Winter Funland 2022
By Birmingham Children’s Trust
Partnership working is at the heart of all we do because together we can do so much to make a huge difference for our young people.
Our aspiration as Corporate Parents in Birmingham has always been to offer young people and adults known to Birmingham Childrens Trust and its network live changing opportunities that for many reasons they may never experience.
Birmingham Childrens Trust and its Charity Bfriends Friends of Birmingham Childrens Trust have been working closely in partnership with Street Games and Birmingham City Council on the Holiday Activity and Food Fund since 2021 developing activities and holiday programmes for young people known to the Trust.
In December 2022 Bfriends aspired to give as many young people and families a magical experience together in addition to Holiday Activity and Food Fund programmes that young people were attending across the City as a celebration.
Bfriends worked in partnership with Winter Funland at the NEC and StreetGames on a special Charitable Collaboration.
3600 young people and families joined together at the NEC and enjoyed a magical charitable evening including Ice Skating, and hundreds of exciting rides and experiences for all ages. Winter Funland was full of energy, smiles and laughter as young people built new memories together to last a lifetime.
Winter Funland gifted over 95% of the cost of 3,600 tickets to Bfriends Charity, the retail costs of this would have been £86,520. In addition, £3,948 towards food vouchers for young people known to the trust was provided. The whole programme came in at £122,780.00 with the match funding received at £90,468.
The Holiday Activity and food fund additionally supported this event ensuring that all young people aged 6-16 years could attend.
In total 3,600 young people including accompanying adults and friends attended the event this included hundreds of young people that attended Holiday Programmes led by community providers in partnership with Street Games.
Young people across the Trust were supported to attend through the following teams Adoption, Fostering, Edge of Care, EmpowerU, Family Support and area Social Work teams.
Seven coaches were provided from points across the City to enable families from communities and groups and forums to attend, in total 700 guests were provided with transport.
Ellie age 11 who attended the Winter Funland said” I was so excited to try Ice Skating and go on the rides with the friends I have made in my holiday club. I have never been to the circus or fairground before “
Carol a Foster Carer with Birmingham Childrens Trust Said “ to be able to bring the whole family to this event has made our Christmas, the faces of the young people lit up as soon as they arrived and they have so many memories and photographs to last a lifetime”
Natalie Loon Operations and Fundraising Manager Bfriends Charity said” the charitable partnership we have with Winter Funland and Street Games is incredibly important and enables opportunities like this for our young people.
We know Christmas is not always an easy time for everyone and we want to ensure that our young people continue to have meaningful holiday activities but also those special lasting moments like Winter Funland that can be cherished for a lifetime”
In 2023 we plan to build on this offer and provide life changing experiences throughout the year and we believe with the incredible family of partners we have that together we can change lives”