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Welcome to 2024!

This means that Awesome Archie is now heading into its fourth year 🙂 THANKYOU!!!

This Christmas break, superhero sibling Daisy decided that our website needed to do something to entertain the kids. In her words ” it’s all a bit grown up and boring!” So, in her defense, she got right to it and created a simple game to brighten up the site. We are so proud of her achievement.

“Awesome Archie pop” which can be found under the games heading on this site, is a take on the well known ” whack a mole” and has a simple but fun game play. This game can also be played on the mobile phone and is FREE so enjoy 🙂 More games will be added to our site as the kids get creating!

Finding head-space as a parent carer.

Having your own space when you have a child ( or in our case children) with additional needs can feel impossibly difficult to achieve . Every person’s idea of finding head-space is different. For me, an hour painting (its usually a disaster but the process is what I need) or 20 minuets reading can sort me out! The issue I find is that that time doesn’t come often enough and I regularly get overwhelmed. For me , this quickly escalates into a feeling of failure as a Mum, wife and a real resentment for the life I live having to put others before myself… ALWAYS! It’s only now I know that these feelings are normal. Its ridiculously hard being a parent carer and so why wouldn’t I feel overwhelmed a lot?!

I would also love to normalize sharing the moments of sheer misery. I get so tired of seeing peoples social media pages full of picture perfect moments that WE ALL KNOW are just a small glimmer of what life is really like.

Of course, it’s also important to create a support system for yourself as a caregiver. If you are able to, depend on friends or family members who can be a listening ear for you. Consider joining online support groups where you can share your experiences and learn from others who understand what you’re going through. It’s ok to say no to social invites if you can’t face it! Your true friends will understand that looking after your own mental health is ESSENTIAL for you to be a good parent/carer and remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

You are all welcome to join our facebook support group, link here👇:)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/3650909864922453/

And finally Our Awesome Archie pledge to you for 2024

We as an organisation have changed so much over the last 4 years. We started off with 3 assembly diary dates in local schools, chatting about the books Archie and I had written to get discussions going about ASD. Fast forward to now- our academic diary for 2024 is almost FULL!

We have been recognized at the BBC Radio Solent ” make a difference awards” . We have rubbed shoulders with super kind and generous celebrities like Harry Redknapp, Fred Dineage, Alun Newman, PDAdaduk . We have our books in the local library and are still proud affiliates of the Dorset Children’s Foundation. We hosted and live streamed a carol concert for those unable to be out in the cold. We continue to work with other HUGE charities like Autism Unlimited and Place to be, whilst still volunteering in school with FREE TA 1:1 support.

WE ARE SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL!

We pledge to continue this important work throughout 2024. To keep talking about Autism, the challenges, the joys, the gifts. To keep creating HONEST and lived experience content to support those who need it. To keep supporting both schools and parents and most importantly, keep trying to make the world a better place for our neurodivergent children.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL 🙂

Okay, okay, I know I said that my last post would be the final one of the year but we just couldn’t help it 🎅🤣🤣

We are so lucky to have returned from an wonderful short break at Centre Parcs Longleat. While we were there we were able to really rest, reconnect as a family and get ready for Christmas 🙂 However, Archie and I have promised to use every opportunity we can to talk about Autism and so of course we chatted to people while we were away. 🤗

We are always pleasantly surprised about the amount of people that say ” you came and spoke at my sons school” or, we “follow you on tictok!” We get to meet so many AWESOME families who, like us, are trying their best to manage the day to day and still carve out the time and energy we all lack to have FUN!

Hence this post. To all of the families that came and said HI, this is for you ❤🙏 Please know that via this site you can access all of our socials for daily updates and support.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

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I have to be honest, this one is making me very emotional ( although those of you who know me know that’s no surprise!)

Last night we finished our official 2023 diary with a truly moving evening. Each year we host the Awesome Archie Carol concert and we are supported by the BRILLIANT Boscombe Salvation Army band. This mini concert ( held on our driveway) is attended by our neighbours, family and close friends and is live streamed on our you tube channel.

We do this because so many kids are not able to enjoy evenings like this first hand. They may have a compromised immune system, be overwhelmed by their neurological differences or be receiving end of life care and we at Awesome Archie believe that EVERY CHILD deserves to sing carols if they want too!

The Band played Christmas carols and we all sang along with our carol sheets that they kindly provided for us. Mulled wine, hot chocolate, mince pies and Christmas cake were all consumed and we had so many moving and warm moments. It was truly the perfect end to what has been the most incredible year for us. Thankyou all 🙂

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Please click here if you would like to watch the livestream now saved on our channel for your enjoyment. ⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇🎅🎄

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpMeYeqBrGE&ab_channel=AwesomeArchienonprofit.

Our last term term has been wonderful. There have been nativity performances, Christmas SEN hamper deliveries, new families and children to get to know and a whole lot of fun.

I was also able to enjoy a very rare evening out with the William Gilpin school team. I feel so blessed to have made such kind friends in the truly unique and WONDERFUL WG school. I feel vey blessed indeed.

So as I leave you until the new year we must say THANKYOU. Thankyou for helping us raise our children, thankyou for ALWAYS donating your unwanted kids toys and clothes, thankyou for sharing our posts, channels and socials and thankyou for helping us to be on this AWESOME journey.

Thanks for EVERTHING, ITS BEEN THE BEST YEAR EVER!

Watch some of our moments this year here ⬇⬇⬇

https://www.tiktok.com/@awesomearchie_/video/7310237869371641120?_r=1&_t=8i3uA3uiwOf&fbclid=IwAR1b5A3amQllY-Rdkr7CIxY53x59qlQUvc0oGz8Sn_b78Tld_4qfD97Me_0

Sorry, I know…rubbish pun but I couldn’t help it. 🤣 CHRISTMAS IS HERE AT AWESOME ARCHIE NON PROFIT!!!

Loads to share so lets do it…

We started our Christmas season off by donating the hundreds of toys that you amazing people gave to us. The DCF were thrilled with your kindness. These toys will help not only some of the families with Disabled children in Dorset but also the children that use the treehouse facility THANKYOU!

We then had the brilliant opportunity to help the Boscombe Salvation Army with a family Christmas Craft event. This fantastic day , organised by Claire Randell and supported by the many wonderful volunteers at the SA, was to help local children receive a Christmas gift this year. Its so hard and upsetting to hear that so many kids wake up on Christmas morning without a present and so we were DELIGHTED to be able to support them with this.

We created a temporary Santa’s grotto for the main man himself. It was a real honour and we cant wait to help out again next year 🙏❤

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Most recently, the FPS Christmas fundraiser. I have been a supporter of the FPS charity for the last 14 years. The FPS is the PTA of the Priory school who tirelessly have volunteered their time to support their school and ALL the pupils that attend. For me, with a strong SEN connection with many of the Priory families, this is a really important part of my personal Christmas experience. It was great to be able to help them raise the vital funds that allow the pupils to have FUN and enjoy their school playtimes . Thankyou FPS for all you do, particularly to the Chair Hazel Hill. It is a tough and often thankless task and I am so grateful to you all as a team 🙂

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Aaaaand finally. We have bagged up and sent out our personalised Christmas Awesome Archie gifts . Archie and I have created some rainbow themed Christmas tree Decs that we have given to our families. We hope that this will remind those kids EVERY YEAR to be proud of who they are. Just like each decoration , they are unique!

As always please drop us a like on any of our socials and follow us for up to date stuff x

If you have been following our journey for a while, you will be well aware that we talk about Neurodiversity ALOT! We find this term so useful when talking to families and schools. The term “Neurodiverse” is the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways. There is no one ‘right’ way of thinking, learning and behaving, and differences are NOT viewed as deficits.

This is also helpful for us presently, in a time when the SEND system is at its most stretched. Children are struggling to get an ” official” diagnosis because of referral push backs, funding issues or trying to beat an ever growing NHS backlog. This where we can still talk to our kids about their own differences WITHOUT the need for a label.

Now, before I move on I want to stress that for us personally, getting official labels ( ASD, ADHD SPD etc ) has been extordinarly helpful. It has meant that we have been able to learn about Archie’s specific needs and meet him where he’s at. This means that team Awesome will ALWAYS recommend the official diagnosis route. However, we know that for so many, that is not currently achievable. This is when talking about Neurodiversity can open the door to a really great conversation with your loved ones.

Its important to share that everyone thinks, learns and processes information differently. Neurodiversity is all about recognising this, and understanding that people’s brains work differently to the next. For instance, if you are autistic or have ADHD, these differences can be more far more obvious. It’s a great idea to talk to your child about these differences and help them be more accepting and understanding of their own neurological differences.

So please, don’t feel like you need a label to address a really important issue with your child. Trust your gut and go for it 🙂 As Awesome Archie says ” neurodiversity rules, be proud to be YOU!”

We must start this post with an enormous THANKYOU!!!

Back in October we launched an appeal for second hand toys to help support kids within our community and WOW, you delivered! Over the space of four weeks, we made multiple trips to various schools with donated SEN equipment, wet play games and toys . This week we dropped off our HUGE collection to the DCF. As you know, we are proud affiliates of the Dorset Children’s foundation . We are so proud and grateful that you all helped us to support them in the important work that they continue to do. THANKYOU!

Please know that although we have personally paused collections until Easter, the DCF will GLADLY accept any child related donations at their Treehouse store in Boscombe.

Our interview with PDA dad uk is LIVE!!!!

Well, what an experience that was. Honestly, Monday felt like such a fun day for both Archie and I.

We were privileged to be interviewed by Duncan, a well known content creator, amazing Dad and all round lovely guy ( PDA dad) . We were lucky enough to chat to him for a couple of hours.🙏 To be honest, in the end it felt like the kind of chat you’d have over a flat white 🤣 I will link the YouTube vid here for you to check out ⬇

Like a lot of parent carers, its rare that I get to talk to someone who just gets it! Duncan really does. We were able to discuss the SEND funding crisis, lack of adequate “in school ” training and Jimmy Carr?! Honestly 🙂 🤣👍

It was such a wonderful morning and a we must say thanks to Duncan for created such an epic interview. Both Archie and I both said that so far , that’s up there as an Awesome Archie career highlight and we have plonked it firmly into our positive memory bank 🙂

Do check out…

https://www.facebook.com/PDADadUK/?locale=en_GB

Duncan’s knowledge on PDA is , to mind, unbeatable!

Following multiple messages I’ve received from parent/carers post interview, please find a link attached to the SEND code of practice here…

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER 🙂 Stay AWESOME !!! 🙂

On Friday night, my husband and I were fortunate enough to attend the DCF’s winter wonderland charity ball. This amazing event was created to raise vital funds to continue the phenomenal work that the DCF do to support disabled children in Dorset.

The ball was held at the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth and guests were treated to champagne on entry, a delicious three course meal and amazing service in a stunningly decorated room.

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The ball was filled with charity fundraisers, supporting corporate companies and parent/carers who were all bidding on fantastic auction prizes and raffle tickets, all in aid of the DCF and “Enable my Trip”. It was also hosted by the BRILLIANTLY funny Adrienne Coles, host of Coastal Comedy. It was a really amazing night! We were even treated to some live singing by the fantastic Gemma Cardona.

The Dorset Children’s Foundation do so much to support the community. They offer families a wide range of events and activities from football to dancing, they have a dedicated mental health team and offer affordable counselling to parents and primary carers. They source and fundraise for wheelchairs, walkers, and other such disability aids as well as helping fundraise towards medical expenses not covered by Statutory Services.

Needless to say, all of this takes a huge amount of time and money. Thankyou DCF!

“Enable my Trip”, who partnered in the ball are an amazing team that help organise trips for holiday makers with disabled family members, ensuring that they have a safe and fully accessible holiday/trip. Please click on this link to visit their website and see their amazing work.

I am not permitted to share the cash total of the night however, I will say that the funds raised were well into the thousands and that EVERY PENNY of the amazing total raised will go directly to help disabled children in and around the local community. THANKYOU AND WELL DONE TO ALL…roll on next year 🙂

To see the ball in action simply click on this link below 🙂

@awesomearchie_

#dorsetchildrensfoundation #awesomearchienonprofit #winterwonderland #disabledchildren #charity #autism #adhd #thankyou

♬ These Are the Special Times – Céline Dion

Last weekend something extraordinarily rare happened. My husband and I had a weekend alone… WITH NO KIDS!!! 😍😍😍

I know that to most parents, this sound like a “so what?” moment, but for us as parent/carers, this NEVER happens. Finding someone willing and more importantly ABLE to care for all four of our kids, especially when giving of meds, adjusting routines etc., is tough. Thankyou to Sheila and Tracey for giving us this rare but AWESOME break.

We decided to use this time wisely and so headed up to the big smoke 🌆.

Each year, the TES SEND show comes to the London Business and Design Centre.

This is an event that has been created for SEN professionals to gather together, make professional connections and learn. Compiled by the shows head of content, Beverley Walters, the CPD-certified seminar programme features an inspirational mix of seminars, providing an unrivalled opportunity to hear from acclaimed SEND experts.

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This amazing show show attracts visitors from a wide range of roles across the public, not-for-profits (like us), and private sectors from early years, primary, secondary, FE, special schools, Pupil Referral Units, local authorities and more. IT’S AWESOME!

I learned SO much and came home with a library of new books, wonderful connections made and a head FULL of exciting and fresh support/teaching ideas.

Among the many phenomenal speakers, there was one that I must apologise too 😉 PDADadUK. I was so excited to meet him in person that I literally screamed his own name in his face, not my finest moment 🤣Thankfully he was very kind and spoke to me about PDA (a subject in which I’m studying at the moment) and he has helped me no end.

So this blog post is dedicated to him. With enormous thanks!

The content he creates, the advice he gives, and the lived experience that he shares has taught me so much in the past and this week has taught me even more. I have been using his advise (particularly the traffic light system) to help me support in class and it’s been so effective. LINK TO HIS WORK HERE 🙂

THANKYOU PDA DAD!

We at Awesome Archie recommend that all SENCOs and SLT visit the TES SEND show. The information shared has been unbelievably useful to me already and it’s only been a week since the event!

Please find a link to next years show deets here ➡ https://www.tessendshow.co.uk/

But fear not, it wasn’t all work and no play. We also had a whopping stroll around London, visited the sights, had a meal out and A FULL NIGHTS SLEEP!!! AWESOME!

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Hello everyone and welcome to our latest website addition. Firstly, I need to apologise for the length of time it’s taken me to update you on all the latest happenings. I am delighted to say that we have been SO busy, that this is the first opportunity I’ve had to write in a little while!

This post is to say an enormous thanks to BBC Radio Solent. On the 26th September 2023, myself, my husband, Archie and Daisy were invited to the BBC Radio Solent’s ‘Make A Difference Award 2023’.

Without my knowledge, my amazing husband and the lovely Mr Sam Fuller (Head Teacher – Christchurch Junior School) nominated me for an award for the work that we do with Awesome Archie. When I received the phone-call in March to tell me that I had made it into the final four in our category, I couldn’t believe it! THANK YOU!

The awards ceremony has been created to thank members of the community who contribute, without expecting anything in return. For us, this was enormous.

Sadly, we didn’t win the biggy in our category, that honour went to a lovely young lady called Billie, for her contribution to the environment, but we were blessed to receive a ‘Highly Commended’ award for our efforts with Awesome Archie.

The event itself was beautifully hosted by Alun Newman, amazingly produced by Rebecca Parker and attended by truly wonderful people.

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We promise that we will use this incredible honour as a platform to keep us powering forward. For as long as we are able, we will talk about neurodiversity, autism, ADHD, acceptance and inclusion… it’s the least our children deserve.

BBC Radio Solent, thank you for giving us the most wonderful day and the most phenomenal memories.

We all know that Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that has been used for centuries, that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. Studies suggest that it enhances both physical and emotional health.

Aromatherapy is thought of as both an art and a science and more recently has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.

This is why ( 5 years ago) I started to study the connections between fragrance and their calming benefits. To be completely truthful, it came from a place of utter desperation. At that time, Archie was full of anxiety and we had no idea where to turn. The NHS waiting list for mental health support was weeks away and we were fearful for his well being.

My research lead me to discover that there are a number of fragrances that parents and carers found beneficial and for us, it was a gamechanger! Since that day, we have had either a wax warmer or diffuser both upstairs and down ( one placed as close to Archie’s room as possible ) and we have not looked back.

For your quick refence, here is a list of scents that are believed to support a child with ADHD although remember, EVERY child is different and it has to be a bit of a trial and error situation to find the scent that works for you 🙂

Vetiver

Vetiver oil comes from a plant native to India called vetiver. It’s said to have a calming effect and may even help stimulate circulation and relieve symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Lavender

Lavender has been used for hundreds of years to reduce anxiety. 

The aroma of lavender can reduce anxiety and help calm people in stressful situations, which may help with ADHD symptoms.

Orange – One of our most successful 🙂

Orange oil is derived from the rinds of the sweet orange.

Studies suggest that orange essential oil could reduce anxiety and create calm in individuals in a stressful environment. We have found this to be true for one of our boys 🙂

Chamomile and ylang ylang

 Chamomile oil comes from the flowers of the chamomile plant, while ylang ylang oil is derived from the flowers of the tropical Cananga tree.

The stress, anxiety, and depression felt by some with ADHD may be helped by Ylang Ylang and chamomile oils. Both of these essential oils may also have the ability to calm, reduce anxiety, and possibly even help with some forms of depression.

Sandalwood- Archie’s favourite and in daily use in our home.

Sandalwood oil comes from the wood and roots of Santalum album, which is also known as the East Indian sandalwood tree. And finally…

Peppermint

Peppermint oil comes from the flowering part as well as the leaves of the peppermint plant.

It’s believed to have a soothing effect. It can help relax and calm the restlessness.

For us personally, Sandlewood ( deep earthy scent ),any citrus scents and any mint based fragrances have positive effects of our children.

I hope this has been useful to you as we start back for another school year.

If you are interested in purchasing any warmers to have a go yourself, here is a link to my Scentsy store and I am always happy to help and advise x

https://happyclappy.scentsy.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR1N5OGtVaKWDwWEHuUN-I97uqdfeDhVybOXjiEJ4AJtg7A4_1hl8nC4BnY