{"id":37361,"date":"2022-09-12T15:57:45","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T14:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/?page_id=37361"},"modified":"2022-12-05T10:28:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T10:28:45","slug":"55th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/55th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"55th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1590673792155{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”36959″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”20″][vc_custom_heading text=”It’s Our 55th Anniversary!” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:30|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”20″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1590673792155{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Established as a charity in 1967,\u00a0 Potential Plus UK<\/a> (formerly the National Association for Gifted Children) has supported children and young people with high learning potential (gifted \/ more able \/ high ability), their families and schools for 55 years.<\/p>\n

It is a common misconception that \u201cbright\/gifted children<\/em>\u201d don\u2019t need help. They \u201calways get the top marks<\/em>\u201d, they \u201cdon\u2019t struggle to understand things<\/em>\u201d, they can be \u201cleft to themselves to do things as they will succeed anyway<\/em>\u201d. While this can be true for some children, for many it can be a struggle to cope, academically, socially and emotionally, while their intelligence masks their genuine need for help.<\/p>\n

We believe that children and young adults of all ages and abilities, including those with high learning potential, should be given the best chance to succeed in life and to fulfil that potential. For 55 years we have used our experience and research to offer these children the support they need.<\/p>\n

This year we are celebrating our 55th anniversary with great new activities and with the chance for you to help support us to support others in the future. Join us as we aim to reach our fundraising target of \u00a355,000 for 55 years.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Why Do Our Young People Need Your Help Now?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_single_image image=”37546″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There has been a perfect storm of increased demand and reduced funding. <\/strong>The pandemic has had a particularly negative impact on the wellbeing of our young people. Indeed, in our June 2022 survey 81%<\/strong> of young people supported by Potential Plus UK have suffered with anxiety and a further 34%<\/strong> have suffered with other mental health issues. And whilst demand for our services increased, our fundraising was significantly reduced due to cancelled events and increased competition amongst funders. However, we are determined to continue our support to ensure young people thrive \u2013 and we need your help!<\/p>\n

Raising funds for us, for example through taking part in our Challenge55<\/a> challenge or\u00a0 by making a donation<\/a>, will help us to continue supporting children to live fulfilling and successful lives through the services we provide \u2013 advice, assessment and advocacy services; a community for young people and their families to feel they belong and are heard; workshops, tools and support to empower young people to understand themselves and become their own best advocates. Read more about this impact in our family stories<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20″][vc_custom_heading text=”Celebrating Our 55th Year” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”37006″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” css=”.vc_custom_1662987852294{padding-top: 20px !important;}” link=”https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2022\/05\/24\/55-years-on-where-did-it-begin\/”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

55 Years On – Where Did It Begin?<\/a><\/h3>\n

“And the bricks came tumbling down
\nFor he could understand”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In 1965 Margaret Branch, a psychiatric social worker in Guys Hospital, London, recognised that there was a lack of information and support for children, who often have similar difficulties to those with special educational needs. These children were described as having exceptional \u2018intelligence and\/or creative capacity\u2019.<\/p>\n

Two years later her work to improve support for these young people led to the formal constitution of our charity,\u00a0The National Association for Gifted Children, <\/strong>signatories varied from housewives to newspaper publisher David Astor and zoologist and writer Gerald Durrell.<\/p>\n

Read more about this in the blog: 55 Years On – Where Did It Begin<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”38030″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”.vc_custom_1662994049823{padding-top: 20px !important;}” link=”https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/category\/family-stories\/”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Family Stories<\/a><\/h3>\n

Discover inspiring stories of how Potential Plus UK has made a difference to young people’s lives.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”37308″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_circle_2″ onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/2022\/06\/28\/ryans-story-from-daydreaming-delinquent-to-lifelong-learner\/”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

From daydreaming delinquent to lifelong learner – Ryan’s story<\/a><\/h4>\n

Ryan was unpopular with other children at school and lacked concentration. His Headmaster described him as \u2018delinquent\u2019. With Potential Plus UK\u2019s help Ryan found a social group of like-minded peers and developed his self-understanding. Ryan went on to have a successful academic, professional and personal live. Read more: Ryan\u2019s story<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”37997″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”.vc_custom_1662979539960{padding-top: 20px !important;}” link=”https:\/\/potentialplusuk.org\/index.php\/challenge55\/”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Challenge55<\/a><\/h3>\n

Take part in our<\/span> Challenge55<\/a> campaign<\/span><\/span>
\nand make a difference to a child\u2019s life<\/span><\/h4>\n

Running until April 30th, 2023<\/strong><\/span>, our 55th<\/sup> anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to raise much needed funds to continue impacting young people\u2019s lives for the better; as well as encouraging people to explore ways of challenging themselves around the theme of the number 55.<\/p>\n

You can participate in Challenge55<\/strong><\/span> in any way that suits you \u2013 it just needs to be based around the number 55. Just ask your family, friends and colleagues to sponsor you to do anything \u2018x 55<\/strong><\/span>\u2019, such as baking 55 cakes<\/strong>, playing 55 games of chess<\/strong>, running a 55-person relay<\/strong>, taking a 55-question quiz on your favourite topic, singing 55 songs<\/strong><\/span>. You create your own Challenge55 to be done individually or as a team.\u00a0 Read more about creating your challenge and what other people have done on our Challenge55 page<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”38025″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” css=”.vc_custom_1662992717097{padding-top: 20px !important;}” link=”https:\/\/community.potentialplusuk.org\/events\/EventDetails.aspx?id=1642689&group=”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

55th<\/sup>\u00a0Anniversary Fundraising Creative Writing Competition<\/a><\/h3>\n

Closing Date 24th September, 2022<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Theme – Being Me!<\/span><\/h3>\n

Join in the fun of our 55th year with a creative writing challenge. Use the theme of Being Me to write a short story, poem, lyrics, non-fiction which fits the following word counts: 55 words; 550 characters (approximately 80 to 120 words); 550 words;5500 characters (approximately 790 to 1380 words).<\/p>\n

When you submit your entry, we hope you will also make a donation towards our “\u00a355,000 in our 55th Year” target.[\/vc_column_text]