Spotlight UK South East

NOMINATIONS WANTED:-

Do you know a child who deserves a special treat or a fun day out.

Spotlight UK's Scarlett's smiles appeal is looking for nominations of children who have been affected by domestic abuse, loss or separation, terminal illness, mental health issues, long term disabilities, and young carers or who have done something amazing and inspirational that needs celebrating like fundraising for a special cause or who have done an act of bravery

To nominate please [email protected] giving details of the child's name, age, area they live and why you are nominating them.

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Spotlight UK are launching our charity summer raffle In aid of our Scarlett's smiles appeal which provides special experiences and treats for children affected by domestic abuse, loss or separation, terminal illness, mental health issues, long term disabilities, and young carers.

Tickets are £3

Prizes include:-

Family of 4 to Thorpe Park
Family of 5 to 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park Hampshire
Family of upto 6 people to High Score Arcade in Newbury
Family of upto 6 people to High Score Arcade in Farnborough
Family of upto 6 people to Beale Park
Family of upto 6 people to Paddle Boarding at Dinton Pastures in Wokingham
Family of upto 6 people to see Inside Out at Aldershot Cinema
Family of upto 6 people to see Garfield Movie at Aldershot cinema
Family of upto 6 people Ice Skating at Planet Ice in Basingstoke
Family of upto 6 people Ice Skating at Spectrum in Guildford

And more....

To enter please [email protected]

Hi All
As you can imagine, we have been receiving lots of email enquiries and bookings for our discounted days out well over 400 bookings since the middle of July which we have been trying to work through and have already booked over 2000 people our summer holiday activity with more bookings to work. Please if you have emailed but have not received a reply as yet please bare with us as we are currently on holiday until end of the month but we are responding to emails daily whilst on holiday sorry please be patient and also please check spam folder as a number of families have found our responses in spam or in the email address that the form generated when you completed the form.

Family Fun at discounted prices

DISCOUNTED FAMILY DAYS OUT TO BEALE PARK & LIVING RAINFOREST. TICKETS £5 PER PERSON. VARIOUS DATES AVAILABLE BASED ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS.

Email [email protected] to book

Spotlight UK charity is looking to rebrand after 15 years and we are appealing for help from local children.

We are in need of a new logo and so we thought we would ask the local children to have a go at designing a new one for us. The logo will be used on our teams' t-shirts and on all social media and new flyers. The winner of the new logo will win themselves a family of 4 day out to either Chessington, Legoland or Thorpe Park.
The new logo needs to include the words Spotlight UK, Scarlett's Smiles and creating positive memories. The rest is up to the children.

We also would like to invite the children to take part in our create competition which will be for ages 5-8s, 8-11s, 11-16 years. The idea for this is for the children and young people to draw pictures or write stories, write a song or poem about Spotlight UK's Scarlett's Smiles' work. (no more than one side of A4). More information about our work can be found on our website www.spotlightuk.org. Each category winners and runners up will win some great prizes including days out, or fun activities like paddleboarding, donutting and more.

Some background to help.

Scarlett's Smiles has been inspired by an amazing young lady who has been part of Spotlight for a couple of years. She battles daily with a condition called Chiari Malformation which causes fluid to leak onto her spine causing pain and weakness. She has already had 2 lots of brain surgery yet she never stops smiling and always wants to help other children and bring hope and smiles. So we have teamed up with Scarlett to help make a difference in children's lives. Hence Spotlight UK's Scarlett's smiles has been born.

Spotlight UK's Scarlett's Smiles provides low cost family fun activities like bowling, laser tag, swimming, paddleboarding and more to make it affordable for all children and families
Spotlight UK's Scarlett's Smiles provides free fun activities and special experiences like trips to Chessington, trips to see a musical in London, paddleboarding and more to children who are struggling at the moment maybe due to them or a family member having a disability whether this is a mental health issue or physical health issue, or them being a young carer, or they may have lost a family member, or they have a parent/carer serving in our armed forces. Spotlight UK's Scarlett's smiles aims to bring hope and a bit of happiness.

Spotlight UK's Scarlett's Smiles provides free pick me up packs to children which aim to bring a smile to children's faces.
Spotlight UK's Scarlett's Smiles provides Christmas presents to children who may not have any at Christmas.

All competition entries must be received by 14th July. Entries can be emailed to [email protected] or posted or delivered to Spotlight UK, 7 Wi******er Street, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7ED.

Hello We are appealing to any local businesses to see if they would be willing to donate a raffle prize to help us raise money for Spotlight UK's Scarlett's Smiles Campaign which provides trips out, special experiences and fun activities to children who have long term physical disabilities, or mental health issues or terminal illness, children who have been affected by domestic abuse, children in care and young carers across Hart & Rushmoor

If you can help please email us at [email protected]

What is Spotlight's Scarlett's Smiles all about....

Scarlett at 10 years of age has sadly spent the majority of her lifetime in and out of hospital nearly losing her life as a baby through pneumonia. She has since been diagnosed with two serious neurological conditions Chairi Malformation type 1 and Syringomyelia.

Chairi means the lower part of Scarlett's brain pushes down into the spinal canal causing blockages which in turn has allowed fluid to form within her spinal cord known as a syrinx.

Scarlett sadly has an extensive syrinx that causes her nerve and spinal damage which in turn causes extreme leg pain, weakness and balance issues.

On a daily basis Scarlett lives with an intense deep exhaustion that makes every movement feel like she is trying to move at the bottom of the ocean. She suffers with sensitive heat intolerance, difficulty concentrating and walking. The simplest of tasks can take her 5 times longer.

At the end of 2020 Scarlett had her first major brain surgery to try to decrease the fluid on her spine. Sadly the surgery was not fully successful.

She then had a 2nd major brain surgery last October 2023 aged 9 where they placed a stent(small tube) into her brain to try and direct the brain fluid correctly around her body and not further onto her spine. Only time will tell if this. surgery will be a success.

Scarlett is registered disabled and due to her medical conditions has weakened leg muscles and reduced mobility. For any distance Scarlett has to use a wheelchair and will use crutches at school and outside.

Chairi Malformation type 1 also can produce extreme fatigue, balance issue sometimes and muscle weakness.

She is one of the bravest little super stars I know 🤗

Despite Scarlett being under two hospitals, four separate consulting teams and weekly medical appointments she is such a happy, brave and kind young lady. She will often put others above herself. She really enjoys spending time with other poorly children facing surgery listening to their worries and trying to put them a little at ease.

Yet despite all that Scarlett has to cope with she never stops smiling, she is a fighter and a true inspiration. She will attend dance classes and activities yet will go home in tears because she is in so much pain but doesnt want to give in or give up.

Scarlett wants to inspire other children and help them through their difficulties.

This is why Spotlight's Scarlett's Smiles was born. Between Spotlight UK and Scarlett we want to bring hope and smiles to children's faces where they are struggling with life.

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Hi Can you help to bring a bit of hope and a smile to a child's face.

For every £5 raised we can provide a fun new activity for a child to help improve mental health, build friendships and create new positive memories

Please donate via the link https://square.link/u/5zdopRHE?src=sheet

According to national statistics, 1 in every 5 children are currently experiencing a mental health issue due to either trauma including loss or separation, or after experiencing physical or sexual abuse, or a children has a long term medical condition and at present the average waiting time is over a year to get help from CAMHS (Child and Adolescence Mental Health Services)

We aim to create new fun memories for children and with your help we can help to improve mental wellbeing of children.

Hello Everyone. We are currently experiencing issues sending emails from our email accounts especially to those who have a yahoo email account. If you have sent an email in the last few days please can you contact us by phoning 07804880072.

We would like to say a big thank you to the staff, parents and children at Cambridge Primary school for their amazing fundraising efforts which will go towards our support group for children who have experienced loss and separation. This will enable us to provide fun activities to help provide respite and create positive memories.