Dreamdrops brings festive joy to children with Special Education Needs at Christmas Bowling Party
Xanthe, Amiee, Ell, Molly, and Lily enjoying the Christmas Bowling party.
Dreamdrops is delighted to announce a special Christmas celebration for the children it supports, which took place on Monday 22 December at the Lakeside Bowling venue.
The festive event welcomed children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families for a fun-filled afternoon of bowling, laughter, and Christmas cheer.
Designed to be inclusive, relaxed, and supportive, the party offers families the chance to enjoy a positive shared experience in a safe and welcoming environment.
Adding an extra touch of magic to the day, Santa Claus made a special visit, bringing early Christmas gifts for the children and taking time to meet them individually.
For many of the children supported by Dreamdrops, this will be a joyful and memorable highlight of the festive season.
Christine, Chairman of Dreamdrops, said: “At Dreamdrops, our aim is simple – to create moments of happiness for children who often face additional challenges in daily life. This Christmas party is about fun, inclusion, and making families feel supported and valued. Seeing the children smile, especially when Santa arrives, makes everything worthwhile.”
Dreamdrops would like to extend its sincere thanks to Dunelm Huntingdon, Tesco Extra Huntingdon, and Dovista at Ermine Business Park for their generous donations, and to their amazing teams and customers for the support shown, helping to create a truly magical Christmas experience for the children.
Dreamdrops supports children with SEND by creating positive experiences, social opportunities, and lasting memories, while also offering reassurance and support to families who may otherwise feel isolated.
The charity would also like to thank its volunteers and supporters for helping make this festive event possible and for continuing to support Dreamdrops’ work within the local community.
Thank you to the Freemasons Socrates Lodge Huntingdon
Dreamdrops would like to say a huge thank you to Freemasons Socrates Lodge Huntingdon, an amazing £1,000 was raised by the lodge through their fundraising events and donated to Dreamdrops.
The cheque was presented by WM Robert Thurston.
Chris Luckham Chair of Dreamdrops said: “We are very grateful for donations like this the money will help provide activities, support and equipment for the children we support with SEND, Autism and life limiting health conditions thank you!”
Delivery of Christmas presents
Wendy Baker, Dreamdrops committee member recently arranged the delivery of Christmas gifts to Caroline Deprose at the Angels Foundation, helping to create a truly special Christmas for a family being supported by the Foundation.
With the generous support of Dreamdrops, the gifts will bring joy, excitement, and a sense of celebration to the children at an important time of year.
Fantastic donation from Dovista!
Another fantastic donation from the amazing team at Dovista, all ready for the children’s Christmas party on 22 December.
Thank you all so much for your continued generosity. Without you and your incredible team, we simply couldn’t do what we do.
We’re so grateful for your support.
Music Therapy Choir – Christmas Certificate Presentation
Our Music Therapy Choir was established in January 2025, and what an incredible journey it has been. We are so proud of our wonderful group of SEND children, who have truly blossomed throughout the year.
Under the inspiring direction of Rachael, our Music Therapist, and with the fantastic support of Nicky on the piano, the children have grown in confidence and self-esteem. Just as importantly, they have developed into a caring, supportive group who encourage and celebrate one another.
This term, the choir worked hard to learn five Christmas songs, which they proudly performed at the Seniors’ Christmas Dinner at The Old Nene Golf and Country Club. The children were beyond excited to be invited to sing, and the performance was a huge success – everyone had a brilliant time, and the festive spirit was truly felt by all.
To celebrate their achievements, each child was presented with a Christmas certificate, recognising their continued improvement, commitment, and progress throughout the year. It was a joyful and emotional moment, reflecting just how far each child has come.
Christine Luckham, Dreamdrops Chairman said: “We are incredibly proud of every member of our Music Therapy Choir and look forward to continuing this amazing journey together in the New Year.” 🎶✨
Dreamdrops Choir spreads Christmas Cheer at the Old Nene Golf and Country Club
The Dreamdrops Choir recently paid a very special Christmas visit to the Old Nene Golf and Country Club, bringing festive joy to senior members and guests.
Pauline Day from Old Nene Golf and Country Club said: “I cannot thank you enough, the parents and particularly the girls for an amazing performance. Our senior members absolutely loved it.
“We were also able to video call Jacquie Richardson, our past Lady Captain, who chose Dreamdrops as her charity during her tenure, and she was thrilled. She said it has created memories for her that she will carry with her forever.
“I had so many members come up to me saying how wonderful the choir were. One gentleman even thanked me and said it had made his Christmas. I really do hope that the girls enjoyed it as much as we all did – they certainly looked as if they did.
“They are a wonderful group of young ladies, so well behaved and a delight to talk to. Jacquie is not the only one who will treasure the memories – I certainly will. It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet you all.”
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops, added: “Thank you so much for inviting us and for the wonderful feedback. The children had a great time and loved their little gifts.
“We are all so proud of them, especially as all the children have special needs – what a difference music therapy makes to them. We cannot thank Jacquie enough for starting our fundraising last year to make this possible. We are now in Samuel Pepys School and Spring Common, and we hope to expand next year.
“From everyone at Dreamdrops Huntingdonshire Children’s Charity, we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy and peaceful New Year.”
What a truly wonderful way to celebrate the festive season!
Hartford Community Christmas Light Switch-On!
Photo: L – R – Ailsa Greenhall, Wendy Baker, Ste Greenall, Pauline Rawlings, Christine Luckham and Marion Stribling
Another busy and brilliant week for the Dreamdrops team!
Wendy and Pauline were out in festive spirit, manning the Dreamdrops table at the Hartford Village Christmas Lights Switch-On. We were honoured to once again be chosen as the charity recipients and what an incredible result!
Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Hartford community, £416.85 was raised on the night, which the Hartford Committee kindly doubled, bringing the total to a fantastic £850. We are so grateful for everyone’s support – it truly means the world to us.
A huge thank you to everyone involved for making the evening so special and for supporting Dreamdrops at such a wonderful community event.
A huge thank you to Notcutts of Brampton
We would like to say thank you to Notcutts of Brampton for their wonderful support over the past few years. Their venue is always such a welcoming, warm and safe place for our families to relax, have fun and enjoy time together.
We were especially grateful to be able to hold our Parent Support Christmas Breakfast on 8 December, giving parents the chance to come together, connect and enjoy some much-needed festive cheer in such a lovely setting.
And of course, the delicious mince pies were a very welcome (and tasty!) bonus!
We are incredibly thankful for your continued kindness and support!
A heartfelt thank you to Carol Back and the Bell Family
Every year, Carol goes above and beyond to make sure the children and siblings supported by Dreamdrops have a little sweet treat to enjoy.
Her kindness and generosity bring so much joy, and it means the world to us.
We are truly grateful for the continued support over the years – thank you so much, Carol and your wonderful family.
Christmas Toy Delivery Day
Dreamdrops has dropped off another amazing bundle of Christmas gifts to Huntingdon Community Cancer Centre (HCCN) at the Woodlands Centre, Hinchingbrooke!
A big shout-out to Sally for welcoming the delivery while Andi was out supporting families in the community.
These wonderful presents will be shared with children whose parents are currently undergoing cancer treatment – spreading a little extra joy when it’s needed most.
Excitement was in the air!
Dreamdrops visited the Children’s A&E department at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, bringing along some early gifts for the young patients who are feeling poorly enough to be in hospital.
Bringing big smiles and a little extra cheer in the run up to Christmas.
Thank you to everyone supporting the Dunelm and Tesco Giving Trees!
Supporting Samuel Pepys School
We were delighted to present a pop-up sensory tent to Headteacher Joanne Hardwick at Samuel Pepys School. The presentation was made by Mike Andrews, Dreamdrops committee member.
This sensory tent will provide pupils with a calming, supportive space where they can:
✨ Reduce signs of sensory overload
✨ Ease stress and anxiety
✨ Enjoy a smaller, less overwhelming environment
✨ Take a break from busy surroundings
✨ Add sensory items for comfort
✨ Feel safe and calm
Dreamdrops is proud to continue supporting the wellbeing of local children. 💙
Spreading a Little Christmas Cheer!
A very special delivery made its way to the amazing nurses on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and Holly Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
Thanks to the generosity of Foresters Financial Group and Hannah Housego, the teams received a festive surprise to brighten their day.
Thank you to these incredible people for supporting the staff who work tirelessly to care for little ones and their families.
Tesco Huntingdon Giving Tree supporting Dreamdrops once again!
We are delighted that Tesco Huntingdon is once again supporting Dreamdrops through their annual Giving Tree toy donation appeal. This is the fourth year the store has chosen to support our charity and the local families who need it most, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued kindness.
The Giving Tree will be running until mid-December, and taking part is simple – purchase an item in store – place the unwrapped gift in the designated collection trolley nearby. Your generosity will help bring joy to children across our community this Christmas.
Another wonderful delivery from Dunelm Huntingdon
We were delighted to receive another amazing gift collection from Dunelm Huntingdon. Their customers have once again shown incredible generosity and continued support for Dreamdrops.
These donations will make a real difference to the children and families we support, bringing comfort and joy when it is needed most.
Dreamdrops will be delivering the gifts later this week – so keep an eye out for updates.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Dunelm and to all the customers who contributed.
Dreamdrops Visit to Peterborough Cathedral Christmas Tree Festival
On Sunday 23 November, Dreamdrops were delighted to take 16 children and their parents to Peterborough Cathedral to enjoy the stunning Christmas Tree Festival. The cathedral was beautifully decorated with Christmas trees created by local community groups, along with a magical display of lights that made the visit truly special for everyone who attended.
It was a wonderful experience for our families, and we thank Peterborough Cathedral and the local community for creating such a spectacular display.
Photos:
Pauline Rawlings – Dreamdrops committee member.
Bradshaw family and the Carlson family, who joined us for this festive outing.
Hannah Housego generous donation
We are delighted to share that Hannah Housego successfully applied for a £200 community grant from the Foresters Finance Group, with the aim of giving back to the local community. Hannah kindly chose Dreamdrops as her charity of choice.
The donated gifts will be shared between Holly Ward, the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), and the Children’s A&E at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
Dreamdrops were very pleased to receive the donations from Hannah on Friday, and these thoughtful items will be making their way to the hospital this week.
Thank you to Penny Wilkes!
We are pleased to share some of the beautiful hand-knitted items created by Penny Wilkes. Her continued generosity and skill bring joy to the families we support.
We are truly grateful to Penny for the many years of kindness. Your support means so much to our organisation and to every family who benefits from your wonderful knitting.
Thank you!
Tropic Christmas Shopping Event
Everyone enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Tropic Christmas shopping event, held in support of Dreamdrops.
Guests had the chance to explore and sample Tropic skincare products, with donations from the evening going directly to our charity. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, an amazing £140 was raised.
Christine Luckham, Chairman said: “Thank you to Helen and Anne-Marie for hosting, your continued support really does mean a lot.”
Santa’s made his first stop at Dunelm Huntingdon!
Our friends at Dunelm in Huntingdon have been spreading festive cheer with their wonderful Giving Tree, where members of the public can choose a tag and buy a gift for a local child.
We’re thrilled to share that Dreamdrops has already had its first early drop-off from Santa 🎁, with beautiful gifts now delivered to the Community Nursing Team in Huntingdon and the Huntingdon Community Project.
A huge, heartfelt thank you to the amazing Dunelm Huntingdon team, their generous customers and of course, Santa himself 🎅 for helping make Christmas extra special for local children this year.
You’re all on Santa’s Nice List for sure!
Dreamdrops Community Award Presented to Richard and Kate Cranwell
Dreamdrops were delighted to present their Community Award to Richard and Kate Cranwell.
This Award recognises individuals, families and organisations who go ‘above and beyond’ in either helping to raise funds for Dreamdrops or providing exceptional support to the charity.
The Dreamdrops Clay and Pottery event was conceived by Richard Cranwell as an activity designed to be engaging for children affiliated with the Collins Club. Now in its second year, the event has grown into a much-loved and eagerly anticipated fixture on the Dreamdrops calendar.
Both Richard and Kate invest a significant amount of time and planning into making the event the success it has become. Their dedication includes arranging suitably qualified people to assist with their expertise, creating large numbers of clay items that can be ‘finished’ or painted to cater for participants of all abilities, and securing sponsorship of materials from a leading national clay supplier. Richard also supplements materials at his own expense to ensure every detail is perfect.
Known for their meticulous attention to detail, the Cranwell’s have made the two-day event hugely popular with all who have taken part. It is also wonderfully inclusive, providing opportunities for parents and siblings to engage hands-on with their children.
Hosted at the Cranwell’s’ property, the event is supported by marquees and infrastructure that they themselves supply, erect, and manage. This is both time-consuming and a testimony to their dedication to creating a safe, well-organised, and structured environment.
They also thoughtfully provide contingencies for participants who may become disengaged or find it difficult to concentrate for lengthy periods, ensuring the event is tailored and welcoming for all levels of ability.
Feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive, with comments including:
“Thank you so much for today, the boys absolutely loved it.”
“Thank you for organising such a lovely day as usual.”
“Thank you to everyone for today’s clay session – we had a great time and loved seeing all of the masterpieces that were made.”
“Fabulous two days – a huge thank you to Richard and Kate for the venue.”
“Lovely few days. Think it was therapeutic for the parents! Great sculptures by the talented children too.”
On winning the award, Richard said: “What a complete surprise and quite a shock you engineered for both of us at Wood Farm. I used the term ‘gobsmacked’ it was completely unexpected.
“We are both very aware of how special and rare this award is and we really do feel very honoured and humbled to receive it. They are old fashioned words to use these days but they describe, perfectly, how we feel about it.
“As Kate says, really, it is the parents and families who are helped and supported by Dreamdrops who absolutely deserve all the awards there are for what they do for their children. We are just hopeful that the little bit we can do to help them makes a difference and we are more than happy to do it.
“Both Kate and I want to thank you and the Dreamdrops Committee very much indeed for thinking of us and honouring us in this way. A huge thank you.”
A heartfelt thank you to the St Ivo Lodge Huntingdon for their continued support!
At their November meeting, members of the Lodge raised an amazing £315 through the proceeds of a raffle in support of Dreamdrops.
Michael Carrington, Charity Steward, said: “Further to donating last year, we wanted to raise some more funds for such a good cause.”
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops, added: “What a wonderful surprise – thank you so much for once again thinking of us. Our music therapy choir, which we started in January, is developing very well, with the children with special needs singing beautifully. Your donation will go to support this important project.” 🎶
We are truly grateful for your ongoing kindness and generosity – it means so much to the children and families we support. 🌟
Success! Coats4Kids 2025
Dreamdrops Huntingdonshire Children’s Charity and the Rotary Club of St Ives are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of this year’s Coats4Kids campaign!
From June to November, we provided 40 vouchers for families across Huntingdonshire to buy brand-new winter coats for their children – ensuring dignity and choice for families, allowing children to pick styles and sizes that suit them.
Through generous donations and community support, the campaign has made a real difference to local families struggling with the rising cost of living. Schools, health visitors, and community organisations helped identify children in need, while maintaining their privacy and dignity as well as supporting their physical and emotional well-being.
Christine Luckham Chairman of Dreamdrops and a member of the Rotary Club of St Ives said: “It’s always heartwarming to see how our community comes together to support local families. A warm coat can make a huge difference to a child’s comfort, confidence, and wellbeing throughout the colder months.”
The Rotary Club of St Ives President added: “We are proud to work in partnership with Dreamdrops on this important initiative. Every contribution – large or small – has helped ensure that children stay warm this winter.”
This year’s campaign once again highlighted the value of partnership between local charities, businesses, and service organisations. Both Dreamdrops and the Rotary Club extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the project through donations, referrals, or spreading the word.
Together, we’ve helped keep children warm, cared for, and ready to face the winter ahead.
Charity Bingo raises £200!
A huge thank you to Julie and Karl Brockett for their continued support of Dreamdrops Huntingdonshire Children’s Charity.
A charity Bingo event was held at The Bay Leaf Care Home, raising an impressive £200!
We’re so grateful for your generosity and kindness – every penny helps us continue supporting our projects in the community and making a difference for local children and families.
Thank you once again, Julie and Karl!
Christmas Magic is Happening Again at Dunelm Huntingdon!
We’re so excited to share that Dunelm in Huntingdon are once again spreading Christmas cheer by supporting Dreamdrops Huntingdonshire’s Children’s Charity with their wonderful “Giving Tree” gift donation appeal! 🌟
Here’s how you can make a difference this Christmas:
🎁 Visit Dunelm Huntingdon and choose a tag from their special Christmas Tree.
🎅 Buy a gift for the child on the tag.
🛍️ Return your gift to the store and Dunelm’s amazing team will make sure it reaches Dreamdrops in time to bring smiles this Christmas!
A huge thank you to the incredible Dunelm team and their kind-hearted customers for their continued support, generosity, and community spirit. 💖
Together, we’re making Christmas truly magical for children across Huntingdonshire. 🎅❤️🎄
Supporting Sensory Learning at Wintringham Primary Academy!
Dreamdrops is proud to support the wonderful children at Wintringham Primary Academy with a donation of new sensory equipment to enhance their learning experience.
Christine Luckham, Chairman, and Mike Andrews, Committee Member, were delighted to present the equipment to Miss Mai Thai, Specialist Education Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENDCO).
The donation included:
💙 Sit-on peanut-shaped balance ball
💜 Pop-up sensory blackout tent
💛 Square-shaped liquid floor tiles
💚 Giant bean bag floor cushion
These new resources will help create calming, engaging spaces for students with special educational needs, complementing the school’s existing sensory areas and central courtyard used for outdoor activities.
A huge thank you to everyone at Wintringham Primary Academy for the warm welcome!
Charity Golf day raises £475!
A huge thank you to Steve Bradshaw and friends!
We’re incredibly grateful for the fantastic £475 raised for our charity – all while doing something they love!
This generous donation will go a long way in supporting our music therapy sessions, helping children continue to grow and thrive through the power of music.
Our recent end-of-year report from our music therapist was so encouraging – it’s wonderful to see the amazing progress the children are making.
Thank you all for your continued support – it truly makes a difference!
Huge thank you to BuckFest!
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing organisers of Buckfest.
Dreamdrops is one of 10 charities, groups, and good causes to benefit this year with a donation of £2,000.
The money will be used to fund music sessions, held weekly with a music therapist and pianist.
Thank you for your continued support!
Photo: Wendy Baker, Dreamdrops Committee Member and Christine Luckham, Dreamdrops Chairman
Great Addington – Great Fishing!
Six anglers from the Dreamdrops, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust charity, ventured out for their second trip on the bank this season to Browns Lake, Great Addington, Northamptonshire. This was the perfect venue, packed full of carp and ideal for putting into practice the quickly emerging skills required to catch them!
The bar had been set just one week earlier, where the first excursion to Greensands Fishery, Bedfordshire saw an amazing sixty fish collectively caught, by the Collins Club group and set a terrifying target for the Fly-Fishing Academy team instructors, to improve on.
Could they again, rise to the challenge?
Some of our Gold Award anglers were familiar with this little known, private lake, discreetly hidden in the Northamptonshire countryside, having previously visited whilst undertaking the 17 competency areas, required to achieve the Angling Skills Activity Award – Foundation.
Richard Winser, Lead Instructor at the Fly-Fishing Academy said: “It was great to be back, it has been two years since some of our earlier Gold Award Holders, have fished here and it great to see that they remembered so many things, putting it all back into practice. Our Gold Group are effectively fishing independently now; a massive achievement.”
A great emphasis is placed on careful handling and care of fish during the Angling Skills Activity Award course and with the average size of fish being over 2.5lbs, it is important that they are correctly rested, handled as little as possible and quickly returned to the water.
Richard added: “As anglers we all have a responsibility to the environment, must respect the fish and other wildlife, and promote measures to prevent contamination and the spread of invasive aquatic species. It was great to witness such care being taken – they were all perfect ambassadors for angling!”
Although the average size fish is around the 2.5lb weight, that didn’t deter Jack from catching a beautiful Common Carp of 3.5lb, Josh caught another Common Carp in the region of 4.5lb, followed by Aimee with nine fin perfect fish from a variety of different species. Others targeted different species of fish and were rewarded with fine numbers of Roach, Rudd and even some sizeable Carp that were feeding higher in the water.
All in all, a commendable 134 were caught with notable numbers attributed to Mathew (33), Nathan (40) and Emily (43).
Mike Andrews, from the Dreamdrops Committee was on hand to ensure that fish numbers were attributed fairly and these astonishing figures were genuinely verified!
Finally, Phillipa Winser both a Lead Instructor and member of the Dreamdrops Committee added: “We are extremely proud of all our anglers, concentration, resilience, decision making, problem solving, effective listening and attention to detail has been fantastic. The instructor team has once again surpassed themselves, nothing like a bit of instructor rivalry! So, again thanks to Roger Adams, Steve Bradshaw and Richard Frood for making the whole day so memorable.”
They really are a formidable fishing team!
Bills Boles Adventure Day
A huge thank you to everyone at Grafham Water who made this year’s Bill Boles Adventure Day such a fantastic experience for children with complex needs and their families.
From thrilling archery sessions and scaling the climbing wall to splashing about in canoes and exploring the great outdoors during forest activities, the smiles and laughter said it all.
Families also enjoyed a delicious BBQ feast together.
A special shout-out to the amazing team at Dreamdrops for your support.
Notcutts Brampton Garden Centre
Thank you to Notcutts Brampton Garden Centre for their continued kindness!
We’re so grateful for their support in providing a warm and welcoming spot for our monthly Dreamdrops get togethers. It’s more than just a meeting space – it’s a place where volunteers, families, and our wonderful Collins Club parents can connect, unwind, and feel at home.
Our final session before the summer break was filled with laughter, support, and great conversation. Thank you to everyone who came along – we can’t wait to see you again in September!
The return to the infamous Greensands Fishery!
Would you believe it…as we reached the pinnacle of our meteorological summer, with record breaking heatwave’s’ and prolonged dry spells, the warmest June ever recorded in England and the second warmest for the UK, since 1884; a ‘Yellow’ severe weather warning of torrential rain curtailed the first angling excursion for the Dreamdrops, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s charity.
Sadly, The Experience Day on 19 July 2025, which was due to be held at Rookery Waters, Pidley had to be abruptly cancelled, leaving six disappointed anglers from the Collin’s Club!
That left angling instructors Richard and Phillipa Winser of the Fly-Fishing Academy with a dilemma.
The Dreamdrops Fishing Days have been established over six years, they started as experience days but have seen four students, in particular, progress to achieve an angling qualification – The Angling Skills Activity Award. To achieve ‘Gold’ within it 17 competency elements need to be completed, linked to core skills such as, decision making, problem solving, effective listening, working with others etc.
For the first time this year, all of those who have achieved Gold were invited to attend and participate in a day dedicated to them, where more advanced techniques could be practiced. Specialist Carp fishing tackle was acquired to enable the event, either funded by Dreamdrops or donated by the instructors themselves. There was even a donation from a local angler, who had recently upgraded some of his own personal tackle!
So inevitably, the ‘Gold Group Day’ was expanded to encompass a wider range of angling participant and off they set to Greensands Fishery, Vinegar Hill, near Sandy, for a carp fishing extravaganza.
Greensands Fishery is owned and operated by Chris Rose, who has supported these Dreamdrops Events for several years. It has a well-deserved reputation as a top fishing venue and hosts high level coarse fishing matches each week throughout the fishing season.
Six Dreamdrops anglers, consisting of three Gold Award (of the four) holders ventured out for yet another phenomenal day on the bank.
Matthew managed to catch the first fish of the day and went on to catch a further ten, some of which were sizeable, with one over 7lb and three over 5lb. Nathan, the smallest angler, caught the largest fish of the day which weighed in at a staggering 8.3lb, Ella caught seven carp, including a beautiful Mirror Carp in perfect condition, Aimee caught a commendable eleven carp and was justifiably proud to do so on her new carp fishing tackle and Josh managed to catch six fish, both Mirror and Common Carp, the largest being a carp of around 4.5lb.
In total sixty fish were brought to the bank, seventeen of which by Emily “The Lady of the Lake,” who caught the most fish during her first fishing experience!
Josh closed the day by catching the last fish, which might have had something to do with the fact he was fishing alongside the person responsible for blowing the concluding whistle?
Christine Luckham, Chairman of the Dreamdrops Committee said: “Another great fishing adventure has been achieved, my heartfelt thanks again to Greensands Fishery for hosting us, Richard, Pip, and the Fly-Fishing Academy team of instructors. A well done from me to all our young anglers – it is hard to visualise where these achievements will plateau – if indeed it ever does? Yet again, the day was a total success, and I look forward to the next trip to Great Addington in Northamptonshire on Tuesday 12 August – seven sleeps to go!”
As for the weather, there wasn’t even so much as a drop of rain!
Photographs courtesy of Michelle Quail.
Photos: Matthew Quail, Nathan Quail and (Instructor) Roger Adams, Ella Hill, Aimee and Steve Bradshaw, Josh Quail and Emily Quail
Dreamdrops at Buckfest 2025!
It was a busy and brilliant weekend for the Dreamdrops Committee as we joined in the fun at this year’s Buckfest Music Festival!
Despite a few showers, over 2,650 music lovers turned up and had a fantastic time – and so did we!
We’re incredibly grateful to the Buckfest team for choosing Dreamdrops as one of their Charities of the Year. It was a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the work we do to support children and families across Huntingdonshire.
Our team had a great time meeting festivalgoers’, spreading the word about Dreamdrops, and raising £123 through our tombola for our weekly music therapy sessions.
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing organisers and volunteers who made the event possible – and to everyone who supported us – we loved being a part of it.
A wonderful day out with the Lady Bird Trust!
The Collins Club children (and their grown-ups!) had the best time feeding birds and fish, spotting wildlife, and simply soaking in the beauty of nature.
We were thrilled to welcome some new faces – though a little shy at first, they soon found their smiles thanks to the peaceful surroundings and friendly company.
The weather was glorious and a huge thank you to the incredible Lady Bird team for making the day so special. We can’t wait for the next adventure!
Thank you to our wonderful supporters!
A big thank you to one of our wonderful supporters!
Dreamdrops has received a generous £35 donation from a proud grandparent of one of the children we support.
Gestures like this mean so much to us and help make a real difference in the lives of local children and their families.
Every penny goes towards providing the care and support they need.
Dreamdrops Sensory Donation to Winhills Primary Academy
Dreamdrops recently donated sensory equipment to Winhills Primary Academy, part of the Diamond
Learning Partnership Trust. The equipment was officially presented to the School Council as part of their final duty of the academic year.
Also present at the event was Duncan Nelson, Deputy Headteacher at Winhills Primary Academy, who shared his thanks: “Thank you once again for the very generous donations.”
We’re proud to support the wellbeing and development of children in our local schools.
WOW! What an incredible day at St Ivo Academy!
The amazing students at St Ivo Academy, chose Dreamdrops as their Charity of the Year, and they absolutely smashed it with their fundraising event, raising a jaw-dropping £1,943!
A huge shoutout to every single student and staff member who helped organise and take part – your energy, creativity, and generosity mean the world!
Wendy Baker from Dreamdrops said, “We are so grateful for all the effort and heart that went into this. The funds raised will go a long way in supporting music therapy for children in local schools.”
Thank you, St Ivo – you’re making dreams come true!
Visit our Facebook page to find out more.
£500 donation to support children’s music therapy programme!
On behalf of Dreamdrops children’s charity we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for this incredible donation.
Christine Luckham said: “Thank you to Freight Shield Repair and Service LDT for their kind donation of £500. The money raised will go towards supporting our children’s music therapy program, which provides vital therapeutic experience to children facing a range of complex medical and emotional challenges.
“Music therapy allows these young people to express themselves in ways that words often cannot, helping gain confidence, emotional resilience and joy. Thanks to this wonderful generosity we can continue offering this life enhancing service to the children who need it most.
“We are truly grateful for your kindness and commitment to our work and your support makes a real difference.”
£200 donation!
A huge shoutout to Ted Francis for his generous donation of £200 – thank you so much!
This amazing gift will be used to support children’s music therapy.
We’re so grateful for your continued support – it truly means the world to us!
Huntingdonshire Philharmonic – Season Finale!
What a night!
A massive thank you to the incredible Huntingdonshire Philharmonic for their continued support of Dreamdrops!
Saturday the 28th June marked an unforgettable season finale – an exhilarating evening of Holst, Borodin, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
The energy was electric, and everyone had an absolutely amazing time. Bravo to all involved!
Dreamdrops Clay Day – A wonderful weekend of creative activity!
Human history could well be measured out in pots. Since the earliest civilisations, people have made vessels to carry and store food and liquid. These functional ceramics quickly began to be decorative and artistic. Some examples include:
Greek Black-Figure Pottery:
This style of pottery, popular from 600 to 480 BC. featured red clay with black figures painted on it.
Persian Pottery:
A tradition with over 8,000 years of history, known for its cultural significance and craftsmanship.
By comparison, Dreamdrops pottery is a relatively new phenomenon.
Celebrating its second year, eight members of the Collins Club assembled over a two-day event, under the inspirational guidance of Richard Cranwell, Emandu Cranwell and Liz Deeks.
The event, hosted by Richard and Kate Cranwell, saw artistic flare in immeasurable abundance.
So many fine works of art were created that to catalogue each would far exceed this article!
Phillipa Winser of the Dreamdrops Committee said: “The effort and attention to detail that has been so apparent over the weekend is commendable.”
The Dreamdrops Charity celebrates its 20-year anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion a ‘Black Tie’ evening will be held at the Town Hall, Huntingdon on Saturday 20 September 2025.
There will be an evening of celebration, with fine food and entertainment, together with a charity fund raising auction.
The auction will subtly showcase many of the great things that the Dreamdrops Charity continues to do in the local community, in support of the NHS charitable trust.
Phillipa added: “It gives me great pleasure to share with you that among the auction lots that evening, certain priceless clay creations (made this very weekend) have been donated. This will be an intriguing opportunity to acquire a genuine clay artefact, as one comes under the hammer for the first time in history!”
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops concluded: “We would also like to thank Potclays of Stoke on Trent, for donating the clay raw material, making this experience and weekend possible. The clay weekend has gone from strength to strength and is now an extremely popular Dreamdrops summer session activity.”
Dreamdrops Chairman Christine Luckham receives prestigious community award from Cllr Karl Brockett
Former Mayor of Huntingdonshire, Cllr Karl Brockett expressed his heartfelt admiration as he presented a specially designed award to Christine in recognition of her extraordinary 20 years of service to community charity work.
Cllr Karl Brockett said: “I was truly honoured to present this award to Christine, whose unwavering passion and dedication over two decades have made an incredible impact – not just within the Dreamdrops children’s charity, but throughout the wider community.
“Christine has been a vital community engagement partner, contributing to countless projects and initiatives that have empowered others and helped shape a brighter future. She has consistently demonstrated humble leadership and has been a true champion for everyone who has had the opportunity to work with her.
“It’s no small feat to devote so much time and energy to walk a step towards the vision and determination that she has shown throughout her career in this charitable journey.
“It was a special moment for me to present this bespoke award, especially to honour Christine’s remarkable contribution. She is a true champion of the community.”
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops said: “It was an absolute pleasure to support Cllr Karl Brockett, during his mayoral year while raising the profile of our charities as well as helping with fundraising.
“I was overwhelmed to receive such an award for something I am passionate about, thank you so much.”
Such a well-deserved award!
Nominate now – Children’s and Young People Special Draw
16 – 22 June 2025
In recognition of all the charities who work to support Children and Young People, The Benefact Group are giving 10 charities £5,000 each in this limited-time special draw.
To nominate Dreamdrops please click here and select Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust – 1108920.
Thank you for your support!
Simplify Charitable Trust names Dreamdrops as local charity of the year
Simplify Charitable Trust has chosen Dreamdrops, Huntingdonshire Children’s Charity, as its local charity of the year.
As the UK’s leading independent conveyancing and property services group, with more than 1,000 staff across 11 sites nationwide, Simplify will be raising funds and awareness in support of Dreamdrops’ incredible work for sick children and their families.
Jessica Moreau, National Sales Director – Property Services and charity rep for Move With Us, part of Simplify, said: “Move With Us, part of Simplify, has its head office in St Ives, with many of our colleagues living locally and with young children.
“Many of us have had our children cared for in Huntingdonshire, and we wanted to help support smaller charities locally who make a difference.
“We ran a charity raffle where our staff could buy tickets to win some fabulous prizes kindly donated by our clients. We raised a fantastic amount of money, which was divided up per site and distributed to each area’s chosen charities, enabling us to donate £2,000 to Dreamdrops. We also supported the St Ives Foodbank with a donation.”
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops, said: “We cannot thank Move With Us and Simplify enough for their very generous donation to Dreamdrops. This will go a long way in supporting children with SEND in the community, through music therapy and our schools project, which helps those in mainstream schools with their emotional well-being.”
Photo: Jessica Moreau, National Sales Director – Property Services and charity rep for Move With Us, part of Simplify and Christine Luckham, Dreamdrops Chairman
BUCKFEST Music Festival – Saturday 26 July 2025
BUCKFEST Musical Festival is taking place on Saturday 26 July and Dreamdrops has been chosen as one of their charity partners for 2025!
The money raised will fund our weekly music therapy sessions making a huge difference to local children.
To find out more about the festival and to book a ticket please visit: https://www.buckfest.org/.
£200 donation from the Pins and Needles Club
A huge thank you to Mary Warren and the Pins and Needles Club (St Neots Library Craft Group)!
We’re incredibly grateful for the generous £200 donation to Dreamdrops, Huntingdonshire’s Children’s Charity. This amazing contribution will go directly towards our Supporting Schools Project.
What started during the pandemic by repurposing donated laptops for children without access to online learning, has now grown into something so much more. We’ve now expanded our focus to support the emotional needs of children with hidden disabilities who are in mainstream education but often struggle to access the resources they need.
We already support 10 local schools, and are now working with 3 schools in St Neots and Bury Primary School in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.
This ongoing project is making a real difference, helping children feel seen, supported, and set up for success.
A heartfelt thank you!
We are incredibly grateful to the St. Ivo Masonic Lodge of Freemasons in St. Ives for their generous donation of £290.00. This donation was made possible through the proceeds of their monthly raffle, and we truly appreciate their kindness and support.
On behalf of everyone at Dreamdrops we extend our sincerest thanks to Michael Carrington, the Charity Steward, the Worshipful Master, and the Brethren of St. Ivo Masonic Lodge No. 2684 for choosing to support our charity. Your generosity makes a real difference in our work, and we truly appreciate your commitment to helping local charities like ours.
Thank you once again for your support!
Dunelm Giving Tree receives Dreamdrops Children’s Charity Community Award
Francesca Maddocks and Jessica French
Dreamdrops were delighted to present their latest Community Award to Francesca Maddocks and Jessica French from Dunelm in Huntingdon.
This award celebrates the incredible individuals, families, and organisations who go above and beyond in supporting Dreamdrops. Whether through outstanding fundraising efforts or exceptional care, their dedication makes a profound difference – helping to ease the challenges faced by children receiving medical care in hospital or within the community. Their generosity and kindness bring comfort to families during some of their most challenging times, and we are proud to honour their inspiring contributions with this award.
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops said: “We are delighted to recognise Francesca and Jessica as deserving recipients of the Dreamdrops Community Award! Their dedication, along with Dunelm’s incredible support over the past 4-5 years, has made a remarkable impact. In 2024 alone, the generosity of the public was extraordinary, with over 800 gifts donated!
“Thanks to their outstanding efforts in organising the Dunelm Giving Tree, Dreamdrops was able to bring joy and comfort to even more children and families in our community. This support extended to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), Children’s A&E, Holly Ward, and the maternity ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, as well as the Cambridgeshire Community Nursing Team. Additionally, children at the Collins Club (supporting those with hidden disabilities), children with complex and life-limiting conditions, and those supported by the Angels Foundation – helping families affected by domestic abuse in Huntingdonshire – also benefited from their kindness.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Francesca, Jessica, and everyone involved for their unwavering generosity and compassion! Congratulations to them on this well-deserved award.”
Francesca said: “Thank you so much for this award, we would also like to thank our customers for their generosity in supporting Dreamdrops. It is an honour to be able to help so many children celebrate Christmas. This year we hope to help many more.”
A fun night for a great cause!
Christine Luckham, Carol Clapham, Chrys Baker and Wendy Baker.
The Royal Oak, Hail Weston, held their Sunday Evening Charity quiz night, which saw Carol Clapham and Chrys Baker raise a fantastic £101 for our Dreamdrops Children’s Charity. The money raised will go towards supporting the charity’s monthly SEN parents’ coffee morning group.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and made the evening such a success!
£200 donation from Tesco St Neots
Thank you to Tesco St Neots for their £200 donation from their Christmas raffle.
We really appreciate your hard work and support; this will be put towards funding our music therapy sessions.
Exciting news from Dreamdrops and Buckfest!
Ste Greenall, Black Cat Radio and Wendy Baker, Dreamdrops Committee Member
We’re thrilled to announce that Dreamdrops has been chosen as one of the Buckfest Musical Festival’s charity partners for 2025!
Thanks to Buckfest, we will be able to fund our weekly music therapy sessions for children, led by a talented music therapist and pianist.
Simon Sherratt from Bucket said: “Music Therapy is a proven way to help children with developmental and health related conditions. We can’t think of a better way to combine our love of music and giving back to the local community!”
Wendy Baker, Dreamdrops Committee member said: “A huge thank you to Buckfest for their amazing support! This will make a real difference to the families we work with, and we can’t wait to be part of the festival!”
£500 donation from the Socrates 373 Masons in Huntingdon
A massive shoutout to the Socrates 373 Masons in Huntingdon for their amazing £500 donation to our charity!
This generous gift will help us with our 2025 projects – we’re so thankful for the support and can’t wait to see the difference it will make!
Old Nene Golf and Country Club smashes fundraising goal with £2,794 for Dreamdrops in 2024!
Christine Luckham accepting a cheque donation from the Old Nene Golf and Country Club.
At the Old Nene Golf and Country Club, a cherished tradition is for the club’s Captains to select a charity they wish to support during their tenure. Over the years, this initiative has raised significant funds for a variety of deserving causes, including dementia, prostate cancer, and breast cancer, to name a few.
Throughout the year, the club holds “special days” dedicated to fundraising for specific charities. Members participate in golf competitions, donate for the chance to win raffle prizes, and engage in various activities, all in the name of charity.
Ladies Captain, Jacquie Richardson said: “Gary Hastie and I decided to choose a children’s charity for 2024. After receiving the suggestion from a lady golfer and I began researching local children’s charities. I was particularly drawn to Dreamdrops, a charity with a bright, welcoming logo and a focus on supporting children and their families during challenging times. The fact that Dreamdrops is a local charity, ensuring that funds raised stayed within the community, made it an ideal choice.”
Throughout the year, the club rallied behind Dreamdrops with an array of fundraising activities. Collection tins were placed at the club’s bar, and members were encouraged to donate spare change or notes. They creatively raised funds by organising challenges, like fining members for light-hearted reasons, to encourage donations. The club hosted various competitions, with entry fees going directly to Dreamdrops, and members generously donated their 2’s pot winnings to the charity.
The culmination of the year’s fundraising efforts came with a major charity day, which raised an impressive £1,876. In total, the club has raised an outstanding £2,794 to support the work of Dreamdrops.
Christine Luckham, Chairman of Dreamdrops said: “We are deeply grateful to the members of the Old Nene Golf and Country Club for their outstanding generosity and support. The funds raised will make a tremendous difference, particularly as we launch our new Dreamdrops children’s choir this year. This contribution will have a lasting impact on the children and families we support.”
What a Thrilling Year 2024 was for Dreamdrops!
2024 was an extraordinary year for Dreamdrops, filled with moments that made us smile, events that brought people together, and projects that made a real difference in the lives of children and families in our community. Here’s a whirlwind tour of some of the highlights of 2024!
Kicking off the Year with Confidence
The year started strong with our Collins Club coffee mornings. These monthly meetups have been a lifeline for many parents, especially mums who’ve found confidence and connection in our relaxed new venue at Nutcutt’s Brampton. It’s incredible to see how the shift from a clinical setting to a warm, welcoming space has transformed the group dynamics. While we can’t always solve every family’s challenges, we’re here to listen, support, and guide.
Fun and Fundraising in February
What’s better than a quiz night? A quiz night that raises over £1,000! Thanks to everyone who attended and made it such a fantastic evening. A special shoutout to Wiltshire Digital Drive for their generous donation of laptops to Riverside Meadows Academy – true community spirit in action.
Springing Into Action
March and April were all about preparation: collecting beautiful knitting donations and planning a heartfelt thank-you reception for our incredible fundraisers. Behind the scenes, we were also busy supporting local schools with much-needed SEND equipment: Spring Common, St John’s, Samuel Pepys, Riverside Meadows St Neots as well as the Cornwall Academy Huntingdon – the impact of this project is immense and ongoing.
Mayor’s Support and Major Milestones
May brought exciting news – Dreamdrops was chosen as one of the Mayor of Huntingdon’s charities for the year! From a thrilling community race day at Brampton to winning the Outstanding Impact on the Community Award 2023, it’s been an honour to have the Cllr Karl Brockett’s support. Thank you, Huntingdon Racecourse and the @JockeyClub, for making the day so memorable.
Summertime Highlights
June we were chosen as Elmtree Court Huntingdon, charity of the year, and we also showcased our work at the Pinpoint conference. Then came July, the highlight of our fishing season, where children and families enjoyed incredible experiences thanks to the Fly-Fishing Academy’s unwavering support.
Autumn Adventures
August was all about sunshine and smiles supporting the Mayor of Huntingdon at the Ramsey 1940s Day, a delightful community event we can’t wait to revisit. In October, we hosted a special reception at Huntingdon Town Hall to honour our supporters. Two children proudly received their Fly-Fishing Gold awards, and Dreamdrops received a generous laptop donation from the mayor – a night to remember! The Old Nene Golf Club chose Dreamdrops as their charity of the year.
Festive Cheer
As the year wound down, we dove into Christmas festivities. November’s Tropic Skincare event was a relaxing evening to kick off the holiday season, and the mayor’s gala dinner was a night of fun and fundraising.
December brought magical moments for children and families. Our annual Christmas party for the Collins Club children, complete with a visit from Santa who also took the time to visit children at the Barley Mow in Hartford.
A cinema screening of Paddington in Peru was a hit. Rachael Stalker, our new music therapist, wowed everyone with her songs and revealed exciting plans for a children’s choir launching this month!
We also joined forces with local businesses Dunelm and Tesco, whose incredible generosity allowed us to distribute over 1,000 gifts. Due to their generosity this year we have been able to help deliver 300 gifts to the community nursing team to children continuing their care at home.
Gifts were also delivered to vulnerable families via the Huntingdon Community Project, maternity services at Hinchingbrooke Hospital for babies born at Christmas, the Angels Foundation supporting families affected by domestic abuse, the Women’s Refuge in St Neots, and children staying in Hinchingbrooke Hospital over Christmas, including SCBU and the Children’s A&E department.
Thank You for an incredible year!
2024 has been packed with heartwarming achievements and joyous celebrations. We couldn’t have done it without our dedicated committee, volunteers, and the amazing community that supports us every step of the way.
Here’s to another year of making dreams come true in 2025! 🎉
Tropic Skincare Donation
Tropic Skincare kindly donated £110 to Dreamdrops.
We are so grateful for this support, which will go a long way in helping us launch our next exciting project: the Dreamdrops Children’s Choir.
Launching this January, the choir is designed to bring joy and creativity to children with neurodiversity, those with complex needs, and their amazing siblings who often act as young carers.
Mayor of Huntingdon Hinchingbrooke Hospital visit
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Mayor of Huntingdon, Cllr Karl Brockett, and his wife Julie, the Mayoress of Huntingdon, brought festive cheer to the children’s ward, the Special Care Baby Unit and A&E at Hinchingbrooke Hospital over the Christmas period.
With the holiday season in full swing, the couple made a special visit to brighten the days of the young patients staying at the hospital. Thanks to the generous support of Dreamdrops, a wonderful selection of toys was gifted to the children, ensuring that those unable to be at home for Christmas could still experience the magic of the season. The visit was a touching reminder of the spirit of giving, spreading joy to local children and their families.
Hartford Village Hall Christmas Fundraising
Hartford Village Hall held a Christmas Fair raising £319.16 for Dreamdrops, the committee then doubled the donation making a grand total of £638.32, which is just amazing!
A huge thank you to all those involved the money raised will go towards our new Dreamdrops Children’s Choir which will is launching this month.
Pictured: Deputy Mayor Karl Brocket and Christine Luckham, Dreamdrops Chairman
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