Once again, Santa found himself back at the Parkway Cinema in Cleethorpes, hardly
able to believe how quickly the year had come around. Visiting at this time of year
was always a joy, and he was delighted to be there once more. Even better, there
was a beach nearby, just enough space for his reindeer to rest while the sleigh was
safely parked.

Inside, the excitement was already building. So many very special boys and girls had
gathered to see the pantomime, their faces full of anticipation. Santa knew it was
going to be a fantastic time for everyone and hoped they would enjoy every moment.
The day was packed with entertainment. Magic Adam amazed the audience with
balloon modelling and laughter, while beloved characters from Once Upon a Party
and Dream a Little Dream Entertainment brought stories to life, filling the cinema with
wonder and smiles. Santa’s Sweet Stall was a firm favourite, and a team of resolute
elves worked tirelessly behind the scenes, making sure everything ran smoothly from
start to finish.

With a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye, Santa shared his festive wishes before
the fun began. Laughter, cheer and Christmas spirit filled the cinema as one simple
message echoed through the room and lingered long after the curtains rose:
Merry Christmas. Ho ho ho!

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On Sunday 7th December, Santa Claus arrived at Forest Pines in England full of
excitement, having flown that very morning from his home in Lapland, near the North
Pole. Back there, everything was blanketed in deep snow, so it was quite a surprise
to find none waiting for him at Forest Pines. Still, the lack of snow didn’t matter. What
mattered were the many very special boys and girls gathering for the Sunflowers
Christmas party, ready to laugh, play, and celebrate as Christmas drew closer.
The building buzzed with energy. Laughter echoed through the rooms, and the
anticipation was almost magical. Kammy appeared with a cheerful grin, wishing
everyone a Merry Christmas and promising an unforgettable Sunflower Children’s
Action Group Christmas Party.

Soon, familiar faces joined the fun. Nick Miles, known to many as Jimmy King from
Emmerdale, spoke warmly about the day ahead: a big, shared meal, endless
activities, rumours of Father Christmas himself hiding somewhere in the building,
and even snowball fights upstairs. Everywhere you looked, children were smiling.
For many, the best part of the day was simply everything. The excitement of the
children was infectious as they raced around, their joy filling every corner. Seeing
what the day meant to them made it truly special. The dedication behind the event
was clear.

Parents celebrated alongside their children, relaxed and happy in a safe, welcoming
space. The noise, screaming, shouting and laughter was overwhelming in the best
possible way. It was wonderful to see the children in a different light, free from the
constraints of hospital visits and medical treatments, simply being Children.
As the day drew on, one message lingered in the air, carried by smiles and festive
cheer: Merry Christmas.

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Sunflowers would like to say a huge thank you to Kevin and Rachel Barker for their
incredible support following their Halloween Light Show, which raised an amazing
£1,304, with a further £415.50 expected through Gift Aid.

The spectacular light show took place over several evenings at their home in Laceby
and attracted many local families who came along to enjoy the spooky displays and
festive atmosphere. Visitors were also able to enjoy hot drinks and sweet treats,
adding to the community spirit of the event.

Kevin and Rachel’s hard work, creativity and generosity helped create a fantastic
experience for the local community while raising vital funds to support Sunflowers’
work with children and families. We are extremely grateful for their continued support
and dedication.

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What a wonderful afternoon our Sunflowers children enjoyed with ART by Rachel Spencer at Brigsley Village Hall! Under Rachel’s expert guidance, each child created their very own pastel drawing of a giraffe, and the results were absolutely amazing.

Art offers such a powerful way for children to relax, express themselves, and celebrate their individuality. The session was filled with creativity, colour, and plenty of smiles as everyone explored their artistic side in a supportive, encouraging environment.

A huge well done to all our talented Sunflowers who took part, we are so proud of you! And a heartfelt thank you to Rachel Spencer for her warmth, patience, and superb guidance throughout the session. You truly inspired our young artists.

Want to help create more experiences like this?
Find out how you can support Sunflowers through donations, volunteering, or partnerships by visiting our How to Donate page.

This half term, children from Sunflowers enjoyed a week packed with fabulous activities, from sleepovers and chocolate making to two fantastic Bounceback sessions at Eclipse Gymnastics.

Bounceback is a unique and inclusive play programme designed especially for children with complex needs. More than just a gymnastics class, it offers a space where children can truly be themselves, moving, laughing, and building confidence through play. Each session is tailored to individual abilities, creating a safe and welcoming environment filled with smiles, fun, and freedom from everyday challenges.

The half-term sessions even included a special Halloween-themed activity, where children, and some enthusiastic parents, wrapped themselves up in loo roll before working together to “break out” as one big group. It was a hilarious and heartwarming moment that perfectly captured the spirit of Bounceback: teamwork, laughter, and joy in motion.

A huge thank you goes to Becky, owner of Eclipse, who generously funded two of these special sessions for Sunflowers families over half term. Her kindness is a wonderful reminder that there are many ways to support Sunflowers, not only through financial donations, but also by sharing time, skills, and opportunities that help children flourish.

For many families, Bounceback has become a highlight of the week, a place of joy, belonging, and resilience, where every child can shine.

Want to make a difference too?
Find out how you can support Sunflowers, through donations, volunteering, or creative partnerships, by visiting our How to Donate page.

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Guests enjoyed a spectacular evening at this year’s Sunflowers Annual Ball, held at the Forest Pines Hotel in Scunthorpe. The event was attended by Sunflowers’ wonderful patrons, Chris Kamara, Nick Miles, Nicola Wheeler, Bhasker Patel, and Chris Chittell, who joined supporters for a night filled with laughter, dancing, and generosity.

A highlight of the evening was the launch of the Celebrity Bear Challenge, an exciting new fundraising initiative. Twelve cuddly bears found new homes with guests, each pledged to raise a minimum of £250 before next year’s Ball.

The first bear to begin its adventure, Bob Bear, was claimed by Richard Stansfield and has already embarked on a journey around the world, raising both funds and awareness for Sunflowers Children’s Action Group along the way.

It was a truly memorable night celebrating friendship, compassion, and community spirit, all in support of children and families who need it most.

Sunflowers Children’s Action Group is calling on local heroes to lace up their walking boots and take part in our Sponsored Walk along the Cleethorpes seafront on Saturday, 7 September – a fun, family-friendly event that supports a vital cause.

Every step you take helps bring joy, support, and unforgettable experiences to children with life-limiting or life- threatening conditions in our local community. Sunflowers is a volunteer-run charity that creates magical events, special outings, and tailored support for these incredible young people and their families – giving them moments of happiness during the toughest times.

Whether you’re walking in memory, in support, or just for a great cause, your involvement makes a real difference.

The route is accessible to all ages and abilities, and fancy dress, teams, or solo walkers are all welcome! Join us on 7 September to turn miles into smiles.

Sign up today and help us continue to bring sunshine into the lives of children who need it most.

Sunflower Children’s Action Group are absolutely delighted to announce that we've received £12,500 from North East Lincolnshire Council, thanks to a rather unique initiative.

As a small, volunteer-run, local charity, we were formed in 2019 with a clear mission: to create special, inclusive events and activities for children who suffer with life-limiting and/or life-threatening conditions.

Now, thanks to this large donation by the Council, we can help make even more young people’s dreams come true. Our Chair of Trustees, Joanne Wright, said, “It’s a massive donation and as a charity we rely solely on the generosity of people.

“At the moment, we are fundraising to take around 30 families to Calvert Lake which will help empower those living with these sorts of conditions. They will have the opportunity to go rock climbing, kayaking and much more.

“We’re also hoping it will give the families a way of socialising with one another and make sure they have someone to talk to. This donation will go a long way to making all that happen.”

The money was raised through the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) Metals Recycling Scheme, which has been in operation since 2014.

The scheme works by collecting recyclable metals – things like parts of the coffin and replacement implants or joints - that can be salvaged following a cremation.

The proceeds from selling these metals then go into a charity fund, which is donated twice a year. Through this scheme, Bereavement Services have donated more than £150,000 to local charities, and over £22 million nationally.

Councillor Henry Hudson, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Net Zero, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by our Bereavement Services Team and I’m so glad we could help a local charity.

To have donated over £150,000 in a decade is something to be proud of and we will endeavour to continue with it, helping as many people in the borough as possible.”

We are just so thankful for this support. It means the world to us and, more importantly, to the children and families we strive to help.

We are incredibly proud of Rio, age 13, who recently won an award at the local SEND Awards for swimming and football.

His mum, Nicola, shared how overwhelmed with pride she felt, seeing her son’s strength and spirit recognised in such a meaningful way.

Rio’s journey is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when children are given the support, love, and opportunity to shine.