fundraising | Include.org

A lot of miles for Include

How did it start?

“I found out about Include from a leaflet I took when I was at The Grange. I wanted to meet new people and I already liked singing and I did Makaton signing too.”

Amelia at The Include Choir singing and Makaton signing. she wears a purple top and glasses

“I’ve found lots of good things to do with Include. I do the Stroll and Sign walks, and nearly all the choir events. Singing and signing and volunteering as Deputy Choir Rep for The Include Choir in Epsom,” says Amelia.

How far would you go for Include?

Maria (Amelia’s Mum) says; “It’s over an hour to go to Include sessions (and over an hour back!), but Amelia loves it so much that we travel from where we live to go to Include. We wait until it’s finished and then drive home again. We are looking to move house and one of the factors in our decision of where to live is access to Include. We want to be closer!”

Amelia is taking part in Run Reigate on 22^nd September to raise funds for Include. Maria says; “She loves that kind of stuff – and she is doing this mainly because she wants to raise money for Include.” She will be doing a Half Marathon – 13 miles. “She is quite fit and athletic – she is always running about with football, cricket all sorts. She has all the stamina and energy she needs!”

Ameila says; “I am looking forward to running the half marathon.”

That’s a lot of miles for Include in one way or another.

Why does Include matter to Ameila?

“She always tells everyone about Include – “please come along, or please sponsor me” – she tells everyone how wonderful it is – she loves it basically,” says Maria.

About 10 Include Choir members are performing at an event - some sat down and some standing up

7 people a mix of ages on a walk in the countryside - stopped to look at something - one child is pointing

“My favourite thing so far was going to Wisley for a Stroll and Sign walk. I like nature, everything about it – and walking – being active with other people. I like the exercise and it’s good for my wellbeing and mental health,” says Amelia.

Maria adds; “There is generally less on in the holidays, so to go on an Include Zoom or walk at Wisley in the holidays means a lot. In term-time too, when she comes home from Choir on Tuesday nights or from one of the weekend walks – she is always really happy. She is quite inquisitive and comes afterwards and says I saw this and I saw that.

Amelia sums it up; “Include makes me happy – I’m excited for Tuesdays to go to choir. I can’t wait to go back after the holidays.”

Amelia singing and signing into a microphone

Amelia and Beth looking happy together as Ameila shows some medals she has won

Making us blush!

“The Stroll and Signs are great – and the singing and signing it’s the unique mix that Include offers – it’s quite diverse,” Maria says.

“Alix is a nice person, she talks to me. And the volunteers help a lot too,” says Amelia.

Mum adds; “Alix is amazing. She wants to always help people – she is so giving – an amazing person. And thank you to the volunteers too for supporting Amelia – everyone is so amazing – it’s a big friendly lovely environment.”

The fun and learning keeps going…

“I sing the songs and sign sometimes and teach them to my mum.”

“Yes, Ameila never forgets about what she does with Include – it’s always on her mind.”

Sponsor Ameila for her Half Marathon:

Help Amelia and Include to keep going! Here is the link to her fundraising page if you can donate anything at all, it will be hugely appreciated:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/amelia-solari-1725010645489

And a HUGE Thank You to Amelia for running for Include.

We are in awe of you.

Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead

Why run for Include?

“Here we go again!” Says Martin…

For me this is Run Reigate number 3 and once again I am delighted to be running for the amazing charity, Include. There is one small change though. Having run the 10km race for the last 2 years, this year I have decided to challenge myself to the half marathon distance.

Photo of a team of 7 people standing side by side in a row at Run Reigate 2023 in Include.org tshirts standing in front of an Include.org stand or gazebo

‘Leveling up’ seemed like a good idea at the time, but as I write this the reality is hitting home that a half marathon is precisely 11.1km further than my usual 10km. Hardly an insignificant increase!

Although the increase in distance is significant and will undoubtedly require some extra training, I don’t mind at all. In truth I think it’s a tiny sacrifice to support Include and the important work they do in our local community to ensure people with communication difficulties aren’t excluded from our society.

Personal motivation

Family photo of Martin with his wife and two boys

For me this is a cause that feels quite personal. As the father of 2 boys, Josh and Ben, who struggle with communication difficulties (more from them in a minute) I see daily the issues they face.

Whether it’s being talked over by people who don’t want to wait for their responses or excluded altogether it’s something you never get used to seeing, and quite simply it’s not something I want for their future.

Here’s the thing. The fact that they can’t communicate in the traditional format as well as others doesn’t mean that what they’re thinking or want to say is any less valid, and the same is true for everyone with a communication difficulty.

Photo of Martin with his sons Josh and Ben and the workds Martin's Story - Martin is running a half marathon for Include.org

Why run for Include again?

Most of us know that the more we understand others the better life gets, not just for them, but for all of us. And that’s why Include is such an important charity to me and why supporting it means so much. Through their work Include breaks down barriers that are created by communication difficulties and helps to ensure that more people feel included.

What Include also does is bring happiness to peoples lives.

Through initiatives such as their Choir and their Stroll and Sign walks they provide fantastic opportunities for all members of our community to get out, be active, socialise and just have fun.

As a sports coach who works exclusively with people with additional needs at PMActive and East Surrey Hawks Football Club I know how important this is. It gives purpose and a sense of belonging, but most importantly it provides a place where people can just be themselves. It’s sounds really simply but that, in a nutshell, is why I’m running for Include again this year.

I love how they help to ensure there is a place for everyone in our society.

Living with a communication difficulty

I promised earlier to share more from Josh and Ben. When writing this blog I asked them how it felt to live with a communication difficulty and why inclusive organisations like Include are so important. I think their explanations are much better than mine …

Because of my communication difficulty I find it hard talking to people and doing new things, even when I really want to. People like Include, the Hawks and PMActive help me learn new things and get better at sports and other important skills. Josh

Having a communication difficulty makes it hard to explain what I’m thinking and that means things like going to the shops can be hard. Places like Include and My football club the East Surrey Hawks help people with disabilities feel safe, included and happy. Ben

Just Giving

If you can support my run with a donation, no matter how big or small, it really would mean so much to Include. It’s a small charity so every penny counts!

Donate to support Martin and see his training updates on Just Giving: Martin King is fundraising for Include.org (justgiving.com)

Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead

How do you run an Inclusive Quiz?

Last month we ran our first ever in person fundraising quiz!

In lockdown we hosted one on Zoom but this time it was in a lovely setting – The Old Council Chamber in Reigate.

Being Include.org this was not a standard quiz. It was an inclusive one.

What helps to make a quiz inclusive you may ask? Well…here are a few things we did…

Role Model Hosting by Ciara

Although the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead was ‘host’ in that he invited us to use the Town Hall venue, he took a seat with one of the quiz teams on the night, and the quiz was presented by our Patron Ciara Lawrence.

Ciara recently spoke on our first ever Podcast and made it clear that as a person with a disability she is on a mission to ensure more of the world sees people like her for who they are and what they can do.

Well, we now know for sure…Ciara can brilliantly host a quiz evening, engaging a whole room of people with authority, style and warmth!

Something for everyone

People played in teams and we had a real mix of rounds and formats which all played to different people’s sensory strengths:

Hearing – Name the song
Signing – What does the Makaton gesture mean
Taste and smell – Guess the crisp flavour
Touch – Identify the household item hidden inside the sock
Sight – Work out what the items are that we photographed very close up / micro
General Knowledge – Answer audio / video questions from supporters like TV’s Dan Walker, Marcus Ramtohul (also in our first Podcast) DJ SUAT and Cllr Jonathan Essex
TV knowledge – Easy Read questions from The Include Champions

We’re delighted to share the TV Quiz questions as the next FREE Easy Read resource in our series. Download Here (audio version to follow very soon):

Include’s Easy Read TV Quiz Q+ADownload

Inclusion Wins!

There is always more to be done in terms of inclusion. But we did our best with limited resources and we were delighted that the team that won The Include Quiz was a mixed group of people – some of whom only met each other that night. Meeting new people is not always easy for people with communication needs, so that in itself was a big win.

This team, called “The Team That Shall Not Be Named”, included volunteers, choir members and parents. There were people with autism and visual impairment, playing alongside people without additional needs. There were volunteers who have literally just joined Include working alongside members who have been around for years.

We know that there was a team with regular quiz winners in it who were defeated on this night. But this was not a regular quiz!

So that’s a win in our book.

Want to make your own event inclusive?

If you want to host an inclusive event why not speak to The Include Champions Group to get their ideas and tips based on their lived experience of being a person with a communication need and/or disability? Enquiries to info@include.org

Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead

There is no magic wand!

I first found out about The Include Choir by word of mouth, from my friend Hannah. She recommended it to me because she knows I enjoy fun things and singing takes your mind off your worries.

When I came along, I found that everyone is very friendly, this group does not separate out one type of person from another.

If people have autism or mental health needs etc they are accepted. Everyone is accepted for who they are.

I decided to Run Reigate to represent Include.org and help raise money for the charity and its work. It is the first time I have done a race to raise money.

My journey to doing this half marathon was a long one! It has taken me a few years to get here.

There is no magic wand – I had to put the graft in!

I was very good at running when I was in college, but I stopped doing it and wasn’t even able to do a 5K at first. What got me back into running was seeing my friends Tina and Andrew, who I met at the Prospero Theatre group, doing so much running. Tina did the London Marathon and Andrew is training to do an Ultra marathon which is 50miles and also a 100mile race – they have inspired me and helped to coach me.

Once I could do a 5K comfortably, I gradually built up from there to a 6K and 7K and so on. Over the last 2 or 3 years I have got better and better at it. It goes to show that if your body is healthy enough you can do it.

I will never be like Mo Farah winning gold – but I still love it and for me it’s more about the journey than getting a gold medal.

Run Reigate was actually my 3rd half marathon! I did Denbies and Woldingham, and for those I had never run that far before (and not with so many hills), but once I got to 12 miles I just pushed myself that extra bit to get to the end.

I feel I haven’t achieved a lot since my college days – but I was ready to take on my next challenge and fundraising for a great cause like Include.org has made me feel like I have achieved a lot. It is a super feeling to help the choir – not just running for myself.

The day of Run Reigate didn’t go completely smoothly for me! I was going to get a lift there but the person who offered forgot and so I was then running late and had to drive myself there. I was still in Redhill at 9am and my race started at 9.15am in Reigate! When I finally arrived, I had to jump over the railings to get to the start line on time! I had my backpack on too – but it had my water in it and I knew I would be glad to have that.

There was a good vibe at Run Reigate. I enjoyed seeing everyone – some people also running spoke to me. They reassured me when I had to stop for a comfort break that I wasn’t the only one to need to do that!

It’s not just the running but the people, the stalls, the music – that’s the reward after the run!

The weather was also good and I enjoyed exploring parts of the countryside of Reigate and Horley that I wouldn’t normally see.

And finally, it was great to see the finish line ahead!

The Include Run Reigate fundraiser is still going. Please donate here: Team fundraiser – Run Reigate Include.org Team (peoplesfundraising.com)

Penny Sims
Communications, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead