Services - SNAPS Yorkshire CIO

Celebrating our volunteers

Sarah Tulley — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 09:24:34 +0000

This week is Volunteers Week, a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK’s incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities.

SNAPS was founded by a small group of volunteers and, 20 years later, they remain very much at the heart of our charity. So, we couldn’t let this week pass us by without taking the opportunity to say a huge thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers. Volunteers are integral to SNAPS and support us in so many ways. We couldn’t do what we do without them!

Volunteering with SNAPS is hugely rewarding. Here are some thoughts from just some of our wonderful volunteers.

“Volunteering at SNAPS is a way to utilise and extend my skills and experience to support a cause I am passionate about. I particularly like that SNAPS not only supports children and young people and their parents, but also their grandparents and siblings and other relatives, and I love working with such a supportive team.

“If you’re able to volunteer, you should go for it! You will feel valued and you can make a difference!”

– Laura, Admin Support Volunteer

“I started volunteering at SNAPS last year and I’ve absolutely loved it! I really wanted to gain some hands-on experience with hydrotherapy to further my knowledge for my university degree of Physiotherapy – SNAPS is the perfect opportunity to do so!

“Working with the children and families is so rewarding, and my favourite thing is to see the children’s faces light up when they get into the pool. It’s amazing to see how they can develop over weekly sessions and how their confidence can change. Thank you SNAPS for this opportunity!”

-Niamh, Volunteer at Penny Field

“As a student nurse, I wanted to discover how care needs differ for people with learning difficulties. I can then apply what I learn at SNAPS and ensure I am able to provide the best care possible to people with learning difficulties or disabilities.

“I enjoy working at SNAPS as I am able to work with lots of different children with a range of learning needs. I am glad I am able to give some of my time to support an organisation that is so important for the children and families that use this service.”

–William, volunteer at Penny Field

“I first started volunteering for SNAPS as a way to gain experience ahead of my physiotherapy degree. Five years later, I am still here! It is hard to describe the impact the children and families have had on me over the years, but I am so proud to have been a small part of their journeys.

“SNAPS is one of those places that is hard to let go of and I encourage anyone who is thinking of volunteering for them to give it a go!”

– Becki, volunteer at Penny Field

“I am excited in connecting with the children and their parents. It is fulfilling about working for the children and play with them. I am enjoying it!”

-Kelvin, volunteer at Penny Field

If you’re interested in volunteering, we have lots of opportunities available, such as helping to raise funds for our services, spread the word about what we do, working at our events, or assisting at our sites in Penny Field or Broomfield.

Volunteering with us is a wonderful chance to help with children with additional needs and their families, whilst having lots of fun! Here at SNAPS, we are a supportive team and aim to help our volunteers reach their own personal and career goals.

If you are able to offer a few hours a week to help us, we would love to hear from you. Find out more about our volunteering opportunities here.

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SNAPS Weston Charity Awards 2023 Winner

Miriam Watson-Pratt — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:33:27 +0000

SNAPS is thrilled to have had the impact of our current services and future ambitions recognised with our selection as a 2023 Weston Charity Awards winner!

The award gives the charity the chance to invest in its future with ten months of strategic planning support from a dedicated team of four business experts, thanks to pro bono charity Pilotlight and a core grant of £6,500 from the Garfield Weston Foundation.

SNAPS was chosen from over 100 applicants, all of which are frontline charities delivering youth, welfare, community or environment services in the North of England, the Midlands and Wales.

Lucy Owen, Chief Executive at SNAPS, says:

“SNAPS is an amazing charity supporting many familie,s but we know that there is a huge need out there for us to do more. This exciting award will support SNAPS to grow into the future in a sustainable way to allow us to be there for more children and families in the future.

“We have ambitious plans for the charity, and we hope that this incredible opportunity with Pilotlight and the funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation will offer invaluable support to help us realise our ambitions to grow our service delivery over the coming years.”

In congratulating SNAPS, Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation said:

“Our Trustees are delighted to be able to support a record number of charities this year through the Weston Charity Awards. The Awards underscore the Foundation’s passion for nurturing and empowering charities to thrive and support those who need it most.”

Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Pilotlight, the charity which is connecting SNAPS with a team of coaches drawn from a range of businesses and other organisations said:

“When you fall, you want someone to catch you. Small charities offer a safety net for so many people who are vulnerable and in need. Yet small charities typically do not have the support and help that they need themselves in order to sustain their work and spread their impact. We are proud to be able to assist 22 inspiring charities through the Weston Charity Awards over the coming year.”

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SNAPS Football Club

Miriam Watson-Pratt — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 20:04:21 +0000

We are very excited at SNAPS to share the news that we are starting another football club with the Leeds United Foundation.

Football Club number two will run every Saturday in term time at Broomfield South SILC from 10am – 11am. Football Club is £3 per session and siblings can also join in with Football Club.

We have places available to start from April with us and also have some free taster sessions available.

Please email jo@snapsyorkshire.org for more information or to book your place.

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Donation from Sovereign Health Care

Miriam Watson-Pratt — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 19:42:12 +0000

We are delighted to be one of the chosen charities to be supported by the Sovereign Health Care Community Programme.

Sovereign is a Bradford-based company, which has been concerned with the health and wellbeing of local people for over 149 years and this ethos is reflected in the community organisations and charities they support.

Through the Community Programme, we have received a donation of over £3,486, which will help to fund our stay and play sessions.

These sessions provide an opportunity for children to play, make friends and take part in activities such as music therapy and arts and crafts, in a safe and welcoming environment. They are also a chance for parents and carers to get together and talk to other parents who may have similar experiences.

SNAPS hires specially trained teachers to deliver classes such as sign and sing, dance and drama, which the children love taking part in. These classes are important as children aren’t able to attend the mainstream versions, and they help to develop confidence, creativity and expression.

Russ Piper, Chief Executive at Sovereign Health Care, says: “SNAPS plays an important role in the lives of children and families in West Yorkshire and it’s rewarding to know our donation can make such a difference to the Stay and Play sessions they provide”

Lisa Morton, senior fundraising manager at SNAPS, adds: “Everyone at SNAPS was delighted to receive such a generous donation from Sovereign Health Care! This donation will allow SNAPS to continue providing vital services while further developing our services to meet local need. We are so grateful to have been selected.”

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Site Manager Vacancies

Miriam Watson-Pratt — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 16:08:09 +0000

We are recruiting two Site Managers at SNAPS!

SNAPS is a Leeds based charity that supports children with additional needs and their families. We deliver opportunities for our service users to take part in physiotherapy, swimming, arts and crafts, dance, signing and football sessions. SNAPS is now 18 years old and over the last 7 years has seen a steady expansion of our service provision.

As the need for our services to continue to grow, we are looking for two enthusiastic, fun, organised, professional and caring individuals to join our amazing team at SNAPS!

One Site Manager will be based at Broomfield South SILC and one Site Manager will be based at Penny Field North SILC. Site Manager’s will need to be onsite between 8.30am and 2pm on the Saturdays we are open in term time. They will also need to carry out 1 hour of administration duties (flexible time) during the week, every week the project is open. Site Managers will take responsibility for the smooth running of SNAPS sessions each week. This will involve on site staff and volunteer management, supporting families and planning and managing activities.

Site Managers will play a key role in SNAPS’s service delivery as they are the friendly faces that our families will get to know each week. Site Managers will work closely with the Assistant Managers on Site and the Children’s Services Manager who oversees the services we provide for children.

Joining SNAPS as a Site Manager is a wonderful chance to help with children with additional needs and their families whilst having lots of fun! SNAPS is a supportive employer, and we aim to help our employees reach their own personal and career goals.

For more information, please email Jo – jo@snapsyorkshire.org for the Job Description and Person Specification and application form. To apply complete an application form and send it to Jo Milburn – jo@snapsyorkshire.org by 09.03.2022

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SNAPS Swimming Badges

Miriam Watson-Pratt — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 20:21:13 +0000

We are very excited to share the news that we will now be following the Rockhopper swimming certificates at SNAPS! And we hope everybody will be excited to start achieving their first swimming certificates with us.

Rockhopper Series – STA.co.uk

For further information on SNAPS Swimming or further information on the badges please do get in touch with Jo – jo@snapsyorkshire.org

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Volunteer Football Coach Vacancy

Miriam Watson-Pratt — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 13:59:26 +0000

SNAPS is on the lookout for a volunteer football coach to join our fantastic team from September 2021!

Do you have a passion for coaching football? Enjoying working with children? Want to make a difference working with a charity for children with additional needs? Then this is the role for you.

We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join a small team of football coaches who can volunteer 1.5hrs on Sunday mornings in term time, to help set up, deliver and tidy up each football session.

We are looking for someone with an interest in football coaching, experience in coaching is desired but not essential.

You will also have an interest in helping children with additional needs fulfil their potential and helping to give them the access to playing football through your coaching.

If you are interested in the volunteer role, please email jo@snapsyorkshire.org by 21st May 2021.

All successful applicants will need to complete a DBS check and have references carried out.

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