donate now
donate now
logotype
Author: Sarah Tulley
SNAPS logo
News
November 14, 2024

Notice of SNAPS AGM: Saturday, 30th November 2024

We will be holding our Annual General Meeting 2024 on Saturday, 30th November at 10.00am. It will take place at Penny Field School, Tongue Lane, Meanwood, Leeds, LS6 4QD.

Everyone is welcome to join us and we would especially love as many parents as possible to  come along.  It’s a chance to hear about SNAPS’ service delivery from the past year, our finances and the management of the charity. It is also an opportunity to raise any suggestions or concerns you may have. We are driven by our families’ needs, so your feedback is incredibly important to us.

For further information about the AGM or to request to attend, please email Lucy Owen:  lucy@snapsyorkshire.org.

We hope to see you there! 

  1. Notice of the Annual General Meeting, November 2024 
  2. Minutes of SNAPS AGM, January 2024
  3. Nominations: November 2024
  4. Summary of Accounts: April 2023 to March 2024
  5. SNAPS Annual Accounts: April 2023 – March 2024
By Sarah Tulley
SNAPS trustees
News
November 5, 2024

Celebrating Trustees Week

This week is Trustees Week, a time to step back and recognise the amazing contribution made by charity trustees.

There are almost one million trustees across the UK, and we are very lucky to have nine brilliant trustees of our own. They are: Chris Eatwell (Chair), Ross McWilliams (Vice Chair), Paul Rowson (Vice Chair), Lora Bedford (trustee), Victoria Moss (trustee), Sunjay Chauhan (trustee), Debbie Hingerton (trustee), Tom Wake (trustee) and Shelley Sheridan (trustee).

This wonderful group of volunteers give up their time to help SNAPS to thrive. They work collectively as a board, ensuring that our charity is run as effectively as possible and that we are complying with our legal requirements. Within our board, we aim to have a mix of skills to cover the various complexities that the trustees discuss in their meetings.  Each trustee is a great support to the staff team and an invaluable part of the SNAPS family.

Some of our trustees are also SNAPS parents,  ensuring that our families voices remain at the heart of everything we do. This includes Lora Bedford, whose family has been coming to SNAPS since 2017.  

Lora Bedford and family

“Becoming a trustee is a role which I feel is really important, as I can help to bring the voice of all parents back to the board, drive change where needed and continue delivering the incredible services that are already provided. I am immensely proud to be a part of this wonderful charity.”
 – Lora Bedford 

This year’s Trustees Week happens to coincide with Chris Eatwell’s ten year anniversary as Chair of SNAPS. Chris came on board in 2014, when our charity was really struggling and in danger of closing down. He set the foundations for SNAPS to grow dramatically and deliver a wider range of services to many more families.

Chris says: “When I first joined the Board, our greatest asset was the enthusiasm of the families and children, who were so keen for SNAPS to survive. This has been a ten-year programme of strong managed growth, investment in development, creativity and bold decisions, led by the certainty that our model was right and would enable SNAPS to continue supporting children with additional needs and their families.

“We have built something of value. Our contribution is important to our city of Leeds – our actions in supporting children and their families, in delivering quality therapeutic outcomes, our presence on the decision making bodies across the city, our strong voice helping to deliver messages about the struggle of lived experience on behalf of the voiceless. This has all helped to make our city and our communities better places to live.

“I have loved helping to build this multi-award winning movement of ours. It truly is a thing of pride and passion, of belief in a better future, of the drive to change what is wrong or doesn’t work as well as it might, and to make a better world.”

We are also sorry to say that our wonderful Vice Chair Ross McWilliams will be stepping down as Trustee. Ross joined the Board in 2016 and his support has been invaluable. From fantastic advice and support at Board meetings, to being the friendly Boccia face for families at Saturday sessions, and dressing up as a superhero to brave our Superhero Knockout Challenge obstacle course! We are all hugely grateful for all his wonderful support over the years.  He has been an incredibly committed member of the Board and we are very sad to see him leave.

Ross says: “I first came across SNAPS working as a medical negligence solicitor at Irwin Mitchell, who have supported SNAPS for many years. When there was an opportunity to apply to become a trustee and I decided to give it a go. Being a SNAPS trustee has been such a rewarding and enjoyable experience. I have met some amazing people along the way and been part of something really special, helping to grow a relatively small charity into the organisation it is today.

“Whilst my term as a SNAPS trustee is sadly coming to an end, I want to continue to be involved with this amazing charity and I am certain that I will become a trustee again in the future.”

We are so thankful to each of our Trustees, we couldn’t do what we do without them!

Find out more about Trustees week here: https://trusteesweek.org/

By Sarah Tulley
Leeds water taxi
News
October 11, 2024

Stranded for SNAPS: a challenge with a difference!

A group of SNAPS supporters are taking on a fundraising challenge with a difference this month!

By Sarah Tulley
Winning photos for The Howards photography co mpetition
News
September 26, 2024

The Howards: winners announcement

Announcing the winners of our photography competition!

By Sarah Tulley
SNAPS Superhero Challenge starting line
News
September 11, 2024

Superhero Challenge Success!

The SNAPS Superhero Challenge 2024 was our biggest yet! 

On Sunday, 8th September, we were joined by over 100 children and their families for the best superhero party in town.

Children were entertained by Super Girl, Super Mario and other superheroes, and were also able to meet real-life superheroes from the fire brigade and police. The Lord Mayor of Leeds led a warm-up ahead of families setting off on their zoom around the athletics track and presented each child with their own special medal and goody bag.

Children then enjoyed a giant bouncy castle, inflatable obstacle course, face painting, craft area, slime, soft play and other activities.

This event was generously sponsored by Enfinium, Irwin Mitchell, Wade’s Charity and Taylor Wimpey.  Volunteers from the Scouts, Grove Park Care Home, HSBC, Direct Line and Irwin Mitchell also kindly gave their time to help on the day.

The second ever SNAPS Corporate Knockout Challenge took place, with teams from Irwin Mitchell, HSBC, Grove Park Care Home and SNAPS battling it out to for the coveted champions trophy. We would like to congratulate Irwin Mitchell on being our 2024 winners!

The event has so far raised an incredible £9,797 in sponsorship and donations, which is fantastic! These funds will go towards providing vital support services to children and families.

Press coverage for the event included a feature in the Yorkshire Evening Post and interviews with BBC Radio Leeds (you can still listen to Lora and the brilliant Phoenix here, skip ahead to 1hr 40 mins). 

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to the event – from families to volunteers, we hope that you had a wonderful time and see you next year!

We have more fantastic photos to share on our Facebook page, take a look via the link below. 

Click here to view more photos
Children running on a race track
Mayor of Leeds with Children at the SNAPS Superhero Challenge
Child dressed as superhero enjoying an inflatable slide.
Child dressed as superhero reaching the finish line
By Sarah Tulley
SNAPS SHC sept 2440
In The Press
September 11, 2024

SNAPS Superhero Challenge zooms into the news!

The SNAPS Superhero Challenge 2024 was a big success, with over 100 children and their families joining us for a fun-filled day. 

We also secured some local press coverage for the event, including a photo feature in The Yorkshire Evening Post – take a look here. 

Press coverage ahead of the event included a piece in The Yorkshire Post,  as well as interviews with BBC Radio Leeds. The lovely Tim was interviewed about his daughter Florence taking part in the challenge, whilst Lora and Phoenix also featured ahead of the day. 

You can still listen to Lora and the brilliant Phoenix here (just skip ahead to 1hr 40 mins). 

Meanwhile, Taylor Wimpey’s sponsorship of the event also featured in the Yorkshire Post.

By Sarah Tulley
Business Heroes
News
September 5, 2024

Photography Competition: The Howards!

Our late Trustee Howard Pickles was a wonderful photographer and always managed to capture special moments at SNAPS’ events. With this in mind, we thought that a photography competition, which we’ve named ‘The Howards’, would be a fitting way to honour him. 

So, if you’re coming along to the SNAPS Superhero Challenge on Sunday, 8th September, don’t forget to take some snaps to be in with a chance of winning! There are three prizes up for grabs:

1st place: A family pass to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park (for up to two adults and four children)
2nd place: A children’s digital camera
3rd place: Your photo made into a children’s jigsaw

Some suggested themes/ ideas for photos are: 

  • Smiles for SNAPS: a photo that captures the fun of the Superhero Challenge 
  • Action Shot: a photo that captures the Zoom or one of the activities
  • Humour: a photo capturing a funny or unexpected moment 

Howard’s family have kindly agreed to judge the contest and they will be looking for the best photo that captures the essence of the Superhero Challenge!

How to enter:

  • Submit your photo/s to: fundraising@snapsyorkshire.org
  • The closing date is Sunday, 15th September
  • The competition is limited to three entries per family 

Once your submission is received, we will send you a consent form to ensure that you and all of those present within the photograph are happy for the photo to be shared within future PR. All photos submitted will be featured in a Facebook album.

Winners will be announced on social media and our website on Wednesday 25th September. Good luck! 

By Sarah Tulley
SNAPS logo
News
August 8, 2024

Our latest Impact Report

We’re very pleased to share our latest Impact Report, which illustrates the support we’ve been able to provide to children with additional needs and their families over the past 12 months.

We’re proud of everything that we’ve achieved over the past year, including: 

Support for 180 families every month across Leeds and West Yorkshire
341 hydrotherapy sessions
204 swimming lessons
174 stay and play sessions
40 dance sessions
10 family support sessions

…and much more!

Our report isn’t just about numbers, though. We also wanted to hear directly from the families we work with to find out how our services have helped them. Through our impact questionnaire, we were told that:  

Over 90% of families attending SNAPS have seen improved mental health for them and their children, improved feelings of isolation and improved feelings of happiness. 

83% of families saw improvements to their child’s physical health with 73% reporting improvements to their child’s pain.

100% of families who attend SNAPS with a sibling without additional needs saw an improvement to their feelings of happiness.

We couldn’t have achieved this without the hard work of our amazing team, our brilliant supporters and of course the amazing children and their families that we work with! 

To read the SNAPS Impact Report 2024 in full, click the button below. 

View the SNAPS 2024 Impact Report in full here
By Sarah Tulley
Mark Bramfitt
News
July 31, 2024

Mark Bramfitt raises over £3,000 for SNAPS! 

Our friend Mark Bramfitt has once again undertaken a fundraising challenge for SNAPS, this time raising over £3,000!

Mark raised the funds by completing a sponsored football themed distance challenge using the cycle, row and cross trainer machines at his gym. He completed over 435 km, the equivalent of travelling between Leeds, Manchester United and Liverpool football stadiums!

Both Mark and his wife, Ann, are passionate about supporting children’s charities. They chose to raise money for SNAPS as their grandson, Jack, faces challenges from acute epilepsy and cerebral palsy because of complications at birth. Jack and his family come to SNAPS sessions at Penny Fields school, where he enjoys hydrotherapy and rebound therapy.

Ann says: “It’s heartwarming to see how much Jack enjoys his sessions with SNAPS, and we’ve really witnessed him growing stronger and more confident along the way.”

 

This isn’t the first time that Mark has raised money for SNAPS, having raised over £4,500 for SNAPS previously through two challenges, including a step challenge. Mark says: “Every child deserves the very best that life has to offer. SNAPS is such a great setting for families to meet and provide mutual support. It’s so important for families with children with additional needs to know that they are not alone.” 

Mark is also the Development Manager and Coach for North East Leeds Juniors. He believes that football should be for everyone, regardless of their abilities, and he’s committed to never turning a child away. He says: “I’ve had kids with additional needs join our sessions, and it fills me with joy to see them progress. I truly believe in the power of sports to boost confidence, teach valuable life skills, and promote the importance of exercise and being outdoors.

“Before Jack came into our lives, we didn’t know much about children with complex and additional needs, but we’ve learned so much since. These kids are incredibly special and deserve every chance to live life to the fullest, no matter what extra support they might need.”

A huge thank you to Mark and Ann from all of us at SNAPS! You are an inspiration and your fundraising efforts are hugely appreciated. Every penny raised makes such a huge difference and helps us to keep doing what we do. 

Inspired by Mark? Find out more about fundraising for SNAPS here.

By Sarah Tulley
Howard Pickles
News
July 17, 2024

Howard Pickles

21st January 1961 – 15th June 2024

We were incredibly sad to hear that our good friend Howard Pickles passed away last month. 

Howard had been Treasurer on SNAPS’ Board of Trustees since 2017 helping us to ensure that SNAPS’ finances were in the best possible health.  His expert knowledge and advice were incredibly valuable to the management of SNAPS and helped ensure that the charity remained in a solid financial position.  As well as his financial acumen, Howard was a skilled photographer who gave his time willingly to beautifully capture the key moments at SNAPS’ events.  He was fantastic with SNAPS’ staff, volunteers and families, and his cheeky grin always managed to generate a true smile from his subjects.  I am sure everyone who came to SNAPS Superhero Challenge will remember him fondly.

Howard was generous with his time, expertise, and the care he showed to everyone who met him.  We send our love to Anne, James, Kate and all his family at this difficult time.  We will miss his knowledge, sense of humour and kindness greatly but his incredible support of SNAPS, in so many ways, will leave a lasting legacy that no one will forget. 

-Lucy Owen, Chief Executive, SNAPS 

By Sarah Tulley
Skip to content