Recycling scheme helps family to get an iPad in 2 months

The Duncan family registered with Hearts and Minds in January and finished their phone collection in March thanks to the help of a local charity in their area that finds new uses for items that would otherwise be thrown away!

Lucy Duncan, who is 13, has dyslexia, and according to Mum Carol, her new iPad has already made a huge difference:

"In addition to using it for recreation, she has become much more independent when completing her homework," says Carol.  "Lucy's dyslexia means that she often needed support, but now she has set up her iPad so that if she has a big piece of text to read, it will 'read' it to her, or if she is just stuck on an odd word, she can highlight it and it will let her know what it says.  This has greatly increased her self-confidence and means that her homework is more a reflection of her own ability now."

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK 

Twitter: @handmchallenge

Pinterest: Hearts and Minds

YouTube: HeartsAndMindsUK

Google+: Hearts and Minds
More about the charity here: Hearts & Minds Challenge

PARENTS CALL ON GALASHIELS COMMUNITY TO PICK UP THEIR PHONES FOR CHARITY

 

A family from Stow in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, is urging the local community to answer their call for old mobile phones – as part of a fundraising scheme aimed at equipping autistic children with iPads. 

Mandy Mitchelmore and Gary Anderson are calling on people to donate unwanted handsets, so that they can buy an iPad for their daughter Hattie, who has a rare form of epilepsy and hemiplegia.

Ten-year-old Hattie struggles with speech and language, which affects her ability to communicate – very similar to a child with autism. The seizures make rest difficult, and can cause Hattie to forget what she has learnt during the course of the day.

The scheme, run by autism charity Hearts & Minds Challenge, enables families to exchange old mobiles for iPads. Just 165 mobile phones can be traded in for a brand new iPad, which will make a real difference to youngsters like Hattie.

Hattie’s mum Mandy said: “The Hearts & Minds iPad scheme is amazing because it will not only enable Hattie to access learning across all areas but it will make learning fun and engaging for her too. An iPad will help Hattie to become a learner in her own right and develop her independence so that she feels part of her school group.”

“I’d like to encourage anyone, who may have old or unwanted mobiles lying around at home, please drop them off at Stow Post Office and help transform our daughter’s life. Hattie has always loved technology; it motivates her and helps her to deal with the impact of her seizures.”

Hearts & Minds Challenge is a charity dedicated to supporting children and families touched by autism. The organisation, which is supported by Mel Sykes, Keith Duffy and Paul Scholes, aims to raise the quality of life for individuals and their families affected by the disorder, by ensuring the provision of the highest standards in education, care and support.

To date, the charity’s fundraising activity has raised over £500,000 and has helped to educate and support many children and families.

Ian McGrath, founder of Hearts & Minds, said: “This scheme has already helped to transform the lives of over 220 families around the UK and we would like to see many more people benefit.

“The therapeutic benefits of using interactive, easy-to-use technology, such as an iPad, have now been widely recognised and really can make a difference. I’d like to encourage everyone to donate any old phones to help support Hattie and her family.”

If you have any unwanted mobile phones, you can drop them off at Stow Post Office where there is a collection box.

If you would like to find out more about the charity, please visit www.heartsandmindschallenge.org. 

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK 

Twitter: @handmchallenge

Pinterest: Hearts and Minds

YouTube: HeartsAndMindsUK

Google+: Hearts and Minds

A wonderful fund-raising night of horse-racing and Madness for kids with autism

Families and supporters of Hearts and Minds mingled with stars from sport and screen at the horse-racing and Madness concert at Haydock last Saturday 20th July.  A great night was had by all judging by the comments on twitter....

"Still buzzing after a top day at Haydock"

"To absolutely everybody at Haydock racecourse ...  thank you for making yesterday bloody brilliant. Had such a great time."

"There are some sore heads after a great day at the races."

 And there are lots and lots of fabulous photos.  Here are just some of them:

To see all the photos, check out the Hearts and Minds events page:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=156463367878097&set=a.156463344544766.1073741831.146530208871413&type=1&theater

 

More details about Hearts and Minds here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK 

Twitter: @handmchallenge

Pinterest: Hearts and Minds

YouTube: HeartsAndMindsUK

Google+: Hearts and Minds

 

Join Paralympic cyclist Rik Waddon on a fundraising cycle ride for Hearts and Minds in Cheshire

The intermediate cycle is 40 miles, while the advanced route is 75 miles.

To join in and see the routes, just click this link:

http://www.heartsandmindschallenge.org/eventinformation/cycle-surgery-charity-cycle-challenge-15th-september-2013/

More details on fund-raising events here:

https://www.facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsEvents

More details about Hearts and Minds here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK 

Twitter: @handmchallenge

Pinterest: Hearts and Minds

YouTube: HeartsAndMindsUK

Google+: Hearts and Minds

Liverpool lad needs your old phones to give him a voice

 

A Liverpool mum is urging people to answer her call for old mobile phones – as part of a fundraising scheme aimed at providing autistic children with iPads. 

Traci Morrissey is calling on Liverpudlians to donate unwanted handsets so that she can buy an iPad for her son Peter Bruffell, who is currently awaiting diagnosis for Autistic Spectrum Disorders and ADHD.

Two-year-old Peter cannot talk, which limits his ability to communicate and causes him to become agitated and frustrated – similar to a child with autism.

The scheme, run by autism charity, Hearts & Minds Challenge, enables families to exchange old mobiles for iPads. Just 165 mobile phones can be traded in for a brand new iPad, which can make a real difference to youngsters like Peter.

Traci, 32, from Orrell Park, said: “The Hearts & Minds iPad scheme is amazing because it will enable Peter to access learning across all areas and help him feel less frustrated. He can already show me things on my iPhone and he loves using computers, so if we get an iPad it will allow Peter to continue communicating with us in this way.

“I’d like to encourage anyone who may have old or unwanted mobiles lying around at home to get in contact and help transform my son’s life.”

Hearts & Minds Challenge is a charity dedicated to supporting children and families touched by autism. The organisation, which is supported by Mel Sykes, Keith Duffy and Paul Scholes, aims to raise the quality of life for individuals and their families affected by the disorder, by ensuring the provision of the highest standards in education, care and support.

To date, the charity’s fundraising activity has raised over £500,000 and has helped to educate and support many children and families.

Ian McGrath, founder of Hearts & Minds, said: “This scheme has already helped to transform the lives of over 219 families around the UK and we would like to see many more people benefit.

“The therapeutic benefits of using interactive, easy-to-use technology, such as an iPad, have now been widely recognised and really can make a difference. I’d like to encourage everyone to donate any old phones to help support Peter and his family.”

Mobile phones can be donated at Kids Connect on Moss Lane, Orrell Park, or please contact traci.morrissey@hotmail.co.uk to donate them directly to Peter’s family.

If you would like to find out more about the charity, please visit www.heartsandmindschallenge.org. 

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK 

Twitter: @handmchallenge

Pinterest: Hearts and Minds

YouTube: HeartsAndMindsUK

Google+: Hearts and Minds

 

 

Join Hearts & Minds at the Manchester Donkey Sanctuary Summer Fair

 

Hearts and Minds will have a stand at the Manchester Donkey Sanctuary Summer Fair in August.  

The charity provides donkey assisted therapy to children with additional needs, including autism, and outreach visits to residential homes and hospices. 

Find out more about the Donkey Sanctuary here:

 

https://www.facebook.com/donkeys.mcr

http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/contact/manchester

More about Hearts and Minds here: http://www.heartsandmindschallenge.org/

How an iPad is helping a beautiful baby girl who is also blind

Ellie Alice Clark, was born on 1st September 2010 and diagnosed in 2011 with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) which left her blind from birth.  Her family took part in the Hearts and Minds Challenge and recently obtained an iPad Mini for Ellie by collecting old mobile phones.  The iPad is already helping Ellie, as Mum Kate explains:

"Ellie loves the iPad and we have found a few games that she can enjoy (she is blind).  She loves the fact that it can talk to her using the siri software, as you can do pretty much everything through voice commands.  She hasn't quite got the hang of waiting for the right time to speak though! She can also see the bright screen in a dark room and it keeps her attention."

"This is a recent photo of her using it, playing with an app called baby finger which makes different noises when you tap the screen."

Watch Ellie playing with her iPad on this gorgeous video:



Find out more about Ellie on the website www.ellieseyes.co.uk and youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/chrisclark1982/videos

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK 

 

Family Fun Day in Chorley, Lancashire for families with autism

 

In the news - May 2013

Manchester Evening News May 2nd 2013

Cheryl Broadfoot and her son Bobby featured in the news again after he obtained his new iPad through the Hearts and Minds mobile phone recycling scheme.  She was also interviewed about the scheme on Radio Manchester on 23rd May - this is a wonderful interview about the benefits of iPads for children with autism, featuring Bobby's first word...

https://soundcloud.com/cheryl-broadfoot/bbc-radio-manchester-interview

Cheryl was also recently appointed Events Manager for Hearts and Minds.

There was also more coverage of the successful campaigns by David Anderson and Toni Harwood, who have both obtained iPads now for their sons.

Ethan Harwood in the Gazette and Herald May 16th 2013

And Ethan also appeared in the Swindon Advertiser too:

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/10396118.Call_for_old_phones/

An Isle of Wight Mum had a piece in the local paper and has also set up a Facebook page to appeal for phones:

http://onthewight.com/2013/05/01/appeal-for-old-mobile-phones-for-hearts-and-minds/

There was also some coverage of the charity cycle ride in Spain for Hearts and Minds in Messenger Newspapers:

http://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/10438668.Spanish_cycle_ride_for_Messenger_backed_charity/

Celebrity cyclist and Hearts and Minds supporter Keith Duffy also featured the trip on his web-site:

From officialkeithduffy.com

Could an iPad help your child too?

If you live in Britain, simply collect 165 old mobile phones and the Manchester-based charity Hearts and Minds will exchange them for a new iPad.

Details here:

Website: : heartsandmindsphones.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/HeartsAndMindsUK