The meaning behind Darcey's Dream is that Darcey has a very close loving family that miss her dearly and two siblings, one a two year old and the other her twin sister. They have lost their sibling and a best friend. Darcey's parents found out very quickly that there is very little support for bereaved families that have to face the tragedy of losing a child and even less support for siblings or future siblings of the child that has died. Darcey would want all of her family and siblings to matter.

Darcey's mummy and daddy received very little support once they left hospital when Darcey died. They were given a memory box at the hospital which was lovely but it was very focused on Darcey and her parents. There was nothing to incorporate her siblings in to the memories which was really upsetting for Darcey's parents as she has a two year old older sister and a twin sister. Being able to incorporate her siblings in to the memories they were making with Darcey was important to them so they came up with their own ways of including her siblings in to the memories so they have some keepsakes and things to remind them of Darcey.

The little support Darcey's parents were offered wasn't the right support and the advice they were given wasn't very helpful and they felt like they had no where to turn to. They also didn't get any support with how to explain to their two year old what had happened to her sister or how to comfort and support their other twin who was extremely unsettled as she was so used to having her sister with her all of the time. They had to do their own research on twinless twins and try to find answers to the endless questions about what had happened to Darcey from their two year old. The first time someone asked about their two year old was 4 weeks after Darcey had died and they offered some ideas on how to help her understand.

In the hardest and darkest time of their life Darcey's parents had to become a counsellor, psychiatrist and a twinless twin support worker over night whilst dealing with their own greif in order to support their other children through the loss of their sibling. They had to try and be strong for their other children whilst their world was falling apart.

This is where Darcey's Dream comes to life as Darcey's final dream is that bereaved families and siblings don't feel alone in the darkest and hardest days of their lives. No one should feel alone through the worst loss you can ever face losing a child.

The Great North Children's hospital - Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Wansbeck General Hospital
Hexham General Hospital
Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care hospital (NSECH)
The Newcastle Freeman Hospital
Leeds General Infirmary
The Royal Bolton Hospital

We are constantly trying to fundraise to be able to supply more and more hospitals

In 2008 after years of frustration in trying to find suitable therapy for his daughter Paul Bannister decided to try to establish a charity to provide this service.

Paul put the first few steps in place to set up and launch Heel and Toe.

Paul decided early in the charity’s journey ‘That No Child Should Be Denied Therapy Due To a Lack of Money’.

Heel & Toe Children’s Charity was established in June 2008. The ‘Not for Profit’ organisation was granted charity status on the 4th September 2008 and the centre was opened on the 4th October 2008, offering FREE Conductive Education Therapy for any child with Cerebral Palsy in an annex based at the Meadows School in Spennymoor County Durham.

Due to an increasing demand for the expanding services offered at Heel & Toe it was decided in 2009 a new building was required. The trustees decided to relocate to a more central place in County Durham, and found premises to rent in Framwellgate Moor.

This made travelling to the charity from North or South of the region easier. A satellite centre in Darlington was also established.

Demand continued to increase for the range of services now available from Heel & Toe. By the end of 2012 the charity trustees decided it was time to find and purchase a building that would become a legacy for the children and parents of County Durham in the North of England.

Premises were found in Pelton and funding secured to refurbish a facility for the children of the North East Region. The desire of the board of trustees is to establish a centre of excellence for the delivery for a range of therapies which will benefit the children and their families for many years. We can only continue to do this with the ongoing support of the people of the North East and beyond.

This centre is a Beacon of Excellence and offer a range of Therapies in one building improving the lives of all who access it.

Below is information about Cleveland Alzheimer’s and the work we do supporting people affected by dementia, their families, carers including people in the community.

Cleveland Alzheimers’ Residential Centre Limited (Clevearc) is a registered charity, established in February 1989. It has one remaining specialist dementia nursing home in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees (Allison House) opened in 1995; caring for people with moderate to severe dementia as well as challenging behaviour. The charity is committed to the provision of high quality care for people affected by dementia. Our first home, Kirkdale was built in 1992 due to a massive fund raising effort from local people and businesses. The purpose built home was officially opened by Diana Princess of Wales in 1992; sadly this home closed in January 2019. We also have a dedicated Training Centre and Dementia Café. The organisation has achieved the Gold Standard Framework for ‘End of Life’ care and has been awarded ‘Platinum’ status.

Activity Project:

We employ an Activity Co-ordinator who works in our care home; arranging an array of meaningful activities (including end of life activities) to promote a sense of health and wellbeing. Monthly reports are produced and each individual/group activity is recorded.

Dementia Friendly Stockton:

In 2012 David Cameron launched the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia. Mr Cameron wanted to create ‘Dementia Friendly Communities’ which included a target of having 20 cities, towns and villages sign up to become more dementia-friendly by 2015. Clevearc’s CEO obtained the funding to employ a Dementia Friendly Communities Link Worker in place for Stockton and through hard work and determination; Stockton achieved National Accreditation in November 2013 and was the first Dementia Friendly Community in the North East.

Dementia Friendly Middlesbrough:

The CEO of Clevearc wanted to achieve what had been done in Stockton in the town of Middlesbrough. After securing the funding; the project began in September 2015 with support for the project from Middlesbrough Council and Public Health. In March 2016 National Accreditation was achieved for Middlesbrough.

As of February 2019 136 businesses and organisations have signed up to the project.

Dementia Friendly Redcar and Cleveland:

Clevearc also secured funding to create the Dementia Friendly Redcar and Cleveland project which began in April 2018 with support from Public Health Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

As of February 2019 64 businesses and organisations have signed up to the project.

Fusion Café:

The Fusion Café is a popular dementia café which has been running since February 2006. It is led by Clevearc and staffed by volunteers. It is free to attend as it is supported by fundraising.

The café provides a supportive environment for people with dementia and their carers to attend a social occasion together, where the effects of their dementia are understood and accepted. People affected by dementia and their carer can attend together without a referral or an appointment. The Café is open on the last Friday of every month and held at Clevearc, it is attended by 35/45 people run by 10/12 volunteers.

Dementia Voices Stockton:

The 3 year project funded by The Ballinger Charitable Trust in September 2017; is for the people of Stockton-on-Tees who are affected by dementia (carers and family members included); to be supported in their ‘dementia journey’ in aspects of their lives that they find difficult. For example, medical appointments, social engagements, accessing services and signposting to appropriate agencies. The project is run by the Dementia Care Coordinator, Deputy Dementia Care Coordinator and a pool of volunteers. The project also provides a free dedicated dementia advocacy service.