


Current Vacancies
Join us We are currently taking nominations for Trustees and Honorary Officers – Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Are you interested in one of these
Phone and text: 07537 863927
info@lollipopyork.org.uk
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BSL video links
Chair’s update: https://bit.ly/3seU3kM
Future of Lollipop: https://bit.ly/312SKJM
Dear Members,
Thank you to all of you who attended the Special AGM (SAGM) on
2nd March and to those who voted by email. With your help we reached the minimum number of members needed (5% of the membership) to make any changes to the charity.
Our Lottery grants have meant that Lollipop can offer activities without
worrying too much about funding, but this has also placed
restrictions on how we can spend the money. Comments from a very small majority of members about the work that Lollipop does have been positive, but some feel that we have grown too big and should return to our core values…
The Future of Lollipop
Taking into account decisions made at the SAGM and feedback over the last few years, Trustees have agreed that:
• Lollipop should continue but in a more focused way. We will continue to offer local activities on a smaller scale for children, young people and families. These will focus on developing knowledge, independence, and skills for the future. We will also offer support, give information, and signpost people where appropriate.
• We will become affiliated with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS)* Working informally with the National Deaf Children’s Society we’ve become aware of the similarities in what we offer. As well as providing their own support and activities, NDCS also offer their expertise to support local groups and can do this in a number of ways. Four of the Trustees with considerable knowledge about deafness and running charities are leaving the Lollipop Board of Trustees at the end of July. Although the remaining Trustees share some of this knowledge, the NDCS would be able to offer support to them when needed. Lollipop will
continue as a charity in our own right with our own constitution, Trustee board and funds.
• The wording in our constitution will be changed so that the roles of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer can rotate round the Board if appropriate during the year. The Treasurer and Secretary may choose not to be a Trustee.
We hope that this might encourage people to get more involved.
• Laura Walker (former Lollipop Activities Leader) will join the Trustee Board (as voted at the SAGM).
Penny McDonald, Chair on behalf of the Trustees
chair@lollipopyork.org.uk
* We hope that those of you who are not members of NDCS will consider joining as they provide lots of interesting and useful information for deaf children, young people and families. Check them out at: www.ndcs.org.uk
Lollipop offers opportunities for children and young people with any degree of deafness from mild to profound and their families to meet and build friendships with others, with whom they share their experiences of deafness.
Lollipop achieves this through providing regular FREE social activities in a relaxed and informal environment. We offer a wide range of activities in order to provide something of interest to everyone. Through such activities we aim to encourage members to try something new, express themselves freely and realise their true potential and in doing so build confidence, increase self-esteem and develop self-identity. Lollipop also raises awareness of deafness and its implications amongst the wider community.
Membership is FREE to any child or young person aged 0-25, in York and North Yorkshire, with any degree of deafness. Children of deaf adults (CODA) are also welcome to join the Lollipop family.
Read MoreSupport Lollipop by signing up to one of our fundraising events, or set up your own fundraiser to help raise vital funds that can make a difference to our families.
Read MoreVolunteering for Lollipop is both rewarding and fun. Find out how you can make good use of your personal skills to support the charity’s aims of developing children and young people’s confidence, self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.
Read More"Having a mentor increases my son's independence, as he is then not reliant on those close to him in everyday life. He loves going to Lollipop and has made lots of friends there, he definitely has a feeling of belonging to the group which has increased his confidence, self-esteem and improved his social skills." - Parent
"Sitting with a coffee at Lollipop and chatting to other mums is an essential reminder that you are not over anxious, irrational or the ‘only one’."
"I feel that it is essential that my daughter has the opportunity to meet and play with other deaf children on the same level as her hearing friends so that she knows why her hearing loss should not make her feel different or hold her back in any way."
"It has always been a relief and re-assurance to chat to parents going through similar experiences with their children."
"Lollipop ensures we don’t feel isolated and provides a most treasured and valuable life-line for us."
"Lollipop get-togethers are of great benefit to us parents too. We get to know other parents, we can support each other if necessary, have the chance to chat and to pick each other’s brains or ask advice."
"We feel it is absolutely vital that our daughter can see she is not the only child who has to wear hearing aids."
"Thank you for the continued support and opportunities you provide to enable my child to develop and gain valuable advice and experiences to help her in her life."
"My son has felt so welcome and enjoyed making new friends at Lollipop. This is his only contact with other hearing-impaired people and has been a really positive experience for all of us."
"My daughter has enjoyed each experience with Lollipop. Lollipop makes my daughter feel better about wearing her hearing aids."
Lollipop is primarily funded through The National Lottery Community Fund. We are also funded by BBC Children In Need with further support from many local and national organisations. Lollipop recently secured funding from The Henry Smith Charity as part of the Improving Lives project. We are delighted to receive such a generous grant towards three year’s running costs and were very proud of the Grant Officer’s comments following the assessment’.