride a normal bicycle. Her mum applied to Smile For Life to fund a specially adapted tricycle which is safe and comfortable for Megan to ride. The trustees have awarded £760.

12 year old Callum Kewley has Cerebral Palsy and has received a grant for £569 to enable his parents to purchase an ipad with a special communication application. The ipad will allow Callum to speak to his friends, parents and teachers and it will allow him to go into a shop and ask for something.

12 year old Callum Kewley has Cerebral Palsy. He has no speech at all and because of severe learning difficulties his sign language is difficult to understand. He becomes frustrated, upset and isolated with his inability to communicate. This makes it very hard for him to make friends. His parents have requested funding for an ipad with a special communication application. The ipad is sufficiently small to allow Callum to carry it around and it will allow him to speak to friends, parents and teachers. It will make a massive difference to Callum’s life as he will now be able to go into a shop and ask for something, have a conversation with friends and it will generally boost his confidence and self-esteem. The awarded grant is £569.

Lucy Corbitt is 5 years old and from the Scottish Borders. £509 has been awarded to enable Lucy to have a special car seat that will keep her restrained and safe during car journeys.

Lucy Corbitt is 5 years old and from the Scottish Borders. Lucy has Downs Syndrome and is hyper mobile, which means she can easily escape from her normal car seat, putting herself and others in extreme danger. £509 has been awarded to enable Lucy to have a special car seat that will keep her restrained and safe during car journeys.

Alfie Mitchell has received his very own laptop which will greatly aid his visual and physical access to his school curriculum as well as accomodating a voice activation programme.

Alfie from Newcastle is 11 years old and has a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder which impacts on all areas of his education and life.This special laptop has a specific keyboard to assist Alfie with letter recognition and also to be able to access a special voice activation system. Alfie will also use the ‘Type to Learn’ programme to access his school work and reach his full potential at Percy Hedley Lower school. Alfie said ‘Thank you very much fo my laptop, it will be great fun!’

Jack Baker has received a grant of £1178 to provide a specially built Tricycle.

Jack is 8 years old and has Cerebral Palsy affecting all four limbs.Jack is a very socialble boy who loves interacting with his peers and other adults but the severity of his condition means he is reliant on an adult for all daily living activities. His mum Joanne requested the tricycle to allow Jack to enjoy the great outddoors on a safe piece of equipment which will also give him some valuable independence. The tricycle was delivered to Jack at his home in Newcastle and he is now constantly out and about with a great big smile on his face!

Rhys Thomas has severe congenital heart disease. Rhys required assistance with transport to Rachel House Hospice.

Rhys is 14years old and is very poorly, suffering from congenital heart disease; he is no longer a suitable candidate for transplant. Having reached his respite care using public transport in the past, he is no longer strong enough to do so. Rhys’s mum requested help to fund private transport to his hospice which can provide much loved and specialist care for Rhys. Smile For Life have awarded £515 which will cover the cost of four trips to Rachel House Hospice in Scotland which can provide the specialist care required for Rhys’s condition.

Max will enjoy a short break with his family in Yorkshire!

Max Wensby-Scott is 9 years old has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal muscle wasting disease requiring round the clock care. His mum requested funding for a short break in Yorkshire to give Max and his siblings a much needed holiday, providing quality, relaxing time together having never had a holiday before. The trustees of Smile For Life agreed to award a grant of £1460 to pay for a forest lodge and travel costs, allowing the family to enjoy this time together.