Community Projects
Cha Char Chimps - committed to impactful initiatives
Head Office: Community Interest Company
Our Head Office is a Community Interest Company committed to impactful initiatives. We are dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the local community through a diverse range of projects.
We have supported Afghan refugee children with language skills, brought our entertainment show to a children’s hospice, organised free Christmas parties for children in care, and offered music and movement classes to children’s centres and pre-schools. As a not-for-profit entity, we subsidise and receive funding to deliver these vital projects, and hope this underscores the genuine commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals within the community.
Projects
Winslow Baby & Toddler Group end of year party delivered by Kirstie of Cha Char Chimps - Buckingham and Winslow
Totternhoe baby group Christmas party delivered by Cha Char Chimps - Leighton buzzard
Jack and Jill Pre-School Christmas party delivered by Cha Char Chimps - Thame
Balinger Bats Christmas Party delivered by Cha Char Chimps - Aylesbury
Afghan Refugee Children
A project, funded by the Milton Keynes Foundation involved vocabulary and literacy sessions for pre-school Afghan refugee children through music.
The sessions with the Afghan families have been such a success. With the children now understanding and enjoying our routines.
These include cues for returning their props, the order of songs (the older ones start singing or asking for songs). They are able to join in confidently with key songs (Hello and Goodbye songs), demonstrating development in their vocabulary and understanding of English. The children are able to use their fingers and count to 5 (dependant on age) and can identify colours (green, blue, red and yellow).
Alongside this, the children have grown in confidence.
I am greeted warmly (with a hug or high 5) and previously reluctant children make eye contact
and join in.
Behaviour had improved too. Initially many of the boys in particular would push and shove. However now the atmosphere is more focused and calm. The engagement of the mothers of the children has developed too.
Often we engage in simple conversations about the ‘normal’ parts of life such as the weather or teething, but also the women are asking about vocabulary (colours, parts of the body) as the sessions progress.
Older children (2.5 years plus) will all be in preschool from September, so it would be wonderful to focus on the babies and younger toddlers, and nurture the relationships with their mothers, supporting them in aspects of their children’s development.
The Music and Movement Course: Sunshine Children’s Centre 4 Weeks
This course and our aims give participants the opportunity to enjoy songs and rhymes with your child in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Helping you and your child learn & enjoy new songs and rhymes and provide parents information on the benefits of using songs and rhymes.
These include; supporting speech and language development, promoting physical development, help to prepare your child for pre-school, nursery or school, enable you and your child to meet new people and make new friends and build confidence in your child by interacting with children of a similar age
Information Captured by Pre & Post Evaluation Forms
Most of the course participants attended the course for the following reasons:-
- Learn new rhymes and songs
- Support my child’s learning
- Have fun with my child
- To support language development
- Learn about the benefits of using songs and rhymes
- To help prepare for school or pre-school
- To meet new people
Based on information gathered from our pre and post evaluation forms, we found overall participants felt they had improved:
- Knowledge of songs and confidence,
- Confidence in singing songs,
- Knowledge of preparing a child to start school or
- Knowledge of preparing a child to pre-school
- Knowledge of benefits of singing with children and
- I have enjoyed the sessions
- My child has enjoyed the sessions
- My child’s speech and language has improved
- I am using the songs and rhymes at home
- My child is more physically active since attending
- Cha Char Chimps staff are professional,
- Cha Char Chimps staff knowledgeable and friendly
- The hand-outs (song sheets) enhanced the session
- The venue was suitable
- I am more aware of other sessions and services
- I would be interested in attending more sessions
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