First Opportunities

First Opportunities is an independent charity providing therapeutic play and pre­school education for babies and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) with additional needs.

They have been operating in New Milton, helping children and their families in the New Forest. They provide a fun filled educational experience which is adapted individually for each child.

They currently help 16 children who each attend twice per week, term time. Their staff to child ratios are 1:1 or 1:2 depending on the needs of each child. This high ratio ensures that every child has individual attention, feels secure and it allows them to form a caring, stable relationship with their keyworker.

Their staff are highly trained and experienced in dealing with a wide range of disabilities and needs from Autism, Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy to Speech and Language Delay.

Over the years, they have helped over a thousand children to develop and move on to school.

An important part of their philosophy is to help the whole family, offering information, support and friendship to parents/carers who often have difficulty coming to terms with their situation.

It's Your Choice

It's Your Choice is a youth charity which provides information, advice, guidance and counselling to young people, aged 12-25, who live in and around the New Forest.

The charity also provides targeted casework support to growing numbers of young people who have high level, multiple needs which include being at risk of homelessness, poor mental health, self-harming behaviour, drug/substance misuse and being out of education, training or employment.

Each year It's Your Choice supports approximately 800 young people on a one to one basis.

I will kick start my fundraising Sunday 27th August by Abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth followed by a Sky Dive in September/October, date still to be confirmed.