Monday, 22 August 2011 13:58

Making musical memories that will last a lifetime!

For the first time children’s charity CHICKS are partnering up with Plymouth Music Zone to give disadvantaged children a very special treat. And all thanks to a tweet!

As a charity CHICKS provide free respite breaks to underprivileged children from across the UK, while Plymouth Music Zone provides high quality tailored music workshops for young people, often from challenging backgrounds. The partnership was obvious and all came about thanks to Twitter.

Debbie Geraghty, Plymouth Music Zone’s Development Director, tweeted Leila Nottage, CHICKS Deputy Head of Fundraising, to suggest a coffee. After seeing the amazing facilities Leila could see how CHICKS children would hugely benefit. “The set up at Plymouth Music Zone is truly incredible and right on our doorstep. We aim to give children a life changing respite break away from their home troubles, I am positive that a morning at Plymouth Music Zone will provide lasting memories for all of the children on camp.”

Plymouth Music Zone’s Development Director, Debbie Geraghty says it’s a case of great minds think alike: “As soon as we met up with CHICKS we realised whether it’s respite breaks or music, we both work with children and young people from very similar backgrounds who have to overcome lots of obstacles in their lives. Music is a fantastic way for all these children to express themselves. I have no doubt bringing the two charities together to work in this way will bring some really inspiring results and fantastic music.”

A crucial part of the CHICKS break involves sending every child home with a memory bag including photos of their time on camp. For the children attending Paso Doble camp, they will leave with an extra special treat! They will make their own song, which Plymouth Music Zone will make into a CD for every child to take home. A life long reminder of the great experiences they’ve shared with new friends.

CHICKS and Plymouth Music Zone would be delighted for a select few to attend the session in August, if this is of interest please contact Leila Nottage on 01822 811118. The charities aim to work together in the future giving many more children this incredible opportunity.

END

CHICKS Notes for Editors:

1, CHICKS was founded in 1992. Our aim is to provide disadvantaged children from across the UK with a free respite break.

2, In 2011 we want to give 1,200 disadvantaged children a much needed break.

3, We have two retreats in the South West and our breaks run from March to December.

4, The children CHICKS care for come from a variety of backgrounds. Many have been abused, live in poverty, or have been neglected. Others live in care or are themselves young carers, often bearing the extraordinary responsibility of caring for disabled or terminally ill relatives. What they have in common is the desperate need to create some positive childhood memories, to be listened to, and to have the kind of fun that all children deserve.

5, In October 2011 CHICKS hope to celebrate taking their 9000th child on camp since they began in 1992 - a landmark they can only reach with support. The charity receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of individuals, organizations, community groups, trusts and foundations.

6, At CHICKS children can run free and be completely safe. Every child gets the total attention of CHICKS fully trained supervisors, and are made to feel cared for and valued.

*           We request that journalists include the website in all reporting www.chicks.org.uk

*           We request that journalists refer to CHICKS breaks as respite breaks and not holidays

Contact:

Leila Nottage, Deputy Head of Fundraising and Communications
T:         01822 811118
E:         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M:        07789 642915

www.chicks.org.uk
www.facebook.com/chickscharity 
www.twitter.com/CHICKScharity

Registered Charity in England and Wales (1080953) and in Scotland (SCO40536) 

Plymouth Music Zone – Notes for Editor

Plymouth Music Zone (PMZ) is an award winning community music organisation that provides high quality tailored music workshops for young people and training for adults. PMZ works with some of the most disadvantaged people in Plymouth, reaching nearly 1000 children and young people every week through the delivery of up to 70 music activities across the city and at our bespoke education centre located in Devonport. 95% of our music provision targets children and young people defined as being 'at risk' with more than a third of that delivery involving children and young people with disabilities.

As a charity, we work with over 100 partner organisations annually using music as a tool to develop emotional wellbeing and the personal and social skills of those participants identified as being most in need. We employ highly skilled Music Leaders who deliver a diverse range of interactive music-making workshops that engage young people in their own musical and social development. We put young people at the heart of what we do and our slogan 'music making a difference' describes a passionate mission that focuses on transforming lives through music. PMZ has won awards recognising the innovative nature of its work and in our last 12 years, Independent Evaluations have provided powerful evidence of the deep impact of what we do in developing and improving a broad range of areas such as self-confidence/self-esteem, self-expression, communication and interpersonal skills.

Contact:

Debbie Geraghty, Development Director, Plymouth Music Zone

T:         01752 213690
E:         This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.plymouthmusiczone.org.uk 
www.facebook.com/PlymouthMusicZone
www.twitter.com/PMZOfficial

Charity No. 1100878