1-7 June is Volunteers’ Week, an annual event that celebrates the contribution made by millions of volunteers across the UK.

The Phoenix Children’s Foundation couldn’t do the work we do without the dedication and commitment of our amazing volunteers.

Whether they are caring for our animals, fundraising or providing administrative support, our volunteers are a core part of our team and an essential part of the Phoenix family.

Many have experienced difficult situations themselves and have worked hard to turn their lives around.  We are incredibly proud to welcome these individuals in particular to our team as they are able to engage at a much more personal level with, and relate brilliantly to, the children we help.

We are always in need of more volunteers to help us deliver our important work, so if you’re thinking of volunteering – even for just a few hours a week – there has never been a better time to get involved.  Please get in touch via our volunteering page, through email or by calling us on 01530 382 116.

We’re absolutely thrilled to have recently been named by Amazon in Coalville as their Stand Out Charity for 2017.  This accolade awarded by their Fun and Community Committee – some members of whom have experienced our work first hand – means that the charity will receive a donation of £5000 during the course of the year.

These vital funds will help pay for solar panels at our Packington base so that we can reduce our running costs and become more self-sufficient.  The other half will fund Animal Assisted Therapy for children living with disease, illness or limited opportunity.

In addition to this amazing grant, Amazon Coalville will also be providing volunteers for specific projects and we will be taking our animals to various Amazon events throughout the year to help deepen this new relationship.

Over the last couple of years we’ve been able to renew and update a number of facilities at our stables thanks to the generosity of local businesses, funders and volunteers.

These refurbishments include demolishing an old leaking portacabin and installing a new log cabin in its place where children visiting us can eat, complete activities and have quiet time if needed.  We also have installed a fully accessible disabled toilet facility and turned two disused areas into gardens –a beautiful sensory garden complete with reflection area and a small kitchen garden in raised planters.

None of these amazing facilities would have been possible without the support from;

Lloyds Bank – Managers and staff members from branches across the Midlands demolished the old portacabin, cleared the area, painted buildings and created the sensory garden.  They also donated £3300 for materials.

Harlow’s Timber provided substantial discounts on materials

TW Wholesale Swadlincote has supplied all paint and equipment at significant discount.

We can’t wait to see all these facilities in full use during the coming months.

Our gardening project is flourishing beautifully now thanks to the generosity of funders and supporters, the children who have worked so hard on it, and of course the nice weather!

Many of the children we support, including Sophie who is pictured in these photos, have spent the last few months learning about horticulture, taking care of the plants and gaining a real sense of achievement from seeing what they have planted grow.

Sophie has been coming to us for quite a long time now.  She has complex needs but loves animals and through her work with the ponies, and the support of her family, she is improving in confidence and social skills. Sophie has really enjoyed helping with the garden and socialising with the other children who come from other schools and groups and, as you can see from these pictures, she is incredibly proud of how beautiful the garden is looking.

We owe huge thanks to Richard Lovatte for all his advice on the potatoes, Sheila Barnard for the plants, peas and advice on feeding plants and Peter Swift for his endless patience with Nita who clearly has not a clue!