Charity Number 1180501 www.limbbofoundation.co.uk info@limbbofoundation.co.uk **LIMBBO FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT MARCH 2024 - 2025** ## **OBJECTIVES** OBJECTIVES **THE RELIEF OF THOSE IN NEED BECAUSE OF LIMB DIFFERENCE, THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AND WALES BY:** **(I) THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF 3D PRINTED ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND** **(II) (THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ON THE ISSUES RELATING TO LIMB DIFFERENCES AND THE USE OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES.** Charity Number 1180501 This Report covers the period from April 2024 - March 2025. Looking back on this year we have seen growth in all areas of our work as a charity. Our numbers have grown and its clear that we are supporting even more families March 2025 Instagram 2,526 followers = +325 Facebook closed group 1,962 members = + 420 Facebook generic group followers = 3,145 + 298 With the introduction of our pen pals initiative, newsletters and new booklets (see separate pages) alongside mini meets and our ever growing three main events: Camp, Adventure Day and our Christmas Parties, we have widened our supported during this time. We continue to send out welcome packs - to new parents or families who are new to our group. Although this was originally set up to support families with new babies or expectant mums we quickly realised that there were families with slightly older children who also needed support - hence the change from New Baby packs to Welcome packs. Another area of growth has seen us revisit the booklet created by our children - ‘My limb difference’. This was the first booklet that we created. It was basically to test the waters and see if it would be useful. The requests for this booklet have been regular so we decided to create version 2 - It is an updated version with lots more information and many more children joining in. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Christmas Party Adventure Day
Mini Meets Camp LimbBo
Welcome packs Supporting Authors
Lower limb School
LimbBo lowdown 4
booklet
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## **Team LimbBo** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Team LimbBo
2024 - 2025
Adventure Day
LimbBo Lowdown 5 Our Limb Difference
Camp LimbBo
Bike adaptations school booklets
Supporting Authors
Supporters Mini meets
www.limbbofoundation.co.uk
LimbBo lowdown 4
info@limbbo.co.uk
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Limb Difference Awareness Month is observed in April each year. It is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding about limb differences. The month-long campaign focuses on promoting inclusivity, educating the public about the challenges faced by individuals with limb differences, and advocating for equal opportunities in various aspects of life, including accessibility, healthcare, and employment. During this month we share positive images about Limb Difference - this year our theme was ‘Actually I can...’ we worked closely with other charities to send out a positive consistent message. Our parents and families supported us on social media **Limb Difference** Limb Difference **Awareness Month** Awareness Month Our Second camp **Camp LimbBo** 31st May - 2nd June 2024 **Helsley Wood** Thank you to every single person that made us feel so welcome, to all the people that encouraged and tried to push our son out of his comfort zone to try new things it means more than you know. From the shy little boy we have at home that doesn’t like to venture far from his bedroom (his safe space) to seeing the massive smile on his face this weekend means everything. He hasn’t stopped talking about it since we left. ## **Blog post following Camp LimbBo 2024** **It’s almost 24 hours since camp LimbBo ended and, as always, it’s taken a while for the magic of the weekend to sink in. When we started LimbBo in 2018 one of our aims was to ‘support limb different children and their families.’ We quickly discovered that the best way to do this was to get families together.** **Camp limbBo 2024 began Friday afternoon with groups of shy children, sticking close to their parents and looking around them very cautiously. It ended on Sunday afternoon with exhausted children who were dirt covered, beaming, calling out ‘I blame Captain Woody’, teasing and hugging each other with no idea where their parents were.** **They threw themselves into every task (in some of them quite literally) – the words ‘Marley can’t swim’ came after he’d launched himself out of the canoe. They laughed when they were covered in mud, or their wellies were full of water. They giggled when they worked together to create faces of their little arms – Derek, Dave, Bob and Bruce are now members of Team LimbBo. (Note to self – buy less art supplies next year as they all just decorated themselves** 😊 **either that or leave a responsible adult (which rules out most of them) supervising)** **We had Domino’s Pizza, Ice cream, Greggs sausage rolls, a barbeque with chips. We toasted marshmallows and sang and danced around a camp fire, run by Royston Scout leader ‘Piper’.** **The ‘ LimbBo Way’ of doing things is to go with the flow – as long as it’s helping our children (and it’s safe!) go ahead! Timetables might need changing, menus altered, T shirts turned up 4 hours before camp started. Mud will wash off and fade, but memories will remain. We encourage our children to try and only help when they ask us to. It was great to see children asking whatever adult was around to tie their shoelace or wipe mud from their eye. It was great to hear people say – try it and then you will know if you like it – don’t miss out by not trying. The cheers were the same whether a child climbed a couple of steps up the climbing wall or if they got to the top.** **Yes, there were tears, but they were tears of pride (or hysterical tears of laughter at times!) from parents.** **Arthur, our current youngest member met TommyD our first LimbBo member and it brought back so many memories for us. In Katie’s words – ‘When Tommy was born, we felt isolated and didn’t want others to feel as frightened as we were. ‘If only we’d known then what we know now’ is said so often!** **To see our young ambassadors taking their role seriously made us so proud. Josh who was so quiet and shy when he joined us, was an assistant team leader and then took over a group on the Sunday. TommyD, Isabelle and our newest ambassador Skyla- Mae helped to set up, acted as runners to fetch and carry and supported younger children.** **To our group leaders and volunteers – there are no words (lots of different bird calls!) and thank you seems inadequate but we couldn’t do this without you all.** **We are all exhausted, as are the children but seeing them not hiding or covering up their limb difference, gaining in confidence, feeling safe and just being themselves is priceless. The future of LimbBo is in safe hands (and yes that pun IS intended) with these young people.** /J i, ## **AdventureDay 2024** ## **Attendees** Adventure Day is the biggest event in our calendar. In 2024 we held our 6th Adventure Day at Cawthorne cricket club in Barnsley. Families travelled from all over the UK to join us and we even had friends from the USA, and Germany. The blog post written following the event can be found on our website - along with more photos from the day . www.limbbofoundation.co.uk and is also copied on the following pages. The quote “If you build it, they will come” is from the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. ( It’s a misquote as the actual line in the film is, “If you build it, he will come.”) It’s a phrase often used to suggest that if you create something of value or importance, people will naturally be drawn to it. This quote has been buzzing around my head since our 6th Adventure Day a couple of days ago. As you know we formed LimbBo following the birth of Tommy D. We felt that we had nowhere to turn and didn’t know what his future would hold. By the time he was 4 we knew that he was an awesome little boy who did everything his own way. If only we’d known then what we know now…if only expectant parents and new parents knew that there was a family ready to scoop them up and support them. Well, we built it and on Thursday ‘they came’ – all 650 of ‘them!’ The LimbBo family is loud, proud, happy and supportive. It might be chaotic and messy at times, but the joy of Adventure Day is summed up in the feedback we’ve had from families. Talk of finding their tribe and a sense of belonging was a familiar thread. The overriding comment was the idea of a safe space. Yes, the Cricket Club at Cawthorne is a safe space physically, but more importantly it’s a safe space emotionally. ‘We were brought to tears when ‘L’ said she felt normal today and loved seeing so many other young people like herself’ No one hides their limb difference at Adventure Day, no one stares, no one comments and for the first time in their lives our limb different children are in the majority. I’m not sure of the actual figure but it was at 128 limb different children on our ticket list. Comments like ‘ _The smile on her face meeting other children with limb differences is something I will forever cherish_ ’. As parents you obviously want the best for your children, as grandparents you want to support your own children and your grandchildren. When we say family, we mean the whole family. Many grandparents took on the role of volunteers and are such a key part of our extended family. Yes, it rained in the afternoon, yes Katie hid her car in the trees behind the club house to avoid the walk to the overflow carpark. People did panic when Woody announced the bike we had been raffling all day had been stolen (Tommy was mortified until I told him the secret of why it had been ‘stolen’) – cue Toby Tyke (Barnsley FC’s mascot) riding onto the cricket field said bike and with Big Tommy following close behind! Yes, Woody won the bike (made by Mason Clarke and his friend Nathan) no it wasn’t a fix but Toby Tyke said he couldn’t have it, and we redrew the raffle! We couldn’t do this event without people who support us all year round as well as on the day. Bapp for Bolts have been with LimbBo since we started and there literally wouldn’t be the limbBo you know today without them. Rumour has it that Big Tommy will have Bertie Bolt as a companion next year. _Dere Street Barristers, Cawthorne Cricket club, The National Lottery Community Fund, The Keel Inn, J Harris Motor Bodies, Fletcher’s solicitors, Premdor Masonite Doors, Stainborough Rotary Club, Cannon Hall Farm, Horizon CC_ and the many parents and schools who have raised funds for us throughout the year. My apologies if I’ve missed anyone but every fundraising event makes a real difference to our work and we couldn’t do it without you. The trustees, youth ambassadors and volunteers all worked so hard to put this day together but our reward is on the day we get to see excited children enjoying themselves and being completely relaxed. The hugs, seeing how our children have grown, meeting new families, the tears of gratitude (mainly jane’s) and pride make the months of planning worthwhile. The range of activities and resources was amazing this year – thank you to you all. **Thank you to all of the ambassadors trustees and all the other volunteers for an amazing day today! Your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, thank you for creating a space where limb ‘difference’ doesn’t exist.** LImbBo Parent Christmas party 2024 The Fainuays, Barnsley IFTI •l 2024 Attend Prtfy. Our fifth Christmas party was held at The Fairways in Barnsley on Sunday 8th December. Thanks to lots of hard work behind the scenes this was a 9reo* success. Fother Christmos arriving in his Bapp lorryi Bubbles, snow rnchinest games, dancing compgtitions and definitely lots of smiles. The photo booth showed us just how confident ond full of fun our children and families ore when they get together. Our ombassador Morie Tidball MP lyes we have o limb different MP how cool is that?} spoke to our children ond invitgd them to vsit her at the House of Common$. Thè smoll Christmas bèars werè o hil Ithonks to Walkèr Morris for providing thèso) ond from tho photos W•'VO received they are much loved olreody. We hod new fomilies and children and the j'oy of seasoned LimbBo families meeting up again is lovely to sfte. I'll finish with a quote from ong of our porents... 'AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A LIMBBO PARTY. Christmas Party **Free of** Free of **charge** charge ## **Welcome Packs** ‘Hi Amy, I got the welcome package and oh my goodness, it got me crying all over again. It’s the most touching and thoughtful thing...These past few months have been so hard and this is like a warm hug from a beautiful community of support’ We were receiving regular enquiries on our Facebook page from both expectant mums where their baby's limb difference had shown up on a scan and mums with new babies who had a limb difference. People were obviously anxious about the unknown and felt they needed someone to chat to and ask questions. Whilst there is always someone around to support new families in this way, we decided that it would be lovely to welcome them by sending out a pack. Amy, one of our trustees, was the person who thought of this and has put the pack together - its evolving all the time . It has over the last 12 months gradually become our ‘Welcome pack’ rather than just a new parent pack as many people had only just found us and were in need of support. When no one really understood, LimbBo became a family and they can help others like they helped me. LImbBo Parent ## **3D Printed Bike adaptations** **Free of** Free of **charge** charge Our bike adapations were designed in house by our chairman. We are now on version 3.1 of this design which has been modified; LimbBo colours and a 3D printed insert using flexible filament. These are provided free of charge. Bianca is the trustee responsible for collating orders and the printing, packaging at posting are done by Adam (Chairman) and Katie (Operations manager). These can be attached to balance bikes, scooters and bikes. The design for these has been made open source so that anyone with a 3D printer can create one but must not alter the design or sell these products. ## **School Booklets** Having identified key areas where our children and families need support, it was clear that starting school was high on the list of parental worrries. With the help of parents and children we created two booklets aimed mainly at primary schools. We now have two booklets called ‘Welcoming a child with a limb difference into your school’ - one to support children with a lower limb difference and one for those with an upper limb difference. It was a challenge to get the balance of support and independence but with the help of schools who already support one of our children, along with parents we have created a guide which offers support but is framed in an open manner and raises lots of questions - it certainly isn’t a list of rules! **Welcoming a child with a Limb Difference** INTO YOUR SCHOOL **info@limbbofoundation.co.uk** We originally combined upper and lower limb difference into one booklet but took advice from parents and created one for each type of difference. **Copies posted** Don’t underestimate your limb different child. We quickly realised T didn’t need our help with the things that we thought would be challenging for him. Our offers of help were often met with ‘I can do it’. He would ask for help if needed and we adjusted our offers of help accordingly. TEACHER QUOTE **Teacher Booklets - posted. Several more digital downloads** **Sample Page** Sample Page **Easy ‘wins’ for supporting** THAT YOU MAYBE HADN’T THOUGHT OF ... Adding up to ten and showing the answer by holding fingers up? Easy ways - cards? an artists’ drawing hand? A cardboard hand? If you are starting to write and encourage children to use finger spacing. consider alternatives - a lolly stick with a face drawn on, Tommy’s dad 3D printed a finger spacer for him. If you are primary, especially early years, don’t avoid hand printed cards at Christmas etc - let the child paint their hand and their little arm - please don’t get another child to paint their hand and add that - it will just upset children and yes we have had that happen several times. Consider how you help the child secure paper and books when writing. Also bear in mind a child may be missing the hand that would have been their dominate hand so their writing will an extra challenge Have some books showing limb difference or that talk about differences in general in your book corner, Collins Big Cat phonics books have examples ## **Hospital Packs** Hospital Packs Having introduced our in house new parent booklet last year we realised that it was important to get our literature into as many hospitals as possible. Our parents have been a key link and we have a trustee who overees this initiative. All literature is created by another Trustee. These have been well received and several new families have joined us as a result of this initiative. Raising awareness and supporting health workers is important to us and we were delighted to be asked to spent time with out local Health visitors to explain both the role of limbBo and how to support families who have a limb different child. Our parent booklet is being sent out with welcome packs or when requested specifically - these are honest stories by LimbBo parents and have been really helpful to new or expectant families. We orginally began the LimbBo Foundation following the birth of Tommy D in 2014. We were given a black and white formal leaflet which didn’t answer any of our questions - we wanted to share the positive side to limb difference and where to go to ask questions **----- Start of picture text -----**
Meet the Team Meet the Team
Adam
Woody
Jane
Katie
Sarah
Bianca
Kane
Amy
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**We currently have 7 trustees and Katie who is our Operations manager - (the role of operations manager is funded by The National Lottery - See separate page.) Although we are spread throughout the UK, we are in daily contact with each other and also hold regular minuted Trustees meetings on line. We have a broad skill set ranging from the strategic to the practical needs of LimbBo. Five of our trustees have a limb different child in their family.** **As the majority of our funding come from donations during this period march 2024 - March 2025 -added to the fact that we made it a policy to not charge for anything we needed a boost to our funds. Turning again, to our families for support we were stunned at the amount our children raised. They walked, swam, cycled, built, baked, painted... proving to us beyond a doubt that LimbBo is a family and always works together. Our children and families raised £13,333 in 2024** ## **Youth** Youth **Ambassadors** Ambassadors - Sa **Saying thank you -** ying thank you Picadill **Picadilly circus** y circus **Advertising fund** Advertising fund The blue t shirt brigade The blue t shirt brigade **raising** raising **Distributing medals** Distributing medals Adventure Da **Adventure Day** y **Support at mini meets** Support at mini meets **Group leader at camp** Group leader at camp We currently have nine youth ambassadors. They all take this role very seriously. At events they wear blue t shirts or Youth Ambassador lanyards so theat they are clearly identifiable. Their roles range from practical support - helping to set up our main events and supporting younger children throughout the events. They work to raise awareness, speaking in schools,at events, collecting in supermarkets, collecting cheques on behalf of limbBo and contributing to all of our booklets. It’s important that their voice in heard in all of our literature. Two of our YA do not have a limb difference themselves but have a sibling who does. We are a family organisation and know that siblings have a valuable role to play so we were really pleased when Lola and Layla asked if they could join this group. ## wareness **Raising Awareness** Raising A Raising awareness surrounding limb difference is vital to promoting inclusion. When children are exposed to diversity at an early age and in a positive way then they are more likely to be accepting of others. By visiting schools either as part of their PHSE sessions or as part of their STEM sessions we can show what living with a limb difference entails. By including some of our youth ambassadors in these visits we have seen children openly ask questions and overcome any preconceived ideas that they may have . We have also found that it helps the parents of very young children with a limb difference to ask questions about what their child’s future will look like - what has been their exeprience of school, learning to drive, playing sports ... all answered honestly and giving a n insight into living with a limb difference. **Youth ambassadors** Youth ambassadors December Saturda **December Saturday** y **Morrisons** Morrisons ## **Mini Meets** **We are looking to introduce ‘.mini meets’ which will cut down the time gap between our main events. These are local meet up which are organised either by trustees or by one of our parents. The best support that we can give to our families is to show them that they aren’t on their own and that support is available.** **MINI MEET UP** #TEAM LIMBBO **Whilst our large events are great places to meet others, the amount of work that goes into organising these means they can only happen once a year. By using our closed group, which is a safe space online, families can identify who is based closed to them geographically and can arrange their own mini meet with our support.** **LimbBo** LimbBo **Penpal** Penpal **initiative** initiative **Penpal** Penpal **initiative** initiative This initiative was suggested as a way of helping our children feel less isolated. By matching them with someone of a similar age and with a corresponding Limb difference where possible (ie upper or lower limb) children can begin to form friendships. We had 95 sign ups in 2024 - March 2025. Some parents of very small children wanted to join in and their parents are writing and exchanging letters. Its heartwarming to see the number of photos of children posting letters and receiving letters. Hopefully, if they haven’t met already they can meet up at one of our events. This initiative is overseen by Sophie and Steph who both have a child with an upper limb difference. Their children already had a strong bond and worked on the October FUNraiser together. **Sign ups** Sign ups Thank you LimBo for this fun pen pal program and for the limb difference welcome package. ‘Z’ was so excited to write back to her pen pal today. **Podcasts and Radio** Podcasts and Radio **interviews** interviews **New LimbBo** New LimbBo Fl **Flyer** yer # EFL Inclusivit **EFL Inclusivity Match Oakwell** y Match Oakwell Saturda **Saturday 1st March 2025** y 1st March 2025 We love you Barnsley …we do The voices of thousands of Barnsley Supporters sum up our day at Oakwell, (the home of Barnsley Football Club) on Saturday. The whole ground resounding with the song ‘Oh Barnsley we love you’. LimbBo is a Barnsley based charity and often people are surprised when they find this out. We are proud of our town (or tarn) and the support that we have been given locally. On Saturday 40 of our limb different children, their siblings and parents came together at Oakwell. The children who already knew one another ran off to play and catch up whilst some of our new members looked on in awe – that didn’t last! As usual by the end of the day they were one cohesive group – helped by the ‘uniform’ of LimbBo Football kit with their names on the back. Many of our children slept in them and even took them to school on Monday but we’ve been assured that they have now all been prized out of them to allow for washing. The club were brilliant, the tour inspiring. There was a calm quiet walk around the vast empty stadium, a trip to the boardroom, the dressing room, lunch, football on the training pitch all leading up to the main event – the flag waving and the match itself. By the time we returned after lunch to collect our flags the atmosphere had changed, full stands of Barnsley fans, singing, chanting, clapping. Announcements over the Tannoy, music, sunshine and a real anticipation of a good afternoon. Big Tommy joined Toby Tyke for a walk around. Tommy D and Freddy were mascots and walked out with the players. Marie Tidball MP, one of our ambassadors and MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge came along to meet up with our children – we were impressed she wore Barnsley colours! Royston Explorers came to help with the bucket collection – another Barnsley link. As the match progressed and a total of 7 goals were scored the noise level was incredible. Chips eaten, singing gained volume, the sun shone so the cold didn’t matter. A tired but happy group of children at the end of the day. A great experience with support from Barnsley FC who have said they would be happy to work with us again. Proud of our children, our families and our town - #you reds and yes ‘Oh Barnsley we love you’ During Science week 2025, team limbBo worked with The Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Amazelab and British Glass to create a day of experimenting and learning. We based this around the Bharti Kher exhibition and the theme of change. It was great to see the children working together to create their own works of art as well as explore the grounds at YSP ## **Social Media** One of our main channels of support is via social media. Whilst we have a presence on all major sites our most valuable is our closed group for families on Facebook. March 2024 the number in this group was 1,945. It is a safe site as people have to apply to join (although obviously this is free) and all posts are moderated before being uploaded. This has been used to answer both practical and emotional questions, share ideas , ask questions, find others who are local to you and most of all a safe space to share photos and celebrate to achievements of our children. All of our events and activities are advertised on here and this is growing steadily each month. We were pointed in the direction of LimbBo by the fetal medical unit, it is incredibly inspiring and reassuring reading stories and seeing photos of all of your beautiful children thriving. Thank you to everyone for sharing their stories, it has made a tough time easier for us’ I want to introuduce baby’A’ We found out that she had a limb difference at our 20 week scan. The news was tough to hear so I looked up places on FB to help. And it did and it still helps! Thanks isn’t enough to tell you how much this site has imapcted our lives! She is 4 weeks old and beautiful! **----- Start of picture text -----**
Celebrating
Achievements
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**Raising Awareness** By working with authors, publishing and TV companies we have helped to normalise limb difference In 2024 we received an Awards for all grant of £20,000 from the National lottery. This has been invaluable to as as it meant we could pay a member of staff for 3 days a week. We would never use money raised for and by our children to pay for salaries but this grant has given us the support we needed to take limbBo forward. Our Operations Manger took up post in April and oversees the day to day admin as well as being in charge of Camp LimbBo and branded merchandise which is made in house. She oversees the production and delivery of our bike adaptations **----- Start of picture text -----**
Oakwell March 2025
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**This is our second version of our ‘My limb dfifference’ booklet. It has more stories and a real range of ages and types of limb difference. It’s been written by parents and children and has proved to be a really supportive booklet for familes.** ## **Our Main sponsors** **October FUNraiser** **As we don’t charge for our services we are incredibly grateful to our supporters and fundraisers** 11 Ik41,1 I, i,:1 ,-1 t, LimbBo Foundation The LlmbBo Foundatlon Inrome Expenses Summary Perlod endln8 31 March 2025 Month Apr 2024 May 2024 Jun 2024 Fundr*ln8 Other In¢om Total hK•m• 6,274.07 10.00 6,284.07 2,234.58 102.co Wl 2.336.58 135.30 200.CA) 335.30 6,844.86 12.66 6.857.52 13.097.37 485.01 13.582.38 5,482.42 5.487.76 3.182.16 3.182.16 9,473.24 9,473.24 6,327.38 6.431.38 22,052.25 22.328.96 1,681.22 1,828.22 27,882.82 27.882.82 270.36 175.76 39.64 30.1X) 350.sj 492.43 523.80 4.331.46 2.164.46 1.865.88 2.928.21 2.550.20 2.778.74 2,069.73 2.194.00 1,835.49 2.685.79 2,558.96 4,432.03 3,457.43 9.036.44 6.930.40 114.L 1.032.65 865.80 2,513.26 1,9S4.42 1.158.06 203.80 1,592.10 559.71 1,532.25 854.38 1,316.05 1,215.97 1,243.30 1,156.61 312.97 S.306.17 6,640.45 8.032.33 13.031.92 9.480.56 4,732.51 4.550.03 5,013.90 5,906.15 3,706.48 6,281.31 4,600.79 Jul 2024 238.92 124.57 158.05 112.80 53.31 107.19 269.18 103.61 149.74 0.00 Aug 2024 Sep 2024 Oct 2024 Nov 2024 Dec 2024 Jan 2025 Feb 2025 Mar 2025 104.Crf) 276.71 147.C 3,185.60 1.452.29 Annual Totals 104,667.67 1,342.72 106,010.39 1,803.IY Z6AZO.1g 35,578.86 13,099.62 77,282.60 **www.limbbofoundation.co.uk info@limbbofoundation.co.uk**