Help us to transform the lives of children and young people across the UK by taking on a challenge that’s meaningful to you. Whether you decide to tackle a physical activity, a creative project, a personal goal or anything else besides, your efforts can make life lighter for those who need it most.

I would like to introduce myself my name is Rachael Addy and I am the activity coordinator at Deangate care home in Barnsley. We are residential but we also have a dementia suite. Every year the residents express that they wish to raise money for Children in need as they always say they are our next generation and should be cared for and given everything that is possible in life, and if they can help to give those children that need the most in life a bit of something by doing something that challenges them to raise money they will.

So with this in mind I have put a proposal forward to the rest of the care homes in our group 35+ homes and we hope to hold the largest Love to Move dementia based chair aerobics ( part of the national gymnastics foundation) session. This will be broadcast via zoom or teams and it will see hopefully hundreds of people across the uk getting involved to raise money for the Children in need appeal. The reason we have chosen Love to Move is we have seen the benefits within our home and want to spread the joy of the sessions with everyone. The routines are quite simple the music is set to a 1950s soundtrack and the residents, staff and families love it.

I am now I qualified deliverer and I can lead the session on the day as I mentioned we do it every week in our care home and the community and it’s amazing to see how the music and movement impacts the wellbeing of the residents. I hope also hoping to get the local toddler groups involved as they have joined us for these sessions in the home and the happiness that it brings to both parties is fantastic, it radiates through.

We do hope that this will draw a lot of interest and in turn raise a substantial amount for children in need this year. We are looking forward to this challenge you are more than welcome to join us for this event as we think it will be amazing. PS fancy dress is a must!!!!

.