Sound the alarm – the family SEND event at Hertford Fire Station was a blazing success. A brand-new arrival wowed the SPACE team upon its entrance. Plus, we’re gearing up for our July fundraising week and The Great Big Walk for Herts in September. Dive into our May update for all the exciting details!
A million miles of smiles
A brand new minibus has been generously donated to SPACE Hertfordshire thanks to Variety Golf and all their members. This will enable us to help and support our most vulnerable and isolated families in our community.
A special thank you to Mark Lahiff, Frank Montanaro and Russell Kilikita for their personal donations to enable this to happen. We are so overwhelmed by the incredible support from all.
The new bus will be multifunctional, this is a marvellous donation and we look forward to utilising the minibus to support our families, children and young people.
SPACE families welcomed to Hertford Fire Station inclusive open day
More than 250 attendees from the SPACE community took advantage of the hot weather and beautiful blue skies, making the open day fun for all.
As intended, the event – in partnership with Therapeutic Hooves and Hertford Fire Station – was laid-back and enjoyable, aiming to provide our children and young people with a fantastic day. Families got to explore various stalls, see the fire engine and police car, test their firefighter skills with a hose and putting out flames, wander through the smoke house, dress up in costumes, visit the ice cream van, and enjoy drinks and complimentary burgers.
The excitement didn’t stop there with face painting, glitter tattoos, boxing glove sparring and a whirl on the bubble machine. They also had the opportunity to chill out in the SPACE sensory area. Many of our families commented on how relaxed and comfortable they felt, noting how their kids were having the best time.
The Hertford fire crew were fantastic, being engaging, supportive, and spreading smiles all around. A big thank you to the fire station for their hospitality and hosting such a fabulous day, and a special thank you to our friends at Therapeutic Hooves too.
Shh! SPACE Hertfordshire joins the Herts Book festival for quiet hour
To ensure that our families, children, and young people can always participate in local events and never miss out on any of the fun, we hosted a quiet hour at the Herts book festival.
During the quiet hour, the atmosphere was calm and relaxed, giving families the chance to familiarise themselves with the surroundings and settle in before the event opened to the public.
The author tent was abuzz with various stands, books, and lively conversations, offering delightful displays to explore. The event spanned across different tents, with the Hertford Castle gardens providing a picturesque backdrop, enhancing the peaceful atmosphere.
Our children and young people enjoyed making their own bookmarks and listening to the stories read by the authors present on the day. Oh, and let’s not to forget the scrumptious cake stall… mmm, yum!
A special thank you to children’s author, Lucy Plunkett, for sharing her wonderful book with us and generously contributing a storybook to our Lending SPACE. Also, a big thank you to children’s Author, Ann Graves, and the Herts Book Festival for welcoming SPACE and creating a safe environment for our families.
Get involved this summer: Helping Herts Week, 1st July – 5th July
The week promises to be a highlight as we set out to empower neurodiverse children and young people and their families. Teaming up with our charity partner, Helping Herts, they will match any funds raised during the five-day event, making it even more impactful!
We would love for you to join us – you can make your fundraiser whatever you want it to be.
There’s lots of ways you can support Helping Herts Week and raise money for SPACE. You can plan something at home, school, work or even on a zoom call. If you want to host something on your driveway, in a hall or local pub – you can.
Please do whatever you can, no amount raised is too big or too small – having you as part of our community is enough. Need some inspiration? Check out our A-Z of fundraising ideas to help spark an idea.
The official dates of the week are Monday, 1st – Friday, 5th July. For donations to qualify for match-funding, your fundraiser must take place within this week. Whether you raise £5, £15, or £50, every penny collected will support our ongoing efforts to be there for families facing challenging times.
We hope you can join us! Whether you have an idea or need some guidance, please send an email to fundraising@spaceherts.org.uk and we will help you get ready for Friday, 1st July.
Furry friends, paddle sports and more…
Our Guinea Pig friends made a grand return to Lending SPACE this month for some therapeutic cuddles and to visit our children and young people. They have definitely been missed!
Big and small SPACERs loved having the Guinea Pigs visit – patting them and feeding them carrot snacks. Yum! If you missed seeing the Guinea Pigs and would love to have a snuggle, book your free tickets now for when they visit again on Monday, 17th June.
Away from Lending SPACE – our children and young people zipped up their wet suits ready for an active adventure. They headed out on the water for a day of Paddle sports with our friends from Herts Young Mariners Base.
The group learnt the basics of paddling, controlling the boats and received a Level 1 certificate on completion. The day overflowed with splashing, rowing and endless fun – making it an enjoyable activity for all.
May was bursting with activity, other events included SPACE to Drive, Therapeutic Farming, SPACE Outdoors at The Patch, Indoor Climbing, Aerial Gymnastics, Ranger Stu Animal Encounter, Introduction to Fishing, SPACE for Girls, SPACE To Graffiti, Introduction to Roller Skating, Doughnutting, Pond Dipping and our first ever Gymnastics session.
Fundraising spotlight: Mikki and Connor vs The Fan Dance
Mikki and Connor took on some seriously intense hiking in support of families of neurodiverse children and young people. The remarkable duo have flown past their fundraising target, raising an epic £1,597 so far!
They didn’t just smash one target… aiming for a 5-hour hiking time, they blew past the SAS selection time with a 4 hours 15 minutes finish time carrying a hefty 16kg load. Absolutely incredible!
“Literally blood, sweat and nearly tears went in to the day, honestly the hardest physical and mental challenge I’ve ever put myself through”.
A huge thank you and congratulations to Mikki and Connor from the team at SPACE – we have been blown away by their efforts!
Feeling inspired by Mikki and Connor? Take on the SPACE Hertfordshire Great Big Walk with Helping Herts
Join #TeamSPACE and trek through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside around Hunston, Widford, Wareside and Great Amwell this September to raise much-needed funds for SPACE.
Will you put on your walking boots and stride 13.1 miles to support families of neurodivergent children and young people? 13.1 miles a step too far?
Whether it’s 3 miles, 5 miles, 7 miles or beyond – we would love to have you with us on the day. And if you need some extra encouragement, remember that all funds raised will be match-funded by our charity partner, Helping Herts.
Save the date – 28th September, 2024.
Places are limited – for more information, please email the SPACE Fundraising Team – fundraising@spaceherts.org.uk.
SPACE visit Broxbourne Community Event Volunteer Fair
At the beginning of May, our Community and Engagement team headed down to the Broxbourne Community Event Volunteer Fair, hosted by Communities First. It was a brilliant event held at the Laura Trott Leisure Centre in Cheshunt. With over 30 local organisations from Broxbourne and East Herts, the fair was an ideal spot for our team to tell attendees about SPACE and the volunteering opportunities available. This includes assisting at events and activities, supporting Lending SPACE, participating in support groups, fundraisers, and more.
Donating your time is a huge help to us – we welcome new volunteers with open arms! If you like to find out more about volunteering at SPACE, please email admin@spaceherts.org.uk.
Don’t forget to join the ‘SPACE Hertfordshire‘ eventbrite to stay up-to-date with upcoming workshops and courses, and events.
