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The Phab Gold rose (AKA Frybountiful) was bred by Fryer’s Roses in Knutsford, Cheshire and launched at the Chelsea Flower Show in May 1998 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Phab. More than a quarter of a century later, Phab is delighted to re-introduce the ‘Phab Gold’ Floribunda Rose! For every plant sold, Blue Diamond will donate £1 to the charity, so you can grow your garden and support Phab! The photo above was taken by Phab staff member Jacqui earlier this summer. Either head to the link below, or purchase at your local Blue Diamond Garden Centre (subject to availability). https://www.fryersroses.co.uk/product-page/phab-gold Phab Gold (Frybountiful) 1998“An extremely efficient and effective low growing floribunda, with flowers that are well formed, of good size and produced with astonishing profusion and remarkable continuity, flowering early and repeating quickly. The colour is a rich vibrant gold, which appears almost fluorescent against the bright green foliage which is clean and healthy. Suitable for borders, mixed planting, large or small beds and containers.” .
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On the 7th July, we attended the magnificent Parallel Windsor! Taking place annually, this is a fully accessible mass participation event and free family festival, consisting of fun runs from a 10k to a 100 metres; all taking place within Windsor Great Park.This year was a special first to us, as alongside the usual fantastic events of the day, we also ran our very own PhabFest! This was our own performance tent with a wide variety of acts throughout the day, including Epsom & Ewell Phab, Oxford Phab, A gospel choir from the Adventist Special Needs Association, The Ultimate Disco Company, Marcus Mason-Williams; finishing off the day with a Phabulous headlining performance from John Kelly Music! Weather wise, at times the rain was torrential… but we did not let that dampen our spirits one bit! Once all the folks from Me2 Club, North West Kent Phab Club, Epsom and Ewell Phab, Absolute Mobility and Oxford Phab had each finished their challenges, and ideally taken a picture with the legendary Paralympian Ellie Simmonds, many then joined us back at PhabFest for a dance and a sing song!We’d also like to give a big shout out to Absolute Mobility who specialise in accessible bathrooms for all. Not only were they busy promoting their great line of projects, but a group of them were also all running on behalf of Phab; and they were also our largest sponsor too. Phab’s Co CEO and lead organiser of the day, Dawn Vickers, shared the below:“Phab Fest was a powerful celebration of the resilience and spirit of the disabled community, coming together to enjoy life without limits. By blending a community open mic, creative expression, and professional entertainment in one inclusive space, the event perfectly captured the essence of Phab—where inclusion, belonging, and FUN take centre stage. We can't wait to do it all again in 2025, in true Phab style!” And if you’re interested in joining us next year, be that as a Phab Club member raising money for your own club, a Phab supporter wanting to smash your own challenge on behalf of Phab, or even a potential performer, get in touch to register your interest! We’ll be sharing much more information about the event in the months to come.Until next year Parallel!Contact marion.love@phab.org.uk / 020 8667 9443 For a better idea of the day, feel free to check out the Parallel website and their highlight video from last year.Parallel Lifestyle Website 2024 Highlight Video
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Over the summer, 218 people made up of families, children, adults and volunteers joined us on one of the four unforgettable Phab Adventure residentials that proved that the spirit of adventure knows no bounds.Set against the stunning back drop of either the lush forests at Avon Tyrrell or the rolling hills at Bendrigg Lodge, these inclusive getaways were about more than just outdoor activities – it was a chance to form friendships, build confidence and experience the joy of nature together. Whilst away, everyone had the opportunity to connect, share their stories and create lasting bonds. For many the friendships formed were just as important as the activities themselves. As one participant shared “Being with people who understand you without explanation makes all the difference. We are all here for the fun but also each other”. The Phab Adventures were packed with activities carefully designed to be fully inclusive. Whether it was zip-lining, canoeing, sailing or rock climbing, the adaptive equipment and trained staff ensure that everyone could take part. The excitement on the faces of people flying through the trees on a zip wire or paddling across Windermere was contagious. Even those who were initially nervous found courage as they saw others taking on the challenge. Beyond the physical thrills, people who often face limitations in their day to day lives, found themselves breaking free of expectations. Parents noted how their children seemed more empowered, interacting with others and showing a new sense of independence. One parent told us “My son has always been shy, but this week he has been trying things I never imagined he would. He has really come out of his shell” The magic of the Phab Adventures extended beyond the daytime activities. In the evenings, everyone gather around campfires to share stories, sing songs and toast marshmallows, played basketball in the sports hall or chilled out in the sensory room. These moments of laughter and conversation resulted in a sense of belonging and friendships blossomed. As one father said “These moments of connection remind us that we’re not alone in this journey. We’ve found a community and it feels like we’re leaving with much more than just memories” The Phab Adventures are more than just a trip away – they are a reminder that with the right support and mindset anything is possible.The inclusive approach allows everyone to experience the thrill of adventure, the peace of nature and the warmth of friendship. But it wasn’t just about pushing physical limits, it was about breaking down barriers, discovering new possibilities and building a strong supportive community and the memories of summer 2024 will be remembered and have impact for years to come.Rebecca Hargreaves - National Projects & Development Manager
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I first became aware of Phab in 2010, when my Dad decided to run the marathon! I was 8 years old at the time, but Phab has been a part of my life ever since. Over the years I have seen my Dad (and more recently, my brother Luke) take part in many sporting events to raise money for Phab, which lead to the two of them volunteering at Avon Tyrell in 2023. They returned home after their experience last summer, full of the stories of the incredible time that they had, so I decided that this year I would have to join them! Prior to the week in August, all of the volunteers were invited to Avon Tyrell in June for a weekend of training. This weekend was invaluable to preparing for the week in August, we had the opportunity to learn so much, and also to meet the other volunteers ahead of time. After this training weekend, I felt very well prepared, and knew that I was joining a team that was full of passion for everything that they do! Before I knew it, it was the middle of August, and it was time for us to travel to Avon Tyrell. Whilst I was excited, I was also feeling nervous for the week ahead, but once we arrived, we were immediately swept up in the excitement of preparing for the participants to arrive. We spent the afternoon transforming the Calander House into a Seaside Paradise (with the help of a lot of bunting!), and getting to know the team that we would be working with over the next week.Any worries I had evaporated once the participants arrived. The house was quickly filled with laughter and joy, and I was immediately thrown in to a competitive chess game with a 12-year-old boy from my group – he was a very good teacher! The first evening was spent all together down at the campfire, where we all sang and danced to start the week off. The activities were a natural highlight of the week, doing everything from high ropes to mountain biking to kayaking on the lake. The Avon Tyrell staff were incredible, and made sure every activity was accessible to all participants! Watching the participants enjoying the activities and conquering these challenges made the whole experience incredibly rewarding – and getting to join in was an added bonus!The range of activities and evening activities were fantastic, it's hard to pick a favourite! But one part of the week that stands out to me was the Awards Evening on the Thursday night, where everyone gathered together to celebrate the achievements that so many had made. I had the honour of presenting the awards to the children in my group, which was an emotional and memorable experience for me. It was a pleasure to share and celebrate the incredible week that Team Ice Cream had had, with the massive smiles on everyone's faces making it all the more worthwhile. Friday morning came around too quickly, and we had to say good-bye to the participants and other volunteers alike. It's safe to say that it was an emotional morning.My experience volunteering at Phab was rewarding, and it allowed me to gain and develop some many skills that will be invaluable to me in my teaching career. I cannot wait to volunteer on another Phab Adventure in the future!Thank you Phab for a sensational week! Abby Turner – Phab Adventure Volunteer
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“From the 8th – 14th July, 28 visiting guests, 49 Year 12 hosts and a moveable number of staff gathered to attend the 46th Westminster Phab, Phab on Philm, a film-themed week of fun and frolics. The hosts worked hard turning the boarding houses into wheelchair accessible bedrooms, and transforming a variety of other rooms into workshop spaces. After some refresher training on the types of care they would be required to give, the hosts waited nervously in the rain for the guests to arrive… but once they did the week ramped right up and never calmed down – no time for nervousness now! One guest had spent the time since his last visit making loom band bracelets for everyone, and the hosts had fun making more in the mornings before breakfast, full of nostalgia for the activity. During the week the fun never stopped, with workshops in drama, art, design and music, trips out to the local area and further afield to Greenwich, a visit to the theatre, a karaoke night, a movie night and, last but not least, our formal dinner and party on Saturday night, where several attendees were in full black tie. The true culmination of the week was, as ever, our Sunday afternoon show attended by the many host and guest family members. The workshops told us about their week’s work, and music and drama performed their pieces to the delight, appreciation and occasional happy tears of the audience. Phab is a wonderful, life-changing, exhausting week. I feel privileged to have been involved in it for the last eight years, the last two as Director, and to have spent so much time with our guests. We really do see a different side of our pupils too, they show great maturity and emotional resilience, and work flat out all week while having fun at the same time! I am leaving the school this summer to move to Newcastle so this was my last Westminster Phab as Director I will miss it hugely, but I hope to be back next year as a helper. They can’t get rid of me that easily!” Katie – Westminster Phab To view a short musical montage of further photos of the week, head to the link below. Westminster Phab Week 2024 YouTube
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In the first of a series of histories chronicling great Phab clubs of the past, Susan Topping recounts the journey of Seaham Phab Club, the club she helped run for over 40 years. Seaham Phab Club ran for approximately 60 years and was set up by Diana Robison, a Geography Teacher at Seaham Comprehensive School. The club was based there for many years and recruited its non-disabled members from the school's staff and sixth form, which is how I became involved with the club. I started as a volunteer with the club in 1981 when I was in the sixth form and Karen Blackford started the following year. We have been involved in running the club since Diana retired in 1987 and kept in touch with her until her death a couple of years ago. Until the club closure we had one member with us who started before Karen and me – Michael McQuillam! During 1980s/1990s we took part in a number of outdoor activity weekends, mainly at Askrigg in Yorkshire and also at Kielder and the Calvert Trust in the Lake District where our members took part in activities such as abseiling, canoeing, rock climbing, windsurfing and archery. The club also took part in many Heartbeat Hikes in both Leeds and Manchester. We also used to have at least two day trips away each year to places such as Whitby, York, Leeds, Bridlington and Seahouses. In the early days we used to meet up with Southwick Phab for social events then for a lot of years we used to meet up at least twice a year with other Phab Groups in the Durham area including Dunelm and Abbey Phab for Easter parties, Christmas parties, activity days, residential weekends and for the celebrations for Phab's 40th and 50th anniversaries. Until Covid hit we were based at Dawdon Youth and Community Centre and met once a fortnight on a Monday evening where we did things such as quizzes, bingo, games nights, ceramic painting, we also used to have meals out at various local pubs/restaurants and go ten pin bowling and have social evenings with Durham Phab groups. The club had many annual residential weekends away and in the past have been to the Trefoil Centre at Edinburgh, York, Blackpool, Leeds and Center Parcs in the Lake District. When our group became older and smaller our residential weekends were held at The Blackwell Grange Hotel in Darlington for leisurely weekends of eating, swimming and shopping. We have also enjoyed many Saturday nights out at the local greyhound stadium too and on occasion have been successful with our bets! A few members of the club used to meet up every two months on a Saturday evening and go to a local bistro for tapas. As well as members subs and raffles, we received our funding from the local Ladies and Men’s Darts teams and we were amongst a group of local charities in the area invited to various events held by the Mayor/Town Council who also gave us funding which was mainly spent on our transport for outings. After Covid we decided to meet monthly on a Saturday. Karen and I decided to retire after over 40 years of Phab adventures, so the club closed at the end of 2023 with around 14 members - and most of us still meet once a month on a Saturday at one of our local pubs!
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We are really excited to share with you our accessible content guide! We have made this guide to encourage all creators to produce more accessible content; with the guidance being written in line with the Social Model of Disability by our Co-CEO Mik Scarlet, who is an expert in the field of access and inclusion for disabled people.So to get yours, follow the link below! Get your Accessible Content Guide
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“On Sunday 21st April, after many months of training, fundraising and zoom chats with Phab, it was time for our 250 plus Phab runners to undertake the whopping 26.2 mile long London Marathon; known to many as their victory lap! This year was the first time our Phab runners were wearing our brand new Phab vests, designed by Emma Karney; a design Student from Birmingham University and daughter of Phab’s Finance Officer Sue. The vests stand out really well amongst the crowds of runners and it was really easy to spot them on television too. Every runner has their own story and has been on a journey with Phab from the minute they sign up. All of the runners support each other and it makes Phab so proud to see the camaraderie between the runners, as they help each other out, whether that is nerves as to where to meet, where do I leave my bag and what happens afterwards. They really do become part of the Phab family. After the London Marathon, Phab is extremely fortunate to be able to hold a meet and greet in the Royal Park’s Offices in St James’ Park, where the runners can have some respit, enjoy a relaxing massage and celebrate their achievement with their friends and family and other Phab runners and supporters. The masseur team are organised under the watchful eye of Laura Phillips; our co-ordinator, from the North London School of Massage therapists, as well as being a member of Mini Phab, the club in Epsom & Ewell all for toddlers. These therapists give their time freely and we are so incredibly grateful to them. Phab also providers an array of different snacks and beverages, all kindly donated by David Lunt at NBC Consortium, who has also taken parts in lots of different challenge events over the years for Phab as well. Thank you David! One of our runners; Ryan McGuire, who is actually an elite runner, crossed the finishing line in an astonishing time of 2:54:54. Ryan also happens to be on the Autistic Spectrum, and was paired with guide runner Darrel May of Raced Coaching, who was recommended to Ryan’s family by Phab runner and long-time supporter Craig Broadbent. A huge congratulations to the pair of them too. Two weeks before the London Marathon, we also had even more Phabulous runners taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon; seeing them conquer 13 miles right through the heart of London. Lots of different Phab supporters and Phab staff were there cheering them all on from the sidelines, and a big big thank you everyone to took part. We are so proud of each and every one of our runners this year; and if you’d like take part in one of our challenge events this year, which includes a wide array of events all around the country, you can find our full list of challenge events here" Janine Williams National Challenge Events and Development Manager
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Phab Adventures in 2024 It’s been a busy year already for our Phab Adventures! Our 2024 got off to an exciting start with two projects held in February. The first of these took place at Bendrigg Lodge where 15 young carers spent four days enjoying some supportive time away from home to recharge their batteries. We then headed off to Avon Tyrrell where we welcomed 50 people, many of them for the very first time, and invited them to enjoy a wide range of activities in the beautiful New Forest. Most recently though, we’ve just been back to Bendrigg for our first family weekend! Our Project Leader Rebecca wrote this below… “Picture this: A sunny day, a forest adorned with vibrant bluebells and the laughter of families echoing through the trees. This was the scene of our unforgettable Phab Family Adventure where nine families came together at Bendrigg Lodge to experience the joys of nature and adrenaline-pumping activities. Over the weekend, new friendships were formed, connections made and many happy memories were created. Rock climbing, canoeing, zip-lining and archery were just a few of the thrilling activities that filled our days. With the support of the instructors and Phab volunteers, everyone had the opportunity to challenge themselves and conquer new heights – quite literally!" "As we scaled the wall, paddled across Killington Lake, aimed for the bullseye and soared through the air on the zip wire, the sense of achievement and camaraderie among the families was palpable. Each small victory celebrated with cheers and high-fives, reminding us that limitations are often only in the mind. One of the most remarkable aspects was witnessing the sheer determination and resilience of the team and they approached each activity with courage and enthusiasm, inspiring us to push beyond our comfort zones. And let’s not forget the enchanting beauty of the surrounding which provided a perfect backdrop for our Phab Adventure. We watched the sun rise and fall behind the Howgill hills and were even treated to seeing the Northern Lights – a very special treat indeed! In a world often filled with barriers and limitations, this Phab Adventure proved that with determination, understanding, support and a touch of sunshine, anything is possible. Until next time, keep exploring and embracing the adventure!“Rebecca HargreavesNational Projects & Development Manager
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Back in March, we had our first ever Phab Adventure Farm Day! Over seventy people from all over the Northwest of England joined us at the Childrens Adventure Farm Trust in Cheshire, where we fed different animals, played on the inflatables, different slides and games, just having a Phabulous farm day out! Our Project Leader Rebecca shared the below: “As soon as we arrived we headed off to feed the animals where there were miniature donkeys, sheep, ducks, alpacas and more. We also spent time at the fantastic adventure playground, whizzing down the zipwire and playing on the swings. After our picnic lunch, we had a HUGE amount of fun in the woods! There was plenty of space to run around, and a pirate ship, bridges and viewing platforms to explore. We also got creative with some woodland art, made some fat-balls for the birds and enjoyed toasting marshmallows at the campfire. Later in the day we headed indoors to play in the huge gym, sensory room and games room. With an enormous bouncy slide, ride on toys and other games, there was something for everyone. It was wonderful to see so many people from Phab come together, spending time with familiar friends whilst making new friendships and connections.” We’d like to say a massive thank you so all of the volunteers who joined us, and to CAFTcharity for hosting us! We look forward to planning the next one!”
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It’s been all go since Phab Access Consultancy and Training Services (Phab ACTS) officially began back in March. This new element of the work Phab central does aims to spread knowledge around creating an accessible inclusive society and bringing in new funds for Phab Central and our family of Phab Clubs and affiliates, as well as offering free fun and easy to understand training around disability equality to our clubs. Our first major client has been Chilterns National Landscapes, as they push forward with a three-year project to open up the Chiltern Hills to everyone. Mik and two of his team of access experts, Libby and Yoni, have visited farms and nature reserves throughout the area, supporting them to be able to welcome disabled people to experience the countryside. In May, Mik went to Edinburgh to begin another three-year project with the access information website and charity, Euans Guide. Mik will be supporting Euans Guide as they grow and expand their team for a major project, details of which will be announced soon. Mik also filmed some video guides of how to review a venue for Euans Guide which will be online soon. Euans Guide are always looking for new people to send in their reviews, and you can get involved by visiting their website. We’re signing up with some other major clients, but we can’t say much more right now. But don't forget, if your club or group brings a client into Phab ACTS, or gives us a great lead, we split the profit from the engagement. So get out there and spread the word! Learn more by heading to our Phab ACTS page.
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We are incredibly excited to announce that this Summer on the 7th July 2024, we are going to be returning to Parallel Windsor!Parallel Lifestyle Windsor is a fully accessible mass participation event; built up of fun runs and a free family festival at Windsor Great Park, and is designed for all abilities and ages. Last year, Phab ran our own stall and were joined by members from Epsom and Ewell Phab and Uckfield Phab all taking part within different races, and we had the most fantastic time! They have a variety of 'runs' that anyone can take part in, and depending on your own choices, you could do a 10km, 5km, 1km, Sensory 1km or 100m alongside your friends, family, Phab Club members or even colleagues. You can do this as quickly or slowly as you'd like and all the courses are accessible. This is a fantastic day out with live music, games, food stalls and much more; including as a first, our very own PhabFest! This is going to be a performance tent and space entirely run by Phab, where we’ll have different acts and Phab Clubs showing off a wide variety of talent. Needless to say, we’re very excited! We'll be sharing lots more details in the near future about how you can get involved; be that Phab Club member, Phab Runner or supporter, but for now simply contact janine.williams@phab.org.uk for more details. Bring it on! You can watch back the highlights from 2023 for a better idea of the event here - Parallel Windsor Highlights 2023
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On the 9th December 2023, Phab hosted The Phab Awards 2023! Each awards event is hosted by a different Phab club or organisation, and this year we were off to Bradford Phab! They are a local social club primarily for children and young adults, enjoying a wide variety of activities within their local youth centre, as well as organising Summer events, like their recent own Phab Festival!Watched by Phab members and supporters, the awards event showcased different Phab clubs, supporters and the work Phab achieves. Most importantly, it focused on our incredible nominees and winners of the Phab Awards. For the Lord Morris Award, which recognises outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of Phab’s aim of inclusion through schools, colleges and universities; our winner was Bancrofts Phab!For our Louis Goldberg Award, which is awarded to outstanding volunteers under the age of 26, our winner was Michaela Ammah from University of Nottingham Phab!Our Paul Hope Award, for again outstanding volunteers, however over the age of 26, was awarded to Alice Nicholson from Epsom Phab!A massive congratulations to all of our winners and nominees, as well as a huge thank you to our amazing volunteer crew, our brilliant presenters Natalie Osborne & Mik Scarlet, and the wonderful Bradford Phab for hosting the event and taking part!To learn more about our Phabulous nominees and winners and Bradford Phab, you can now watch the awards back on YouTube!
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Phab Adventure Residentials In 2023 Phab delivered a programme of inclusive residential activities to over 300 children, young people and adults, in partnership with Bendrigg Trust, Cumbria and Avon Tyrrell, Dorset. These accessible organisations share our values of inclusion, working with the Social Model of Disability to remove barriers to participation. We are planning more Phab Adventure activities in 2024 and will be kicking off the year in February and running through to October. The application process to is now open on our Adventure page too! The New Phab BrandWe were very proud to launch the new Phab branding in July, created by Our Design Agency (ODA), who worked closely in partnership with Phab, listening and learning about how to truly represent our values and ethos through new artwork and messaging. Phab and ODA consulted with supporters, Phab Club Leaders and members, stakeholders, community partners and corporate partners to find out what was important to them. The ODA created a brand that we can all work with to shape for our individual clubs. The branding showcases Phab’s 66-year legacy, together with Phab’s place in the world today and in the future. Thank you to everyone who helped to bring the new branding to life. Phab ClubsOur Phab Clubs are central to our mission to build an inclusive world, enabling disabled and non-disabled people of all ages to socialise together, improve health and well-being, learn new skills, improve life chances, grow confidence and self-esteem and to challenge the perceptions about disability in Society. We have a big ambition to grow our Phab Club network across the UK, to provide opportunities for everyone in every town.We are therefore thrilled to welcome new Phab Clubs and Phab Affiliate members in 2023. New Phab Clubs include Epsom & Ewell Mini Phab Club (for pre-school aged children), Sydenham High School Phab Club, Torbay Phab Club, Motiv8 Lancashire Phab Club, Worthing Phab Club and Colchester Phab Club. New Phab Affiliate members include DanceSyndrome, CHUMS CIC, Tail Feather Dance, Disability Snowsport UK, Burnley Play Association, Camp Jojo and Swimtime. Here are just some of the activities that have taken place in 2023In January we launched The Phab Lottery, where our supporters can win £1000 every week whilst helping Phab to fundraise more, which means Phab can offer more personalised support to our Phab Clubs to enable barriers to inclusion to be removed.Starting in February and running throughout the year, Phab held lots of Challenge events to get us all moving more, including the Tatton 10k and the Wimbledon Common Half Marathon. We also met friends new and old at the Kidz to Adultz events in Coventry and Manchester.We started a series of online events with our new Co-CEOs Mik and Dawn, with the aim of getting together online with Phab Club Leaders to share and learn from each other about issues that affect all clubs, like gaining new members, new volunteers and succession planning. More events are planned over 2024. In April the London Marathon 2023 went ahead. We were honoured to be there to support our amazing runners and we cannot thank you all enough for your support of our work.In June and July we were so excited to hold our inclusive Flying Days in Manchester and Redhill, in partnership with Freedom in the Air charity. People of all ages attended and flew aeroplanes. We are proud to showcase and celebrate the flying days in 2 films made by Gautam Lewis. With huge thanks to Gautam and his team for making this happen. Next, we were packing our bags to go to a Phab Adventure weekend or week at the Bendrigg Trust, Cumbria and Avon Tyrell, in the New Forrest, Dorset. We met with so many friends old and new, and had wonderful experiences enjoying thrilling activities together, learning new skills, building confidence and making memories. We could not have done this without our army of much-valued volunteers, thank you so much to you all. Phab was proud to launch new branding this July at the Disability Expo at the Excel Arena, London. Phab also attended Parallel Windsor and Disability Awareness Day, Warrington. We were thrilled to meet our supporters and many Phab Club members at these events and to gain your feedback about the new branding.Co-CEO Mik Scarlet delivered the Social Model of Disability training to ATG Theatre Group in London in August to enable theatre staff to understand how to create an inclusive environment within buildings that are not always fully accessible. Plans are in place to grow Phab’s inclusion and social model training offer and to work with more experts with lived experience from our Phab Clubs. We returned to our House of Lords event where we presented our Phab Award winners from the past three years with their trophies at a fantastic celebration and afternoon tea party in September 2023. The Virtual Volunteer Awards 2023 was then held at Bradford Phab Club, bringing a wonderful, heart-warming close to this exciting year. Thank you to Bradford Phab Club Leader Akbar and his amazing team for inviting us and to Martyn Blunt and Goose Live Events who provide the brilliant volunteer production team who make these events happen.We look forward to more exciting opportunities for everyone in 2024, as we grow our inclusive activities offer, inclusive partnerships and Phab Clubs across the UK. Working together, we can build an inclusive world.Thank you to everyone in our Phab Family.
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Phab are sad to announce the death of our Patron John Corless OBE. He was 84. Introduced to Phab by its then President Sir Cliff Richard in 1972, John passionately supported the charity’s aim that disabled people should enjoy the same rights and privileges as non-disabled people and he worked tirelessly for their equality ever since. By promoting the Phab philosophy of inclusion so widely, both locally and nationally, he helped to change the attitudes of millions in the UK towards disabled people and transformed the lives of many thousands of children and adults who have, and continue to benefit from Phab’s social activities, inclusive projects and support. Throughout nearly 50 years of exceptional leadership of Phab (which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2017) John worked tirelessly to develop Phab’s charitable work. In 1992 he disposed of his business interests to devote his time to Phab and to ensure its financial security and the successful operation of its charitable work. He implemented imaginative fundraising initiatives raising in the region of £10 million enabling Phab to offer vital support and guidance to 100s of volunteer-run social clubs and projects benefitting over 10,000 members with a variety of disabilities and complex needs. He had been the prime organiser of over 200 events raising large funds for Phab’s work. In 1999 he introduced the annual Phab Awards to recognise outstanding achievement by Phab’s volunteers and members and reward the significant achievements of individuals. John also inspired volunteers who emigrated to open clubs, following the Phab ethos of inclusion, in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Israel, spending time with staff and volunteers in Hong Kong during a personal holiday in 2012 to see their achievements and to exchange ideas. He has also mentored organisations from Poland and China who sought advice on the Phab model of inclusion. He was awarded an OBE in January 2009 for his voluntary work and in 2020, when he stepped down as Chairman, he took the role of Patron, succeeding Lord Snowdon. Phab’s co-CEOs Mik Scarlet and Dawn Vickers said: "We are deeply grateful to John for his tireless work in enabling Phab to successfully grow over many years. We aim to honour his legacy and lead Phab to fulfil its mission to build an inclusive world, where everyone can learn, thrive and belong." Phab's Vice President Baroness Campbell of Surbiton DBE offered the following tribute: "John was a thoroughly good human being. His unswerving dedication and enthusiasm for the continued longevity of Phab was and is a testament to his character. His legacy will thrive as Phab continues to grow and change with the times as he built the organisation on solid foundations of compassion, companionship, and generosity toward our fellow citizens. To me Phab will always be John's creation to creatively enable all people no matter what their disability to enjoy a social life of fun, adventure, holidays and a place to build friendships of their own. We will all miss him."
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We are so pleased to announce that the following groups have become part of the Phab family. If you're from a local group and are interested in affiliating with Phab, you can get in touch at info@phab.org.uk Tailfeather Dance "Tailfeatherdance is a place where young adult dancers with additional learning needs can realise their dance and performance aspirations! We are dedicated to dance education, performance, and providing choreographic opportunities for each dancer to explore and create unique and original dance work for performance. Started in 2017 with 3 dancers, the Tailfeatherdance Company now has 21 dancers, and supported over 80 dancers on-line during 2020 - 2021. The dancers have achieved truly amazing work, including appearing in national and international dance and disability film festivals, appearing in a dance book by a US author, creating 12 full-length episodes for TailfeatherTV, the first children’s YouTube created by young adult performers with additional learning needs, creating over 130 dance fitness videos for children and adults, and providing inclusive dance workshops for Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures. The dancers are currently working on their next production, ‘Wonderland’ (2024)" You can view a wide variety of videos via their YouTube page. Disability Snowsports "Disability Snowsport UK’s vision is of mountains and ski slopes free from barriers. We believe that all people have the right to access the unique physical, mental, and social benefits of snow sport, regardless of disability, injury, or experience. We operate ski schools at various locations throughout the UK as well as delivering opportunities to ski and snowboard in a mountain environment worldwide. We are supported by a fantastic team of highly-qualified adaptive instructors as well as a brilliant network of passionate and skilled volunteers. Together, we work to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to access snow sport. For more information please visit our website" CHUMS Luton "On a very stormy wet Saturday in July the CHUMS young Carers team were able to make dreams come true for 11 very special young people, by joining Phab at their Flying Day event in Redhill. These young people have huge responsibilities in their daily lives and are young Carers, meaning that they practically look after family member in their home who has an illness or disability. As you can imagine this can be very difficult for these young people and they may not have the same opportunities that their peers may have, and their responsibilities can weigh heavily on both children and their families. All our young people and families were so thrilled to have this wonderful experience offered and hugely grateful to all at Phab who made it possible. Phab really did make memories that will last a lifetime for these children. As an organisation meeting Phab for the first time 18 months ago after a funding enquiry about residential trips, this has led to us being able to take 15 young people away to Bendrigg last autumn and then becoming affiliated with Phab in February 2023 , then giving is access to this incredible flying day. The young Carers team at CHUMS think you are all wonderful and cannot wait to do more partnership working together this year. "CHUMS as an organisation started just over 25 years ago as a small bereavement charity. Over the years we have evolved into a Mental health service for young people with 9 different services including: Young Carers, Baby loss, Emotional Wellbeing, Suicide, Bereavement service, Trauma and many others. It is important for young carers to have opportunities to experience day trips out as well as to take part in a variety of fun activities and to learn new skills. We invite our young carers to attend trips including to theme parks and theatres and yearly offer the opportunity for a couple of days away from home on group residential trip. We offer a range of regular activities including arts and crafts sessions, physical activities sessions, music-making groups, cooking workshops and even learning to solve a Rubik’s Cube! Young carers are invited to join us to visit various local workplaces including the fire station, hospitality services and to local cultural organisations to learn more about the local community" Ridgewood Lunch Club (Uckfield) "Ridgewood Lunch club is a social club that meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Ridgewood Village Hall and provides a hot two course meal, provided by the Highlands; a local pub and entertainment service for the elderly, disabled or lonely people from Uckfield and surrounding villages. It is such a busy club and the monthly meetings are looked forward to so much, We are so pleased to affiliate to Phab as it allows us to sign post people to other things that could assist them, and it is good to have the support of a National Organisation." Burnley Play Association "Meeting every day at the Vanguard Centre. Offering lots of different activities including Stay and Play Sessions, Play Camps in the summer holidays, wellness and mindfulness activities, luncheon club, sensory room, café, library, and much more. New Phab Club for children coming soon!" Burnley Play Association Facebook Page New Phab Club opened at Motiv8 in Accrington "We are a small Day Care Provider founded in 2013 and our aim is to deliver a wide range of structured meaningful fun, educational learning activities tailored to suit potential clients individual learning needs. We deliver fun educational topics according to our clients’ individual learning needs to develop their social, functional, advocacy and interpersonal skills whilst participating in our activities. Our new club opens on Wednesday afternoons for Cook and Dine sessions." Motiv8 Facebook Page
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We are so pleased to be able to continue these incredible events for our Phab Clubs Members. We work in partnership with an incredibly charity called Freedom in the Air, whose aim is to make flying more accessible for disabled people. On the 17th June we had our first flying event at Manchester Barton Aerodrome, where 55 club members from Bradford Phab Club, Leeds Phab, I am Phab Bebington, Whalley Junior Phab, Spring Into Phab and Chester Adult Phab all joined us for a day of taking to the skies. The day started early with the first flights taking off at 9.15am and by the end of the day, forty-one people had soared over the sights of Manchester and beyond. Twenty one Phab Club members had the opportunity to sit in the Pilot seat, alongside a qualified instructor, whilst their friends, old and new, got to ride as their passenger.One member said - "A really big thank you from all the Leeds Phab members who attended today, they had a great time and the lunch was just the job, Everything ran very smoothly and the pilots were excellent. Keep doing what you are doing, greatly appreciated"With special thanks to Freedom in the Air and LAC Flying School for all their enthusiasm and support to help make this day a highlight of the Phab calendar. A film crew from Freedom in the Air were there to capture all the excitement, which you can watch back below! But the fun didn't stop there! On the 8th July we were back flying with Freedom in the Air again, this time at Redhill Aerodrome with Redhill Aviation Flight Training for our second flying day of 2023. We invited a variety of Phab club members from CHUMS, Epsom and Ewell Phab, Uckfield Phab and KAOS Phab youth club for another day of soaring through the air.Twenty two flights full of Phab members soared over the South East, with all of them having the opportunity to become a pilot, their friends and family also joining them as passengers. We love being able to put on these events; the confidence and joy it brings to people is just astounding, it really is a once in a lifetime experience. If you’re from a Phab Club and think, hey, that looks like fun! Talk to your club about joining us in 2024! You can view our second flying film from Redhill below!
Read article“The experiences that Harriet has at Phab are having a huge impact on her whole development. A huge thank you to everyone who makes that possible.”
“This adventure gave Sarah time to grow and realise that being away from home is normal. So when she gets into her adulthood it won’t be so scary.”
“My daughter doesn’t get to go out to play with the local children and doesn’t get invited to many parties – but all of these things she enjoys at Phab.”
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