Supporting the Kids Charity: Making a Difference in Sutton Coldfield and Beyond
In the heart of Sutton Coldfield, every stride taken during the Seven Pools Run resonates with more than just the rhythm of athletic enthusiasm. Each step taken by the runners not only allows them to bask in the natural beauty of Sutton Park but also serves a profound purpose: supporting the Kids charity. All profits from the run are donated to the charity. This isn’t just about running; it’s about running for a cause, one that has been transforming the lives of disabled children, young people, and their families for over five decades.
What Kids Does: A Legacy of Support and Empowerment
Kids has been a beacon of hope and support for over 50 years, offering a wide array of services nationally. Their commitment spans three pivotal areas:
- Information, Advice & Family Support: Ensuring that families are well-informed and can access the help they need.
- Play and Social: Creating spaces for fun, interaction, and growth.
- Learning and Development: Ensuring every child gets the opportunities they deserve.
In the past year alone, Kids has provided almost 225,000 hours of support, including over 40,000 hours of online assistance. They have positively impacted the lives of nearly 15,000 disabled children, young people, and their families.
Real Stories, Real Impact
Georgia Chambers, a young service user, beautifully encapsulates the transformative power of Kids. She credits the organisation for continuous support in various life areas, stating, “Kids have continued to support me… Now I live independently, help teach other young disabled people to ride horses and am more confident in having the future I want and deserve.”
Another testament to Kids’ invaluable support comes from a parent who found solace and guidance during challenging times. “I was very stressed… SEND Navigator supported us in accessing services… I am less stressed now as I can see change happening and extra support for my children.”
Our Mission & Strategy
We’re here for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, young carers and families. We’re on a mission to create a world where all kinds of children
and young people have all kinds of opportunities. We create life-changing opportunities by providing a wide range of support. Together, we’ll empower disabled children to stand up for their rights. Childhood should be a joyful time. But some children and young people living with special educational needs and disabilities are defined by what they cannot do. That’s wrong.
Every child should have an equal opportunity to play, learn, grow and thrive.
Our strategic plan will enable us to reach at least 120,000 disabled young people and their families, every year, by 2027.
Because when the world say we can’t, kids say we can.
Our values
Kids is an opportunity creator, and our values inform how we behave as a brand and a workforce; what’s important to us as an organisation; and how we communicate with the public.
Celebrate Individuality
Over two million children and young people in England live with disabilities and special educational needs. All are brilliantly unique. We tailor our approach to the needs of every individual.
Think creatively
Creativity is the ability to think up new ideas, combining expertise with imagination. We create life-changing opportunities for families by providing and inventing a wide range of services.
Work Together
Working together is about our willpower to make a positive difference. It is about putting kindness into action. Our determination to do our best for every family.
Speak Up
Speaking up isn’t about being negative. Far from it. It’s all about amplifying the voices of children and young people to achieve positive social change.
Running for a Greater Good
Participating in the Seven Pools Run goes beyond personal achievement. It’s a collective effort to support a genuinely noble cause, ensuring that the Kids charity continues its invaluable work. So, when you set foot in Sutton Park for the run, remember: every step you take contributes to creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Kids 2022-2027: A Bold Strategy for an Inclusive Future
As we usher in a new era for Kids, the organisation is thrilled to unveil a strategy that sets the stage for transformative growth and impactful change over the next five years. Kids’ commitment to supporting disabled young people and their families remains unwavering. With the launch of this new strategy, Kids aims to extend its reach, touching the lives of 120,000 disabled young people and their families annually by 2027.
Amplifying Voices and Driving Change
Central to the new strategy is the emphasis on amplifying the voices of disabled children, young carers, and their families. Kids recognises the inherent power and potential within these communities and seeks to empower them as agents of change. This empowerment is not just a goal but a means to propel the organisation forward, ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all.
A New Chapter, A Renewed Commitment
Building on its rich 50-year history, Kids is poised to embark on an ambitious journey, underscored by a refreshed strapline, vision, and mission. The strategy is anchored in the organisation’s unwavering commitment to support and empower disabled children and young people, irrespective of the nature of their disability or special educational need.
Innovative Plans for the Future
Kids’ forward-looking strategy encompasses:
- Digital Connectivity: The creation of a national digital hub, co-designed to foster connections among disabled young people and facilitate their interaction with Kids.
- Transformative Support: The introduction of innovative support models specially tailored for under-5s with special educational needs.
- Collaborative Service Design: The exploration of novel service delivery methods, built on the insights and feedback of families, carers, and young people.
- Policy Advocacy: A proactive approach to influencing regional and national policy, championing reforms at every conceivable level.
Voices from Kids
Kids Chief Executive, Katie Ghose, expressed her pride and optimism about the strategy, emphasising its roots in the insights and needs of disabled children, young people, and their families. She highlighted the timeliness of the strategy, especially in light of the upcoming government review of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (the SEND review).
Georgia Chambers, a young beneficiary of Kids’ services, expressed her enthusiasm for the strategy, which she believes truly embodies Kids’ renewed vision. She emphasised the pivotal role of face-to-face services and the digital hub in reshaping the experiences of children, young people, and families. Her message was clear: for this strategy to truly make a difference, collective support and commitment are imperative.
In Conclusion
The 2022-2027 strategy is more than just a roadmap for Kids. It’s a promise — a commitment to change, growth, and the unwavering support of disabled young people and their families. With collective effort and dedication, Kids is poised to make a monumental impact in the coming years, championing the rights, needs, and aspirations of those it serves.
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