30th birthday celebrations
Parents for Children at London Zoo
Parents for Children marked the beginning of our 30th year with a celebration at London Zoo on 14 June 2006. Over 150 parents and children came together at the event to enjoy a barbecue, children's activities and a tour of the zoo.
Our Director, Edwina Brocklesby, said "it was fantastic to see so many of the families at our celebratory event and be able to reflect positively on the past 30 years. We are not as tiny an organisation as in those pioneering days of th 70s and 80s. We very much rely on referrals from local authorities, government funding and fundraising applications to various Trust Funds, not to mention our events organisation to continue our important work".
We also marked our 30th year celebrations by contributing to the work of the Zoological Society of London itself, by adopting a Bacterian camel named Noemie. Noemie is a baby camel sadly orphaned at Whipsnade and therefore sent to London Zoo to be cared for by Nadia, an older camel. So Noemie needed someone to help her find a new family to care for her, just like the children Parents for Children aims to help.
Photos © Rolf Marriott
Evening celebration at Goldsmiths' Hall
In February 2007, as part of our 30th anniversary year, Parents for Children celebrated the launch of our new website with many of our supporters and friends at a wine tasting held at the prestigious Goldsmiths' Hall.
We were delighted to be able to offer our supporters a range of wines provided by Moreno Wine Merchants, who specialise in Spanish wines. Their thriving shop in Maida Vale, West London, has been selling wines direct to the public for 30 years, and regularly wins the International Wine Challenge 'Spanish Wine Merchant of the Year'. Their Fine and Rare cellar is extensive, with over 150 Spanish wine listings, some dating back to the 19th century.
During the evening, our guests enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship and Design Awards Exhibition 2007, which displays many spectacular pieces nominated for 2007 awards as well as the winning pieces. The competition for the annual Craftsmanship and Design Awards has become diverse and wide ranging, embracing every aspect of craft and design activity currently being practiced in the industry.
Parents for Children would particularly like to thank Moreno Wine for their excellent wine; Stephanie Ray for a superb necklace from her bamboo
collection, donated as a raffle prize; the Goldsmiths' Company for
their hospitality and delicious canapes; and Annie Emmerson, for
selling raffle tickets and providing a personal training session as a
raffle prize.
Photos by the Parents for Children fundraising team