Little Miracles are finalists in the ITV People's Projects!
With your help we could win £70,000 and help another 5,000 disabled children.
Watch our campaign video using the link below and see us on the ITV 6 o'clock news on Wednesday 17th May.
Results are dependent on a public vote, so please share with as many people as you can!
Voting is live until midday on Friday 26th May.
Peterborough children’s charity Little Miracles have been given a £1,000 boost from a builders merchant which has opened in the city.
To mark the opening of its new branch on Padholme Road East, Selco Builders Warehouse ran a Community Heroes initiative to donate £1,000 to a charity or community group in Peterborough.
Little Miracles, which supports children and young adults with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions was selected as the winner and will use the money to take a group of 800 children, parents and carers to Legoland.
On the 27th April we relaunched our quarterly Ambassador's lunch at the Holiday Inn West in Peterborough.
The event was a great success, 30 supporters from a variety of businesses heard about how Michelle started Little Miracles, the impact that our support has on families and ways in which they can work together and help us succeed.
You do not have to be a member of our Ambassador scheme to attend the lunch, rather someone who would like to network with other like-minded people, find out more about how we help families of children with disabilities and come together to help us grow.
This April, Little Miracles are taking part in a charity poll hosted by money saving giants My Favourite Voucher Codes.
Every month, My Favourite Voucher Codes donate 20% of their profits to charity. However, with so many great charities in need of funding, they need help deciding who to donate to, so they run a monthly poll where 4 charities are given the opportunity to win the donation!
Throughout the month, the public votes for the charity they want to see get the donation, and this month Little Miracles are one of their nominated charities!
So that’s where you come in - we need as many votes as possible to secure this donation, which will help us to support more families with children who have disabilities, additional needs and life-limiting conditions.
Everyone gets 1 vote, it is 100% free to vote and there is no need to sign up or enter any details.
How Do I Vote in the Poll?
Voting in the My Favourite Voucher Codes poll is super easy, and takes just 2 clicks.
The poll will remain live from 1st April 2023 to midnight 30th April 2023.
*The poll will be displayed near the bottom of the screen on mobile devices.
Who Are My Favourite Voucher Codes?
My Favourite Voucher Codes are a voucher code website who help online shoppers to save money through free discount codes, offers and deals. From 30% off washing machines to free theatre tickets, they have something for everyone to help the pennies go further.
Every time you shop with one of their voucher codes, you are helping raise money for good causes too! Since 2012 they have raised over £64,000 for charity through their monthly polls.
So if you have a few seconds to spare, we would really appreciate it if you could cast your vote for Little Miracles and help us win this much-needed donation!
Thank you for your support.
Peterborough's Little Miracles blown away by generosity of volunteers as children's centre given brand new makeover in just 12 hours
Volunteers from the Good Deeds 24 Project have transformed the Little Miracles Centre in Peterborough.
On Friday 14th April 23, BBC's The One Show reported on Good Deeds 24, a project led by Atiq Rehman, which brought together a group of people to spread positivity, aid and goodwill across Peterborough and Luton.
Little Miracles' Head Quarters was built by the DIY SOS Children In Need team in 2013. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been through the doors of The Spinney and naturally the building was looking a little 'tired' in places.
Between 8pm and 8am on the evening of the 27th March a team of 35 trades people transformed our beloved Spinney to its former glory.
The One Show's Alex Jones reports on the Good Deeds 24 tranformation
Andy and Maria Thomas from AT Installations Services Limited led the months of planning and fundraising which went into the project. The team delivered a brand-new kitchen, newly installed toilets and redecorated cubicles, a complete repaint of the corridor, sensory room and main activity room, and a calm, inviting counselling space with storage to die for... all in 12 hours!
We are completely overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of everyone involved with the Good Deeds 24 project.
Families with children who have additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions can feel isolated, excluded and scared. The Spinney is home to many of the accessible, inclusive activities and support services that Little Miracles offers to ensure that no one has to go through that journey alone. The difference that the Good Deeds 24 team has made to the lives of the thousands of families and the staff who work here is enormous.
The incredible transformation of The Spinney
We are so, so grateful to everyone involved in the project. Particular thanks go to:
Andy and Maria Thomas, Callum and Owain of AT Installation Services Ltd (and Little Miracles Charity of the Year partners)
Atiq Rehman (aka Unspoken)
Shaz Ahmed of Seven Hair and Beauty - fundraising
Jimmy from Benchmark - kitchen design and donation
Danny Hutson - Carpet donation
Michael, Brendan, Alfie, Dan, Sue and Andy from Sapphire Electrical
JW electrical
Craig of CC plumbing
Sarah and Leigh from Wickes Huntingdon - donation and labour
KS flooring
Kori, Mark, Mark and Jay of Pioneer Flooring
S Matthews Carpentry
Nathan Murdoch - street artist
Peterborough Women’s Aid
Anna Marie Shipley
Jill Thomas
Lilly Thomas
Nikki Keating
Kerry Keating
Edward Bloomfield
Reece Bloomfield
Aisling Collins
Adam cope
George Manhire
Steve from Hotpoint - donated fridge freezer
Seb Ward
Emma Lynde
Robert Gilbert of RJ commercials
Laura - Peterborough Down Syndrome group
Keira Richardson
Sue and Hannah Bamforth
Dunelm Peterborough - donation
Gemma, Queen of LED - balloon arch donation
Sunrise Patisserie - cupcake donation
Willows Decorating
Pizza Santino - refreshments in the night for volunteers
bake_my_cake_blog - refreshments for volunteers
Your home Project Decorating
And finally, Alan who works in B&Q Peterborough - paid £250 materials costs out of his own pocket, completely unsolicited
To find our more about how we can help if you have a child with an additional need, disability or life-limiting condition, please visit the Get Help section of our website.
Imagine being part of an organisation that brings joy to families and creates cherished memories.
That's exactly what volunteering for Little Miracles Charity is all about. Little Miracles is a non-profit organisation that exists to help families with additional needs children experience the joy of togetherness in a safe and understanding environment. As a volunteer, you can make a significant impact on the lives of these families and be part of something truly amazing.
Volunteering with Little Miracles offers a unique opportunity to be a source of understanding and safety for families. From assisting with activities to providing emotional support to families, there are a variety of ways to get involved.
Sarah, our Volunteer Manager, comments on what our volunteers mean to us:
"Our volunteers mean the world to us, without them, we wouldn’t be able to reach all the families we do here at Little Miracles. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship for us as we can offer experience and that feel good factor to anyone who volunteers with us. Seeing the smiles on the kids faces is the best feeling in the world. Whether it’s a few hours or a few days that you can spare for us, it all makes a difference to our families. Maybe you could volunteer online or reach out and support others as a befriender over the phone, we have a variety of roles and offer training and support!"
Volunteering with Little Miracles also offers the opportunity to develop new skills, forge meaningful connections with families and other volunteers, and make a positive impact in your community. It's not just about the time you give, but also the love, compassion, and understanding that you bring to the families. By volunteering with Little Miracles, you can make a real difference and help spread joy to families who deserve it most.
Stress Awareness Week is an opportunity to spread awareness about stress and its effects on mental and physical health.
Stress is a common problem that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. It can lead to various health problems if not managed properly. Therefore, Stress Awareness Week is an opportunity to educate people about the importance of managing stress and adopting healthy coping mechanisms.
Caring for a child with disabilities can be emotionally and physically demanding, leading to high levels of stress for parents and caregivers. It can be challenging to balance the needs of the child with other responsibilities, and the uncertainty of the future can cause anxiety. Support and self-care are crucial for managing the stress.
One mum who attends Little Miracles shares with us her anxiety and stress, as well as how Little Miracles has helped her and her family:
"Sometimes I wonder how I'll leave the house when my anxiety is heightened. I know I have my session each week to off-load and get the support I need...something I appreciate more than anyone could imagine! Then there is my son's weekly therapy sessions... a child that doesn't open up well to others who now has built enormous trust with his counsellor, actually relies on and looks forward to having his opportunity to also release his inner worries and stresses."
5 Tips for Managing Stress
1. Exercise regularly to reduce stress
2. Practice deep breathing exercises to calm the mind and body
3. Set realistic goals and prioritise tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed
4. Seek social support from friends, family, or a therapist
5. Practice self-care activities, such as getting enough sleep and engaging in hobbies that bring joy
Little Miracles offers a variety of services to help manage stress and anxiety, including counselling and therapy. Our trained professionals can help you develop coping strategies and provide support during difficult times. Additionally, we offer resources for addressing a range of worries and concerns, from family challenges to mental health. Our goal is to provide a safe and welcoming environment where you can find the tools and support you need to thrive.
We were absolutely blown-away by the generosity of everyone who donated Easter eggs this year!
This week, our head office The Spinney was broken into.
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire spoke with Michelle King about the break-in and the effect it will have on our families who consider The Spinney their safe space.
BBC Online reports on the devastating break-in to The Spinney
Early on the morning of 13th March our head office, The Spinney, was broken into and thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused.
Peterborough Telegraph reports on the impact the break-in has had and how we will emerge from this stronger than before.