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Students will engage in a practice-based project for an external creative company– a specially chosen Live Client. The aim of the project will be to raise the profile of the brand in connection with its target audience. You are asked to respond to the client’s brief in creative ways and develop media content in numerous ways eg. transmedia campaigns, commercials, and social media communication (e.g. TikTok, Instagram or YouTube). These assets should promote the brand.

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The project is based of a live project in Ghana run by famous architect, Elsie Owusu. We have been asked to focus on her project that focuses on giving all children an equal opportunity. The project is called “A chair for every child” and is a campaign on equality and inclusion. The key focus of the campaign is that all special needs children in the world deserve to improve their mobility and with the help of Elsie’s projects, this can become a reality!

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We have been asked to create mock social media content and we have decided to make a TV advert. The idea is that we sit down with the children and ask them to imagine the chair they are sitting in could become anything, what would they turn it into? This will be an interview style set up and we would film the children and their responses. We will then edit the footage and use the shock factor to show the harsh reality of the desires of able-bodied children, in comparison to the desires of the children in Ghana.

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We want to approach a local performing arts school for children ages 4-16 and ask them if we would be able to film them. We would of course produce parental consent model release forms and get full permission before we film. We are already in contact with the school's principal. If agreed with the school, filming would commence within the next few weeks to allow us enough time to edit and perfect the final product. Alongside this, we may produce a promotional poster, following the same themes of the advert.

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This is an image of the actual chair prototype for the "A chair for every child" campaign.

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This is an article, describes how different chairs benefit children with cerebral palsy

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Your medical team can help you better understand your child's positioning needs. Therapists, for example can arrange for you to meet together with equipment retailers to try different items available for purchase. Having the knowledgeable input of both a therapist and retailer can help you identify the best possible seating solutions.

Make a list of what you want the equipment to do for your child, and yourself. You may find it helpful to consider the following questions:

What do you feel is most important for your child do be able to do during these activities?

How do your child's therapists feel these goals could be achieved with equipment?

What do the therapists feel is important for your child to be able to, do or practice, during these activities?

Where will your child participate in these activities?
How will this affect your needs (i.e. do you need something portable or lightweight)?

If you can get input from the person with CP, ask them what he/she wants, or needs. You may be surprised by the answers.

Once you have identified a potential piece of equipment, consider how often and for how long it will be used. For example, a floor sitter with a tray may seem like a good idea, but maybe your child doesn't like to sit still and will spend their time fighting to get out of it.

Some items can seem like a great idea, but when used, you may find the need to look for more practical, and less expensive alternatives, or solutions. If the item you are considering is $50.00 you may be willing to take your chances without much thought, but if it is $500.00 you will probably have some regrets if it doesn't get used the way you had hoped.

The person with cerebral palsy should be appropriately supported in sitting so that they have free use of their hands and arms. Some equipment may be either too restrictive or not supportive enough, or can greatly limit the persons interaction with their environment.

Do not buy anything unless you are able to try it (or return it once you do try it)!

Adaptive Seating for Cerebral Palsy: Mainstream Options

The following is a list of regular baby/toddler products and adaptive special needs products:

Special Tomato Soft-Touch Booster Seat- Portable, lightweight, easy to clean, good combination of material that gives and is molded for support, can be used in multiple settings and can be adjusted for use on different chairs.

Special Tomato Soft-Touch Back and Seat Liners- Portable, multi-use (in strollers, wheelchairs, on desk and table chairs), lightweight, easy to clean, easy to transport.

Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter- This is seat offers a five-point harness for support around the chest, pelvic area and waist. It has a built in abductor and head and lateral supports. Although it is tall, it is lightweight and can be used in different chairs at home and perhaps at school. It can be hard to transport, but it has lots of versatility. There is an option for a stable or mobile floor kit, it can be turned into a tilt-in-space chair, and it is offered in child through adult sizes.

Seat2Go- "The Seat2Go is designed to be a lightweight, portable seat to provide postural support for children. Straps on the back and seat allow for the Seat2Go to be safely secure to any chair or in a stroller."

S.W.A.S.H Brace- Supportive wearable equipment ( orthosis), may be difficult to put on and take off. It was developed by the parent of a child with dystonic CP who had challenges with leg scissoring. It holds the hips in a manner that may offer the child greater stability in sitting. Also, the child can move and sit independently and freely while wearing it.

Here is a list of goals that were used in designing the SWASH brace (from their website):

1. Increase abduction and stretch hip adductors to improve hip alignment

2. Prevent excessive adduction during sitting, standing and walking

3. Optimize sitting and standing posture

4. Achieve the above goals with an automatic transition from neutral (walking, standing) to abduction (sitting)

Lady Bug Corner Chair- The LadyBug Corner Chair helps children to sit upright and encourages head control. There are other manufacturers of corner chairs besides this one.

Rock'er Pediatric Positioning Chill Out Chair- "The uniquely designed Rock'er Chill Out Chair provides dignified and safe seating without restraint, as well as a soothing rocking motion that appeals to children with autism and other developmental disorders."

The Wombat HighLow Positioning Chair- The Wombat Highlow Positioning Chair by Snug Seat, has a hydraulic lift/lower mechanism, and heavy.

Adaptive Seating for Floor Sitters

Rifton Corner Floor Sitter- "The Activity Chair has revolutionized adaptive seating and continues to delight therapists with its versatility for people of all shapes and sizes, all conditions and special needs."

Special Tomato Soft-Touch Sitter w/Floor Sitter Kit- This item is discussed above (without the kit) and has a kit which allows it to be used on the floor.

The information from this page appears in our free and downloadable cerebral palsy tool kit.

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Adaptive Seating for Cerebral Palsy | Cerebral Palsy Research Network

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Finding adaptive seating for cerebral palsy will depend on the unique needs of the person. Download our toolkit for more information.

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We have started to research the benefits these chairs will have. It is important that we understand the use these chairs will have. We will continue to further develop this research.

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Get the best chair for children with cerebral palsy | Special chairs

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Cerebral palsy can result in decreased muscle strength and poor balance. A children chair for cerebral palsy provides mobility in everyday life.

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Tips on how to interview children for TV 

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Tips on how to interview children for TV 

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This article explains the protocol and techniques required for interviewing children for TV. Articles like these are going to be really useful for us to ensure we do everything correctly when working with children.

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Tips on Interviewing Children for TV - TheatreArtLife

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Interviewing children can be fun but also a challenge. Here are some quick tips regaring interviewing that age group so you can be successful.

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Cerebral palsy covers a huge range of serious conditions that have long-lasting effects. So what should you include in specialist seating that will cover all the bases for someone with cerebral palsy?

Let's take a look!

What is cerebral palsy?

Before we start, let's recap on what cerebral palsy (CP) is and what it can cause.

It's an umbrella term for numerous lifelong conditions that are caused by a problem with the brain either before, during, or very soon after a baby is born. This can be a bleed or reduced oxygen in the brain, or it could be caused by infections during pregnancy.

CP can cause symptoms like:

Being too floppy or too stiff

Weak arms or legs

Jerky/clumsy movements and fidgeting

Uncontrolled random movement

The severity of these things varies from person to person. So what should be included in specialist seating to help people with CP?

How should I position the pelvis?

When it's positioned correctly, the pelvis acts as a stable base for anyone sat down. Making sure the pelvis is in the right place and well-supported is key to getting the rest of the seat right.

You should always measure your client for the most accurate seat depth and seat width. The seat size can make all the difference to how comfortable and supported your client is.

Another thing you may wish to include in the chair is a raked seat. This will cradle your client's pelvis more securely and will prevent them from sliding out of the chair if they have involuntary movements.

If your client has more severe physical disabilities, then you may want to include a moulded seat. This will give them completely customised support and comfort.

How can I get good spinal positioning?

Specialist seating for people with CP must include something to help maintain good spinal positioning for your client. People with CP will spend a lot of time seated, and they may lean or slump to one side thanks to floppiness or weak muscles.

Removable or adjustable lateral supports can really help your client to keep as upright and straight as possible when sat down. These can be positioned on either side of the person to keep their spine as straight and supported as possible.

Your client may also need extra support around their neck and head. If this is the case, then you may want to look at chairs with head supports that will again help to relieve any unnecessary stress on their neck and will keep them as comfy as possible.

What if my client has different leg lengths?

Leg length discrepancies are also common in people with CP. If your client is seated for a long time and doesn't have support for this, it can be particularly painful and can affect their spinal and pelvic positioning.

A two-level footplate might be the best thing here, as it can be adjusted to provide the right support to the legs individually.

How can I keep my client secure in the chair?

As we mentioned before, people with CP can be prone to involuntary movements and fidgeting. For clients who move around a lot, you might need to consider using a harness or belt.

As with all harnesses and belts, we stress that you should really consider whether they are completely necessary and safe for the client. These should only be used in the client's best interest and the proper protocol should always be followed before you use them.

What should I include to stop pressure injuries?

Pressure ulcers are always something to consider in specialist seating, and that's no different for people with CP.

Tilt-in-space is a good thing to have in your chair because it redistributes your client's body weight over a wider surface area. This feature is also a good way to maintain your client's positioning.

What chair do we recommend?

One chair that our team have recommended for people with CP is the Lento.

It's a highly adjustable chair that can be easily changed to suit different clients. This is ideal for CP because it can cause such a big range of disabilities and needs.

The Lento can also be supplied with adjustable lateral supports and head supports to keep the spine in a good position.

The Results

Ultimately, CP is such a vast term that you can only specify seating on a case-by-case basis. But we would always suggest looking for a chair that's adjustable so that you can really customise the chair for your client.

If you'd like some extra advice on this, these feel free to get in touch with a member of our team to book a joint seating assessment. You can find extra information on seating for other medical conditions here.

Find out more about the products mentioned in this article

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What to include in seating for people with Cerebral Palsy

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Cerebral palsy covers a huge range of serious conditions that have long-lasting effects. So what should you include in specialist seating that will cover all the bases for someone with cerebral palsy? Let's take a look! Before we start, let's recap on what cerebral palsy (CP) is and what it can cause.

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Russell Howard Talks to Kids About Growing Up | The Russell Howard Channel

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Kids Give Russell Howard Parenting Advice | Playground Politics | The Russell Howard Hour

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Kids Dive Into the Concept of Love | Playground Politics Compilation | The Russell Howard Channel

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Kids of Today Tell Russell Howard About the Internet | Playground Politics | The Russell Howard Hour

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What Kids Make of Our World Leaders | Playground Politics | The Russell Howard Channel

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Mood boards have been really helpful to envision the final products.

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Mood boards have also been helpful to see everything we have to work with.

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We have already started production. We have already contacted a local theatre school and have sent consent forms.

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We are aware of the risks associated with filming with children so we hope this clears up any questions/ confusion.

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This is the parental model release form that has been sent out to the parents of the children we intend to film.

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This is the parental model release form that has also been sent out to the parents of the children we intend to film.

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This was our group presentation that outlined our plans for this assessment. It detail two plans we had but we have decided to stick with plan a. It is the harder choice but we are passionate about it and will work to make it special!

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It gets updated weekly and outlines what each person needs to do. The chart plays on each person's strengths and weaknesses and ensures we are all doing what we are best at. This way we also ensure that we get everything done on time.

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We want to treat this as real as possible so we have discussed the supposed budget if we were shooting this out of uni. However, in reality this assignment isn't costing us anything. We don't have to rent out a filming space as we are filming at the theatre school. We don't have to purchased any equipment because between the kit we already have and the equipment we have hired for free from uni, this is not an extra expense.

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When working with clients, it is imperative that you invoice them for your services. It ensures that they are fully aware of what they are paying for and helps you keep a track of the services you have provided them.

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Children's fundraising

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This section includes standards on minimum age restrictions that apply when fundraising, and standards to protect children and their data.

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Potential music for the final product

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Audio Library — Music for content creators

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Happy and Joyful Children – Free Music (No Copyright Music)

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We have started to research some charitable organisations. We have started to explore their advertising and marketing techniques to influence the decisions we make.

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Our latest annual report shows that in 2020/21 we spent £83.3 million on helping children, young people, families and the people who work with them.
How much money does the NSPCC make?
During 2020/21, our total income was £121.8 million. Our total expenditure for the same period was £107.9 million. For more details, read our annual report.
How much does the NSPCC spend on admin?
Around 80p in every £1 we spend goes directly to helping children and young people. The rest is spent on making sure the NSPCC is providing the best possible services we can.

We owe it to the children we're helping today, and those we want to help tomorrow, to make sure that the work we do will make the best possible, most positive impact on their lives.

This means having systems in place to find those children who need our help. It means spending money on publicity campaigns to let our supporters know what we're doing and the positive impact it's having on children and young people - and to attract new people to help us in our work. It also means reaching people across the country, paying rent and staff costs in over 20 regional offices (and paying those staff a fair salary), as well as attracting the best people to work for us.
How much does your CEO earn?
Our CEO, Peter Wanless, earnt £173,000 in 2019/20. His salary was set by members of our Board of Trustees, experienced volunteers who oversee the running of the NSPCC. The salary is set in line with UK salaries at charities of a comparable size.
Why do your CEO and board earn so much?
Our pay structure is designed to attract and retain people with the right knowledge, experience and skills to help children most, and is in line with other UK charities of a comporable size. We want to attract the best people to help us raise as much money as possible and spend it in the right way to help us in the fight for every childhood.

Pay for the Chief Executive and each member of our Executive board is agreed by the Remuneration Committee. The committee is made up of members of our Board of Trustees: the Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer, who are all unpaid volunteers.
Why do you spend money on advertising rather than spending it all on children?
We believe advertising what we do now and what we want to do in the future is helping children. Without it, we wouldn't attract as many donations as we do - and as 90% of our funding comes directly from people like you giving us money, we have to try to reach as many people as we can.

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Our latest annual report shows that in 2020/21 we spent £83.3 million on helping children, young people, families and the people who work with them. How much money does the NSPCC make? During 2020/21, our total income was £121.8 million. Our total expenditure for the same period was £107.9 million.

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This charity was founded to provide wheelchairs to those in 3rd world countries, who have limited access to resources. This has been a good source of information and influence on our final products.

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It was a long journey, but earlier this week I found myself in the city of Wa, Ghana, in western Africa. We traveled to Wa with our country partners, Ministerial Development and Relief Programme, to participate in Ghana's celebration of the International Day of People with Disability.

We marched in a parade through the city with an array of people representing all sorts of disability, visual, physical, hearing impaired, etc. It was amazing, and certainly worth the effort to get there. There was only a single wheelchair in the parade, but it was one that had been donated years before by Wheelchair Foundation.
December 7th, 2011 - KUMASI, GHANA
Wednesday we found ourselves in Kumasi, Ghana, where we visited a rehabilitation center for abandoned children and adults with disabilities. The center's director talked with us about the challenges of social stigma in Ghana, and of how families would deliver children to the center and never return.

The center is totally supported through donations, and the 15 wheelchairs we presented to them will make a significant impact on those without mobility. Thanks again to Keegan Resources Inc., and African Gold Group for making this donation possible.
December 8th, 2011 - ACCRA, GHANA
Thursday, we witnessed the true power of modern technology in aid distribution. We presented a wheelchair to Salem Noshie, a woman living in Accra, Ghana, who had suffered a debilitating stroke nearly seven years earlier. She had contacted a woman, Janice, in the United States via the internet. Janice called me to ask if I could help, and I e-mailed her information to our partners on the ground in Accra. They contacted her son, William Wonder, and invited them to a distribution site in Accra.

I met Salem Noshie and William in person on Thursday afternoon. William handed me his mobile phone, and Janice was on the line in the United States and thanked me for helping her friend. It was at that point that I discovered that none of these people had ever met in person before, and the effort to assist Salem Noshie was all through e-mail, text, video chat and phone calls.

It was a great honor and pleasure to make this all come true for a very beautiful and deserving family who had been trying for years to obtain a simple wheelchair for a mother in need.
December 10th, 2011 - BAMAKO, MALI
On Saturday, we worked with partners AGEMPEM in Bamako, Mali, to distribute wheelchairs to individuals in need of mobility at the CVD Clinic of Mali. Among the many to receive wheelchairs were a group of four women, all of whom arrived on hands and knees and left with new red wheelchairs.

One participant commented, "By making these women mobile and happy, you have made all the women of Mali happy."
December 11th, 2011 - SELINGUE, MALI
Sunday, we traveled to Selingue, southwest of Bamako, to distribute wheelchairs to people from surrounding villages. Here we again worked with partner AGEMPEM and members of African Gold Group, who had assisted in identifying recipients in the villages in remote areas where they work. Some recipients traveled 15 or more kilometers for the opportunity to receive their first wheelchairs.

Here, Nouhoum Coulibaly of AGG, and Gordon Holmes of Streetwise, Inc., work with recipients to ensure they understand the proper use of their new wheelchairs, and to hear their stories to better understand the plight of the disabled in rural Mali.
December 11th, 2011 - BAMAKO, MALI
Sunday night, we returned to Bamako with AGEMPEM to continue our work. Interviewing those present, we learn that the cause of many of their disabilities remains a mystery. Some were victims of accidents, some water-borne disease, and some have no explanation.

When we inquire about the availability of mobility devices, most just shrug their shoulders. No money means no wheelchair, and one young man asked us to explain what a wheelchair was, because he had no idea.
December 12th, 2011 - SANANKOROBA, MALI "It never hurts to ask."
Our final wheelchair distribution event in Mali occurred in Sanankoroba, south of the capital city of Bamako. We arrived to tribal drumming and women in colorful dress dancing in a wide circle.

As the women stomped in the sand and dust, a young man in a bright green soccer jersey, who was accompanied by his father, caught my eye. He seemed very focused on everything that was happening around him. He was aware of all of the dignitaries in attendance, the media, and the excitement of the crowd. I asked Isaac, the gentleman from AGEMPEM I was working with, what he knew about the boy. He spoke with the woman from the village, who was his primary contact, to get the child's story.

As it turned out, the young man was a fixture in the village, one of the disabled who was always around. She told us that "He came by her school every day and asked her if she could help him in any way, maybe help him with his legs, which didn't work." She reached out to Isaac at about the same time Wheelchair Foundation contacted him about acting as consignee for our shipment of wheelchairs for Mali, nearly a year ago.

So, this day, after more than 12 months of asking at every opportunity, this young man finally got a wheelchair and no longer needs to crawl in the dirt, sand and dust. The evidence of his plight is shown in his face, his hands, knees and legs.

So many people from the village thanked us for delivering wheelchairs to their brothers and sisters that it made my head spin. They consider themselves too far off the map to ever receive aid, and yet we managed to reach them. The joy they shared with us and with one another at this wheelchair distribution was greater than the value of any material gift we could have been given.

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It was a long journey, but earlier this week I found myself in the city of Wa, Ghana, in western Africa. We traveled to Wa with our country partners, Ministerial Development and Relief Programme, to participate in Ghana's celebration of the International Day of People with Disability.

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These were the initial model release forms we sent out to the parents. The only reason we sent these out immediately was so we had some form of consent before filming as the initial filming date was relatively soon after the brief was given.

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We then managed to finally receive the UAL model release forms which we altered to fit our assignment and then sent out to the parents. We were reluctant whether or not parents would sign again but they were all happy to help!

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The room was small which helped with the sound recording as some of the children were quiet so the lack of echo and reverb actually really helped!

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We didn't want to scare the children or overwhelm them so we sat with them for a little while before filming and discussed what we wanted from them. We posed the question as follows: "If you had superpowers and you could turn the chair you are sitting on into anything, what would you turn it into?". We got some amazing responses! There were only 5 children in the end that could film but we think we got enough and after prompting follow-up answers, each child gave us quite a lot to work with.

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We actually encountered a couple of hurdles along the way. Despite checking the camera and microphone ahead of filming, when we arrived and set up and did a test recording, we found the mic was actually not recording any sound. We then encountered some issues with the memory card, which took a while to resolve. We had very limited time and with working with children, the longer we waited the most impatient the children would become.

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In regards to the microphone, we tried everything to make it work but it happens sometimes and had to think quickly. We decided to still film the footage on the camera to ensure we had high-quality footage and then record the sound on our phones, using a voice memo app. We will then sync these up in the editing process, which two of us have done before so knew we could do it. We are glad we managed to think quickly and resolve this and the results for both footage & sound are still professional.

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The next steps for us as a group would be to review the results of our filming and discuss how we want to proceed with the editing. We have yet to decide on the final tone and layout of our advert so this is something else we need to finalise. Two members of the group have more experience with premiere pro so they will naturally take lead on this, whilst the third member learns as well as create anything we may want to add to the advert. With the deadline fast approaching, editing needs to start asap!

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Jaya & Deka - We have the experience we premiere pro so we are going to take lead on the editing, mainly as the deadline is fast approaching. We will try our best to teach Dee anything she may not know, but for the sake of the deadline, we may need to take charge.
Dee - We have discussed the possibility of the addition of animation in our final video. With this, Dee is going to explore some animation software to see if she can produce anything that could fit in to the final advert.

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We made a rough plan when discussing how we wanted to lay out the video. This was just an initial discussion so this layout may and probably will change as we edit. As we edit the video together as a group, we will constantly discuss and change these ideas but at least this gives us a starting point.

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This is the initial script for the video. By script, we mean the text we are going to have on screen, in between images and videos. We have decided against a voiceover as we think the video will have a larger impact if audiences can read and interpret the message themselves.

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We are aware that the music will have to be copyright free. We have decided to have a split tone to our video. With this, the music is essential to help with this shift in tone and mood in the video. So we have an upbeat track first and then when we change the tone, the music will fade into a more sombre and slower track. We have selected the upbeat track.  We have yet to decide on the other track but have to be tactful as when the tone changes, the issues become more serious and sensitive and the music must reflect this to show our respect.

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17/11/22 - We are making really good progress so far. The editing is coming along nicely and the video is starting to take shape. Everyone in the group is kept updated and has a say. We have also reassessed the involvement of animation within our video. Our knowledge of animation in limited and we didn't want the end result to look unprofessional. So currently I don't think we will add any animation into the final product, unless one of us can produce something of good enough quality to match the standards we have for the rest of the video.

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We want to include some stats in the video when we start to talk about the project in Ghana. This adds a factual element to the video and also helps the audience empathise with the issue at hand. A sense of empathy is one of the main things we want to create. The use of statistics also helps raise awareness of the severity and importance of the Ghana project and why audiences should support the project. From a production standpoint, the stats will also help us break up the video and aid that split tone.

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'Children with CP often have difficulty with walking, speaking, swallowing, writing, and going to the bathroom. Some children with CP also experience epilepsy, which is accompanied by seizures. In Ghana, about 22,000 children are estimated to live with CP'. (on, 2014)

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Center for Learning and Childhood Development - Ghana

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Cerebral Palsy (CP) Therapies on Wheels

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the leading cause of physical disability in children worldwide. Children with CP often have difficulty with walking, speaking, swallowing, writing, and going to the bathroom. Some children with CP also experience epilepsy, which is accompanied by seizures. In Ghana, about 22,000 children are estimated to live with CP.

The death rate of children with cerebral palsy in Ghana is 15 times that of the average child in a developing country. Research from our own work suggests that more than 85% of children with CP in Ghana do not attend school because they do not have or meet the basic functional capabilities the government requires for enrolment in school. These problems are compounded by social stigma, which forces caregivers to hide children with cerebral palsy or commit infanticide

ESSENTIALS SERVICES

Most children with CP in Ghana do not have access to rehabilitation therapy. Rehabilitation therapies are specialized services that help individuals regain any physical, mental, social or learning capabilities they have lost (e.g. physical (physio) therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) due to injury or disease.

Limited access to rehabilitation therapy has a real negative effect on the children's physical and social well-being. These three essential therapies: speech, occupation, and physiotherapy are provided for children with cerebral palsy at a designated location free of charge.

testimonies from caregivers

The social perceptions of CP in Ghana create stigma and negative experiences for caregivers and their children. The "connect with a family" initiative aims at bridging the gap between CP families and the society by connecting families/individuals with CP families. Families/individuals are provided with the opportunity to interact with the CP families either in-person, virtual or on phone. The main roles of families/individuals who participate in "connect with a family" program is to provide emotional and social support to the CP families by building long lasting bonds, checking up on them frequently, providing counsel or directing the families to appropriate support systems. Financial or providing items to the CP families is prohibited. If you have any gift for your CP family, it is required to be sent through the organization. To participate in the Connect with a Family initiative, contact us to register. Email: clcdghana@gmail.com

Every week children with cerebral palsy are provided with therapy clinics in their communities. The Adopt-a-Family program allows individuals and families to support the payment for the treatment of a CP family. To participate and support this program with either a monetary donations or donation of necessary items needed, please use the information below. Please we encourage you to donate to support CPT on wheels project. All donations go directly in supporting the mobile clinic and CP families. To donate, use the payment information below.

Become a Partner with Cerebral Palsy Therapies of Wheels By joining our weekly/monthly giving program you provide stable funding that enables us to deliver consistent and quality physical, occupational and speech therapies for children with cerebral palsy. Weekly/monthly reminders will be sent at the beginning of each week/month to remind you of payment. Contact us to partner with us. Email: [clcdghana@gmail.com]

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Cerebral Palsy Therapy on Wheels - Center for Learning and Childhood Development - Ghana

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Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the leading cause of physical disability in children worldwide. Children with CP often have difficulty with walking, speaking, swallowing, writing, and going to the bathroom. Some children with CP also experience epilepsy, which is accompanied by seizures. In Ghana, about 22,000 children are estimated to live with CP.

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Children living with a disability in Ghana

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Children living with a disability in Ghana

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How many children have a disability in Ghana? Around 5 million people in Ghana live with a disability, which is around a fifth of the population. Approximately 100,000 Ghanaian children aged 6-14 have a disability and more than 16,000 of these children are out of school.

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Home " Volunteer Programs " Ghana Disabled Childreen Volunteers

As a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana participant, you will assist local staff with the day-to-day routines at the volunteer placement. PMGY's Ghana volunteer programs will see you do your bit to help care for children with special needs. Support local staff at the project in various essential education and rehabilitation sessions. Moreover, provide one-on-one interaction and care for children who need it most.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE UN'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL NO.10 - INEQUALITY

MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN THE DISABLED CHILDREN COMMUNITY OF KUMASI

SPEND TIME WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE SENSORY ROOM PROVIDING REHAB THERAPY

STRUCTURED WEEKEND TRIPS TO CAPE COAST & MOLE NATIONAL PARK

EMBRACE GHANAIAN CULTURE WITH DRUMMING & DANCING EVENING ACTIVITIES

BACKGROUND TO THE DISABLED PROGRAM

Around 5 million people in Ghana live with a disability, which is around a fifth of the population. Approximately 100,000 Ghanaian children aged 6-14 have a disability and more than 16,000 of these children are out of school. Children with disabilities are often left at home, unable to go outside the house let alone make it to school. Many are shunned for their disability, marginalised and forgotten.

Ghana has recently introduced a nationwide inclusive education policy that works on two fronts. Firstly, enforcing the rights of children with disabilities to education. Secondly, educating parents through community sensitisation programs. Resources are now being invested in addressing these issues on a national scale.

The government is making big steps to support people with special needs. However, the facilities that support them are still understaffed. Consequently, families do not usually have the means to give their child the support they need.

PMGY volunteers work with children and young adults who are intellectually challenged and/or carrying some form of physical disability. The children and young adults have different conditions and needs. These can vary from mild disability to more severe cases. When working within the local community at the projects, ages will vary from 7 to 25 years of age.

Working with disabled children can be an immensely challenging role, but one that brings with it great reward, variety and excitement! You will need to be enthusiastic and patient in order to succeed in this role.

Volunteer opportunities in Ghana provided by PMGY will provide you with a platform to make a positive impact when working with disabled children. For the reason that many of these children will be seeking the care and attention that you as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana volunteer can bring. To volunteer with children in Ghana, you will need to donate your time and skills effectively. This is to ensure you can maximise your impact on the local people. If you need motivation for gap year volunteering programs, then our projects in Ghana provide some fantastic opportunities.

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT EXAMPLES

Kumasi Children's Home - Established in 1965 by a private organisation, Kumasi Children's Home later became a government-run organisation. It is currently home to around 100 children. The children are split into three different blocks - the girls' house, the boys' house and the disabled children's house.

This community development volunteer abroad project provides a variety of support services to the students. This extends to focus on areas such as basic education and life skills classes. Similarly, the project supports in areas such as physical exercise, speech and physical therapy. Part of this has seen a sensory room developed on-site. The sensory room is designed to develop the disabled children's sense through special lighting, music and objects.

You will complete daily volunteer work in Ghana at Kumasi Children's Home. It is important you use your free time at the Volunteer House to plan activities for each day. As time progresses, you will grow through your volunteer experience assisting the local staff at the volunteer projects.

New Life Children's Centre - Started in 1988 by the Late Mother Theresa, New Life Children's provides childcare for local children. Please note the project is home to local children and young adults both with and without disabilities.

Participants work with the children and young adults at the project in a variety of ways. First of all, volunteers will be involved in promoting morning routines. This will extend to assisting with feeding during mealtimes. Finally, as part of your role as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana, you will engage in activities that aim to promote both social and motor skills.

Volunteers also tend to lend a hand to the local staff with simple chores, such as washing. This helps free up the staff members to spend their time providing more specialised care for the children and young adults.

Volunteers are encouraged to spend one on one time with children who struggle with limited communication skills. By doing this, you will be promoting a positive inner mood and character development for the children. Utilising your volunteer experience, time and skills with energy and enthusiasm will definitely leave a positive impact.

Volunteers assist in a number of other capacities at the project too. Those with experience or a specific area of interest are encouraged to specialise. Examples can include taking a lead in physical and speech therapy sessions.

As a volunteer in Ghana , you are encouraged to provide as much interaction and assistance to the children and young adults. You and your fellow volunteers can do this by singing songs, going on walks and counting. Furthermore, helping the local staff with feeding, washing and cleaning activities will be a big support as you volunteer with children.

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL VOLUNTEER DAY

Volunteers are required to provide valuable daily hands-on care, attention and interaction. More specifically, providing such support for disadvantaged children and young adults who need it most. Whether you join us in Ghana for 2 weeks or as part of your gap year, the local team will be on hand to assist your project work.

In general, you will volunteer at the project Monday-Friday for around 3-5 hours every day. The typical working hours on the volunteering abroad programs are usually from 7am-1pm. The early start is required to provide the local staff with much-needed assistance at the project. The chores and morning routines are where the volunteers can provide the most hands-on support.

Transport to and from the disabled children project is not included in your Program Fee. Consequently, volunteers in Ghana will usually split the cost of a taxi. Our local team will show you how to get to and from your volunteer project location during the orientation period.

Most noteworthy, heavy traffic and poor road infrastructure can be commonplace within Kumasi. Subsequently, the journey to the volunteer project can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour upwards from the Volunteer House.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IN GHANA

Project Flexibility - As for all our volunteer in Ghana programs, it is possible to combine multiple projects. First of all, please apply for the main program start date you'd like to partake in. Secondly, then outline in your online application the details of the other projects you'd like to do. Our local team will finalise the details of your placements during your in-country orientation.

Both Kumasi Children's Home and New Life provide care for children with and without disabilities. Therefore, both childcare and disabled children volunteers usually have the flexibility and opportunity to work across both of these projects.

Cultural Differences - It is very important that volunteers join this program with an open mind and understanding of cultural differences. Children's rights and the methods of discipline used often greatly differ from what is the norm in the west.

Although mistreatment of children is never condoned volunteers should be aware that physical discipline does happen in Ghana. This can be quite shocking, but it is important to remember that physical discipline is commonplace throughout Ghana.

Therefore, it is best for volunteers to be open-minded on arrival and come with limited expectations. You are there to help and make a difference in the local communities. However, this must be done in a framework where there are rules to follow and cultures to abide by.

Our local team will brief you on these issues during your in-country orientation. As a result, you will be fully prepared for your placement. If you see something that you believe is not right, then please do approach our local team. As a result of doing this, the team can then aim to resolve or give clarity on the issue.

Resources - On the disabled project in Ghana, resources can be very limited. Volunteers are recommended to bring materials to the project each day to maximise their productivity and day to day involvement. It is therefore important for volunteers to prepare well in advance to get the most out of their volunteering experience in Ghana.

- Your project work in Ghana runs from Monday-Friday and weekends are free. You are welcome to relax and hang out at the volunteer accommodation but most participants will use this time to travel and explore the country. As a result, you can check out our Ghana Weekend Travel Guide for top tips on how to spend your weekend. We also run two separate weekend trips which you can sign-up to before you depart for Ghana. We offer the Cape Coast & Busua Surf Trip along with the Mole National Park Trip with opportunities running every month.

CHOOSING A VOLUNTEER TRIP

Why are PMGY's fees so much more affordable than other organisations?

The PMGY International Team works hard to ensure that our fees are kept as low as possible. Consequently, this makes our experiences affordable and accessible without sacrificing the safety and quality of the overall experience.

Registration Fees to join our programs are assigned to the high levels of comprehensive support that we are renowned for. This includes telephone and online support staff available 24 hours each day, as well as detailed hand-guides and interactive webinars. Therefore, the remaining Program Fees to join the program go directly to our in-country teams, covering everything for your time volunteering. In general, these fees are reflected in your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, in-country support and project upkeep during your time abroad. Furthermore, we make sure our fees are transparent, which is something our volunteers really appreciate.

Similar organisations offer fancy brochures, run large high-street offices and are usually owned by larger travel organisations with many shareholders. As a result, participants are charged an extremely high price to cover all of these overheads. Therefore, at PMGY, we have embraced the online age by focusing everything around an online presence. We have done away with out-dated brochures, an unnecessary high street presence and we are an independent organisation without any outside financial interests.

What are the requirements to volunteer in Ghana?

PMGY welcomes volunteers with disabled children in Ghana of all nationalities, religions and backgrounds. The minimum age to join the program is 17 and there is no upper age limit. Furthermore, all volunteers need to have a good level of English, although it does not need to be your first language. Of course, you do not need to speak the local dialect. However, you will find that learning a few words in your days with us in Ghana will go a long way.
As a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana, you must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. Thus, we are unable to accept anyone who has any previous criminal convictions. In general, no formal experience or qualifications are required for the projects, just lots of energy, enthusiasm and preparation! However, medical and healthcare projects usually require additional documentation before participation begins in-country.

Volunteering overseas can be both physically and mentally challenging. Therefore, all participants must be fit in both areas. Consequently, if you have any medical/mental health conditions that may affect your participation overseas, then these must be declared to us during your online application. If you have any queries regarding your suitability to participate, we recommend that you before committing to the program.

When should I apply to be a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana?

For the majority of our programs, you can apply at any time. However, we advise that you apply as soon as possible to ensure we have availability on the program. This is since some of our programs only have limited capacity, meaning that spaces get filled very quickly. Therefore, it is particularly important that you apply in good time if you're looking to travel between our peak period of June and August. This is because spaces can fill up very quickly during this period. Furthermore, please only apply if you are 100% committed to joining the program. You need to apply online by locating the "Apply Now" button on the individual project page. This will guide you through our online Application Process .

Indeed, once you have applied and confirmed your place on the program, it may be possible to change your start dates and this will not incur a fee. However, please note that this will be subject to availability and any changes should be made at least 60 days prior to your start date.

What duration would you recommend to volunteering for?

Based on feedback from previous volunteers with disabled children in Ghana, we believe that 4-6 weeks is the ideal amount of time to volunteer in Ghana. Consequently, this means you have enough time to integrate into the local community and really get involved in a project. For one thing, you will be able to make a positive impact on community development. Additionally, you will have a greater opportunity to explore during your weekends. Volunteers with disabled children in Ghana who join us for 2 weeks frequently tell us that this was long enough and wish they had stayed for longer!

While our programs are available for a long duration and we'd love for people to join us for longer periods of time, we only allow people to initially sign up for a maximum of 12 weeks in each destination. In the past, we have had volunteers commit to longer periods and then prefer to shorten it in order to do independent travel or switch to a different program. Therefore, we recognise that a degree of flexibility is best applied. Once you have arrived and find that you are really enjoying the program, you would be more than welcome to extend your placement.

For those looking to potentially join us for a longer period, we recommend checking out our Encounter Programs that offer a 2-4 week stay across 3-10 destinations.

Is it safe to travel to PMGY destinations?

Although our volunteers work in the developing world, we work hard to ensure that our host locations are safe. Firstly, volunteer safety in each of our destinations is monitored regularly. Each of our volunteer programs has been inspected by a member of the PMGY International Team. Additionally, PMGY closely follows advice published by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Alongside the frequent contact we have with our local teams, we are able to ensure that our volunteers are never placed in unstable or unsafe regions.

The PMGY International Team have visited and participated in every program we offer. Thus, we have carefully inspected every little detail of our set-up, from the living conditions to local neighbourhoods and even the food you'll be eating. Through these checks, we are able to ensure that all of our projects are up to scratch. Furthermore, all of our local teams are experienced development professionals, with years of experience hosting international volunteers. They are PMGY's representatives on the ground and assist volunteers 24/7 throughout their stay. Our teams are therefore always on-hand to assist in any emergencies that may occur. Additionally, our 24 hour international emergency telephone line is always accessible. PMGY's in-country staff also have access to local medical professionals should these be required during a participant's time with us.

When you join as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana, we will send you a Volunteer Handbook. This document addresses a range of issues such as health, safety, visas and dress codes. For any unanswered or specific questions, PMGY offers a comprehensive support network, with online and telephone support staff available 24 hours each day. Our advisers welcome participants to ask as many questions as needed for them to effectively prepare for their trip overseas. On a monthly basis, our International Team also hosts both an Introductory Webinar and Safety Webinar. These are interactive opportunities for international volunteers to learn more about our projects and managing their safety overseas.

When you arrive in-country, you'll be given a comprehensive introduction to the general volunteer program and your specific project. During this session, our team will also cover important safety advice specific to your country. You'll also be given the opportunity to purchase a local SIM-card. This is something we strongly suggest, so you're contactable at all times. In like manner, we will provide you with a full list of the important contact numbers that you'll need to know.

Although we cannot guarantee your volunteer experience to be 100% trouble-free we have taken all the necessary precautions to make sure each program is as safe as possible.

Can I use the program as part of a university or college placement?

It is certainly possible to be a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana as part of your university or college placement. However, PMGY is unable to guarantee that your time as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana will fulfil the requirements of your establishment. Therefore, participants are encouraged to speak to a member of the International Team to establish whether the required parameters can be met. This should be done in advance of applying to the program. When appropriate, school/college/university representatives are welcome to contact PMGY to discuss further the suitability of the program in meeting the participant's requirements.

First of all, the PMGY International Team are able to complete paperwork after a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana has confirmed their place on the program. Additionally, project staff in Ghana can also sign-off any paperwork that is required by your course tutors. However, while our team will do their best to complete any paperwork, we are unable to guarantee that we will be able to comply with every learning objective and requirement or your university/college. PMGY regularly receives medical, nursing, childcare and psychology placement students on our projects globally, with ties with some leading universities. In addition, we can arrange school trips abroad to Ghana.

If you're a course tutor and would like further information about how one of PMGY's programs could meet the placement requirements for your course, please directly to schedule a meeting.

BEFORE YOU DEPART

Can I fundraise for my volunteer trip?

With PMGY, the money our volunteers pay goes towards the structure you receive on the Ghana volunteer program. The fundamentals of this cover aspects such as accommodation, airport pick-ups, around the clock support from our international and in-country teams, pre-departure training as well as the implementation and monitoring of the projects.

We do our best to keep our program costs as low and affordable as possible, without sacrificing quality and safety. However, with flights, travel insurance and spending money to factor into your overall budget, you may find you need a little bit of help with the finances. Consequently, a large number of PMGY volunteers decide to fundraise for their trip. In these instances, we recommend that volunteers with disabled children in Ghana set up an online fundraising page to notify friends and family of your trip.

PMGY have partnered with the online crowdfunding website GoGetFunding for volunteers to create a personalised fundraising page for their trip. This professional online fundraising service allows you to set financial goals and get the message across about what you're doing. You can also share your PMGY fundraising page across various social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to spread the word.

Can I raise money for the projects?

The PMGY Foundation is a UK registered charity (1169415). This charity has been created to help provide financial aid and assistance to projects we work with on an ongoing basis. Importantly, the objective of the PMGY Foundation is the prevention or relief of poverty for people living in the communities we support. This is achieved by providing or assisting the provision of education, training, healthcare and general living support. Therefore together, we hope that the support offered by the PMGY Foundation helps to enable individuals to generate a sustainable income and be self-sufficient. Consequently, donations made to the PMGY Foundation will be directed to the projects most in need. This is determined by the trustees of the charity during our International Team overseas visits.

If you are looking to help raise money directly for the PMGY Foundation, you can do so via our Virgin Money Giving fundraising page. 100% of all money raised will be donated directly to the projects we support around the world. However, please note that participants are unable to raise money through the PMGY Foundation to help finance the cost of their trip overseas. For volunteers with disabled children in Ghana looking for further information on how to raise money for their trip abroad, please visit our fundraising page .

How do I register for your online webinars?

Every Tuesday at 4pm (London time), the PMGY International Team hosts one of four pre-departure webinars. These last approximately 45 minutes each and importantly provide volunteers in Ghana with invaluable advice on their upcoming trip. The webinars are hosted by a member of our International Team, who all have extensive knowledge of our projects around the globe. You can attend (and even ask questions) from anywhere in the world, simply by logging in through your own computer. All you need is a computer, a good internet connection and a pair of headphones. In addition to this, if any family or friends would like to attend the session as well, they are more than welcome to do so.

For individuals who have not yet signed up to one of our programs, but would like to learn more about us, we encourage you to join our Introductory Webinar . Across 45 minutes, a member of the International team will introduce you to the concept of volunteering abroad, our destinations and both social and safety aspects of our programs.

For volunteers with disabled children in Ghana who have already confirmed their volunteering role on the program, there are three for you to choose from. Please note that you need to sign up for the webinar a few days in advance.

Travel Essentials Pre-Departure Webinar - covers all the basics.

Program Preparation Webinar - covers specifically childcare and teaching community work programs.

Safety & Wellbeing Overseas Webinar - covers the risks associated with overseas travel and how you can keep as safe as possible.

Will I require vaccinations and malaria tablets for my volunteer work?

It is possible that as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana you may require a course of vaccinations in preparation for your volunteer work in Ghana. However, unfortunately, PMGY is unable to legally advise on these matters, since we are not medical experts. Therefore, it is vital that you contact your local doctor or travel clinic a few months in advance of your intended travel. Your local doctor/nurse will be able to advise you on vaccinations and malaria prevention you may need for entry into your volunteer destination. Additional information can be found on the NHS Fit For Travel website .

How do I arrange my flights to volunteer in Ghana?

When you apply to be a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana, we cannot guarantee your place on the program immediately. Indeed, on receiving an application, we have to liaise with our local team to ensure there is space available on the program and to assess your suitability for the specific project. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not make any flight and/or travel arrangements until your program has been confirmed by us in writing. Of course, once your place as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana has been confirmed, you are then free to book your flights either with PMGY or through a third-party travel agent.

After confirming your place on a PMGY volunteer program, we strongly advise that you book your flights as early as possible. This is since it will help ensure that you get the lowest airfare. You can choose to book your flights independently or we can help you with arranging them. PMGY has a wealth of experience in travelling to and from our host countries. Therefore, we know the most affordable ways to travel and the best airlines to use. Therefore, if you would like any assistance booking your flight , you can request an optional flight quote during your online application. Alternatively, feel free to on the phone or by email.

Do you offer travel insurance?

Importantly, having an appropriate travel insurance policy during your time abroad is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory for all of our international volunteers to be appropriately covered across all of their trip dates. This includes your travel to and from the host country, as well as any onward travel. Although PMGY does everything to ensure your trip is safe, inevitably things can go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place helps you effectively deal with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

We have partnered up with the insurance company Endsleigh to create an affordable and comprehensive optional policy. This has been designed with our international volunteers in mind, to cover our participants for all of their travel essentials. The policy is available to anyone across the globe, up to the age of 65 years. The document will cover you for your time on any PMGY destination and any onward travel (excluding the US and Canada). You can purchase PMGY Travel Insurance during your online application or you can directly to arrange it.

How do I obtain a background check?

To become a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana, you'll need to provide us with a clean DBS or Police Check before you travel. This is a check that must be issued by an official Governmental or Police Body. PMGY have a commitment to the projects we support to ensure the volunteers we send are trustworthy and of sound moral character. Consequently, we are unable to accept participants who have had any previous criminal convictions.

If you hold a current DBS or Police Check, then we can accept this, providing it is clear and issued no more than 18 months prior to your program start date. You will need to upload a copy of this to your online portal after confirming your place on the program. Furthermore, the DBS or Police Check must be submitted to us no less than 21 days prior to your program start date.

If you don't have a valid DBS check, then you will need to apply for one. UK volunteers need to apply for a "Basic Disclosure" through (which serves all people in the UK). This costs 23 GBP and takes around 15 working days to process. Full information on how to obtain a DBS check through Gov.uk is outlined in the Volunteer Handbook, received once you have confirmed your place as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana.

For volunteers with disabled children in Ghana from the US, you can apply for a background check through US Criminal Checks . It costs 17.95 USD and is usually processed immediately. Alternatively, you are welcome to arrange your own background check through your local Sheriff's Office or governmental body.

For all other international participants, we recommend you obtain a Police/Criminal Background Check through your local police station or official governmental body.

When will I receive my Volunteer Handbook?

All volunteers in Ghana will receive a PMGY Volunteer Handbook once they have paid their deposit and confirmed their place on the program. We will send you an email entitled 'Welcome to PMGY' which will include a link where you can download the Volunteer Handbook. Please note that we do not send a hard copy of the PMGY Volunteer Handbook.

This Handbook contains everything you need to know to prepare as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana. Ranging from what to pack to how to obtain a visa, we do our best to ensure you are ready to hit the ground running. Therefore, it is really important that you read through the Volunteer Handbook carefully once you've downloaded it. If you find any of your questions unanswered after reading through this, then our team are always on hand to assist you. You can via email, telephone, Zoom, Facebook, online chat...whatever works best for you!

ON YOUR TRIP

Are there any public holidays that affect project availability?

We aim to communicate as clearly and accurately as possible all holidays that impact project availability. This information can be found via our Holiday Dates page and in the Volunteer Handbook. However, due to the nature of developing countries, holidays can often be sporadic or prone to change. In turn, these can unexpectedly affect project availability. Therefore in such instances, we ask our volunteers to be flexible and appreciative of this. These periods often provide volunteers in Ghana with a unique experience to enjoy the festivities and holidays themselves. However, our local teams will always do their best to find alternative project work if applicable/possible.

What is the dress code at the projects?

Dress code varies from country-to-country and sometimes from project-to-project. Importantly, we ask that our volunteers adopt a smart and responsible image during their time in the communities. Of course, we will outline the specific dress code requirements in your Volunteer Handbook so you know exactly what to pack. In addition to this, our local team will also brief you during your in-country orientation on arrival in Ghana.

The general rule of thumb for girls is to cover shoulders, chest, stomach and thighs. In a like matter, for men, shorts should not lie above the knee and shirts should cover shoulders. Whilst we do not wish to impose strict regulations on our volunteers, we do ask that you respect the local culture during your travels. Moreover, dressing appropriately will earn you the respect of the people you'll be working with. Therefore, our Volunteer Handbooks, outline preferred dress-codes in detail.

Additionally, it's also a good idea to take some nicer clothes for the weekends and special occasions. However, please avoid tight and very short clothing. You should also avoid clothing that may have potentially offensive slogans on it. Tattoos and piercings should be covered where possible whilst you're at your placement, particularly if you're working with children.

Will I be able to travel whilst on the program?

You'll have plenty of opportunities to travel during your time with PMGY. In fact, we encourage you to travel during your free time! Most of our programs have been designed so that you have weekends off. Therefore, this gives you the opportunity to explore the local area or even travel further afield within your host country. Our local coordinators will provide you with all the weekend opportunities and travel tips you need to help you plan any independent adventures. During your time as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana, you are sure to make some travel buddies along the way!

Before booking your flights, we recommend that you look into travel opportunities across dates on either side of your volunteering placement. It is always great to spend some time travelling and seeing more of the country you wish to volunteer in. However, if you plan to travel extensively, please factor this into your flight itinerary. This is since we only encourage travel during weekends while you're volunteering, as you have made a commitment as a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana.

ACCOMMODATION

Volunteer House
Your first night in Ghana will be spent at a hotel near Kotoka International Airport in Accra. Our partner hotel offers basic but comfortable accommodation. You will share a room with fellow volunteers. In addition, as it is a dorm based setup you may be sharing with other international travellers. Rooms are air-conditioned and a local team coordinator will also stay at the hotel. As a result, you will have 24/7 support if needed. Furthermore, the team member will travel with you to Kumasi the following day.

During your time on the Ghana volunteer programs, you will live in our Volunteer House. This is located in a friendly neighbourhood, a 45 minute drive from Kumasi city centre. You will find restaurants, convenience stores and ATMs in the centre of the town. However, there is also a small shop opposite the Volunteer House. The local community are extremely friendly!

The Volunteer House is basic but comfortable. Each room has bunk beds with up to 10 people in same-sex rooms. Volunteers are provided with fans in the room. In addition, each international volunteer is provided with their own mosquito net and bed linen. Bathrooms are shared and each has a shower and western style toilet. The water is cold but this shouldn't be a problem as Ghana is hot all-year-round!

Each volunteer will also be provided with a locker for storing small valuables and important items. Living in the Volunteer House offers a great social experience! The house has a communal area for volunteers to hang out in after completing volunteer work in Ghana. A lounge, TV and DVD Player are all to be enjoyed. Furthermore, there is an outside seating area for volunteers to relax in during their free time.

Wi-Fi is not available at the accommodation. However, our local team provide all participants with a free local SIM card. As a result, volunteers can purchase a data package that is reliable, cheap and allows for good internet access. A 4G data package costs approximately 10 Cedis for usage across Ghana. Please make sure your phone is unlocked before arriving in Ghana.

We also have a refrigerator where you can store your personal food items, however, please remember this is dependent on electricity. For the reason that, power cuts can be a frequent occurrence in Ghana! Clothes can be hand-washed or there are local laundry services nearby the Volunteer House. A member of our local team will also live at the house. The house is gated and secure and our local coordinator lives on-site ensuring you have around the clock support and security.

Please note that power cuts and water shortages are very common in Ghana. Whilst we have backup measures to combat this, there may be times where the power cuts out or there is no water for a while. It's important to be aware of this in advance and be able to adapt accordingly.
During our busiest months (June to September) on the volunteer in Ghana program, you may be placed at alternative accommodation. For instance, you could be placed in a nearby guesthouse or one of our summer Volunteer Houses.

MEALS

During your volunteer trip to Ghana, volunteers will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and dinner are served at the Volunteer House. Conversely, lunch will be provided in a packed lunch format. Packet filtered water is also available at the Volunteer House for volunteers.

Please note most meals will incorporate lots of carbs. Subsequently, do not expect much dairy or meat and please be open-minded around this! Moreover, it may take a few days for your body to get accustomed to the local food.

Pork, lamb and beef are difficult to source in Ghana and usually quite expensive. The main meats are chicken, fish and goat. There is also a real lack of fresh dairy products. Therefore, volunteers in Ghana should be prepared to live without milk and cheese. Most milk is tinned.

There are a number of western restaurants around a 45 minute drive from the accommodation. Therefore, home comforts are not too far away. Similarly, there are Chinese and Indian restaurants in Kumasi. Our local team will tell you about the options available to you during your in-country orientation.

Here is an example of the meals you can expect:

* Please note our local team will do their best to cater for any dietary requirements. However, there may be instances where you may need to purchase alternative ingredients at your own expense. Any dietary requirements should be noted within your application and re-iterated to the local team on arrival into the country. Most importantly, any concerns for major requirements should be raised with the PMGY International Team before confirming your place on the volunteer program.

COSTS INVOLVED

* These fees apply to each individual application.
In order to apply to join PMGY you are required to make your Registration Fee payment of 249 USD. In the unlikely event that we are unable to offer you a place on the program then your Registration Fee will be refunded in full within 48 hours of applying. The remaining fee is then due no less than 60 days prior to your program start date. During this period if you need to make a change to your trip (destination, program or date) then this can be facilitated free of charge.

If you're applying within 60 days of your program start date then you'll need to pay the full amount to confirm your place. Likewise, in the unlikely event that we are unable to offer you a place on the program then your payment will be refunded in full within 48 hours of applying.

Any remaining payments must be made no less than 60 days prior to your start date. This payment can be made in one lump sum or in several instalments. If you chose to take our insurance or book a flight with PMGY then these must be paid for (in full) at the time of booking.

Payments can be made directly through our website using all major debit and credit cards. We will outline instructions to make payment in our email communication with you. Please note credit card payments are subject to a 5% additional fee to cover the bank charges that PMGY incur.

OPTIONAL TRIPLE CARBON OFFSET SCHEME - 40 USD

PMGY provide participants with the opportunity to contribute towards our Triple Carbon Offset Scheme. This not only helps eliminate your carbon footprint but helps the planet with a positive contribution every time you fly. The Triple Offset Idea for volunteers in Ghana works as follows -

🇰🇪 Kenya - 28 mango trees are planted in Kenya. These are capable of absorbing the total carbon emissions for a volunteer trip to Ghana and also help provide a sustainable income for local farmers.

🇮🇳 India - 80 days of access to a solar cooker are provided to a family in India. This means the family don't have to spend on firewood and thus reduce their dependence on trees.

🇺🇸 USA - 1.25kg of rescued meals are provided to the homeless in the USA. This recycles wasted food reduces methane emission from food waste which is equivalent to 1lb of CO2 emissions.

This optional add-on can be added during the online application process or can even be added on at a later date. The offset platform is provided by our charity, the PMGY Foundation and ensures that 100% of contributions are put towards high impact projects around the world.

VOLUNTEER IN GHANA REVIEWS

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Home " Volunteer Programs " Ghana Disabled Childreen Volunteers As a volunteer with disabled children in Ghana participant, you will assist local staff with the day-to-day routines at the volunteer placement. PMGY's Ghana volunteer programs will see you do your bit to help care for children with special needs.

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How many children worldwide are estimated to need a wheelchair but can't afford one? The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that at least 10 million children worldwide are in dire need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one.

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The need for wheelchairs worldwide is staggering

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 10 million children worldwide are in dire need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Some disability experts claim the number could be as high as 6% of the population of developing countries. The number in Angola is 20% of the population of 12 million people. Other "landmine" countries such as Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bosnia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Mozambique have extremely high physical disability rates.

In developing countries where public health care and other social services are under-developed, families often have to take on full time care of children with disabilities. Their hardship is compounded because the carer is unable to join the workforce and contribute to household income. What's more, in many cases a child intellectually capable of attending mainstream school is denied the opportunity because of the absence of a wheelchair.

80% of people living with a disability live in developing countries

90% of children living with a disability in developing countries are not in school

Disability and poverty are linked. It is estimated that 20% of the world's poorest people have some kind of disability.

Disabled people with no mobility are more vulnerable to disease and malnutrition

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Giving vulnerable children a new lease on life

Children living with a disability are already one of the most marginalised groups in the world, and without proper medical care and equipment, they face an even greater burden. Numerous studies have shown the positive, sustained impact of wheelchair delivery to those in need, including:

Increased life expectancy

Easier access to healthcare, food and water

Broadened employment opportunities

Ability for parent to join workforce and contribute to household and village income

Improved social integration and life satisfaction

Improves respiration and digestion, and slows the progression of deformities

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Why Wheelchairs | Wheelchair Charity | Wheelchairs For Kids

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The need for wheelchairs worldwide is staggering The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 10 million children worldwide are in dire need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one. Some disability experts claim the number could be as high as 6% of the population of developing countries.

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Statistics and Information on children who suffer with Cerebral Palsy in Ghana

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Statistics and Information on children who suffer with Cerebral Palsy in Ghana

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Further research on children with cerebral palsy in Ghana.

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Statistics and Info on Celebral Palsy In Ghana

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This is a filled out version of our invoice. This has helped us really understand how to work with a client.

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Story board template for planning the video

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Story board template for planning the video

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This is a blank storyboard we will be using to help plan our video. Storyboarding is a really good way to envision the end product.

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This is a very basic storyboard plan. This just gives our video some direction and helps us refer back to something if we ever go off track in production.

Now producing the video, this has been really useful.

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Evaluating the impact of a community-based parent training programme for children with cerebral palsy in Ghana

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Affiliations

¹ International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

² School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

³ Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

⁴ Physiotherapy Department, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.

⁵ Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

⁶ CBM West Africa Regional Office, Accra, Ghana.

⁷ Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

⁸ Department of Applied Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Free PMC article

Free PMC article

Affiliations

¹ International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

² School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

³ Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

⁴ Physiotherapy Department, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.

⁵ Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

⁶ CBM West Africa Regional Office, Accra, Ghana.

⁷ Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

⁸ Department of Applied Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: In low and middle-income settings, where access to support and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities are often lacking, the evidence base for community initiatives is limited. This study aimed to explore the impact of a community-based training programme for caregivers of children with cerebral palsy in Ghana.

Methods: A pre and post evaluation of an 11-month participatory training programme ("Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy") offered through a parent group model, was conducted. Eight community groups, consisting of a total of 75 caregivers and their children with cerebral palsy (aged 18 months-12 years), were enrolled from 8 districts across Ghana. Caregivers were interviewed at baseline, and again at 2 months after the completion of the programme, to assess: quality of life (PedsQL™ Family Impact Module); knowledge about their child's condition; child health indicators; feeding practices. Severity of cerebral palsy, reported illness, and anthropometric measurements were also assessed.

Results: Of the child-caregiver pairs, 64 (84%) were included in final analysis. There were significant improvements in caregiver quality of life score (QoL) (median total QoL 12.5 at baseline to 51.4 at endline, P<0.001). Caregivers reported significant improvements in knowledge and confidence in caring for their child (p<0.001), in some aspects of child feeding practices (p<0.001) and in their child's physical and emotional heath (p< 0.001). Actual frequency of reported serious illness over 12-months remained high (67%) among children, however, a small reduction in recent illness episodes (past 2 weeks) was seen (64% to 50% p < 0.05). Malnutrition was common at both time points; 63% and 65% of children were classified as underweight at baseline and endline respectively (p = 0.5).

Conclusion: Children with cerebral palsy have complex care and support needs which in low and middle-income settings need to be met by their family. This study demonstrates that a participatory training, delivered through the establishment of a local support group, with an emphasis on caregiver empowerment, resulted in improved caregiver QoL. Despite less effect on effect on child health and no clear effect on nutritional status, this alone is an important outcome. Whilst further development of these programmes would be helpful, and is underway, there is clear need for wider scale-up of an intervention which provides support to families.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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References

UNICEF. State of the World's Children: children with disabilities New York: UNICEF, 2013.

World Health Organization, World Bank. World report on disability Geneva: WHO, 2011.

Donald KA, Kakooza AM, Wammanda RD, Mallewa M, Samia P, Babakir H, et al. Pediatric Cerebral Palsy in Africa Where Are We? Journal of child neurology. July 2015;30(8):963-71. 10.1177/0883073814549245 - DOI - PubMed

Colver A, Fairhurst C, Pharoah PO. Cerebral palsy. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2014;69(8):447-9.

Gladstone M. A review of the incidence and prevalence, types and aetiology of childhood cerebral palsy in resource-poor settings. Annals of Tropical Paediatrics. 2010;30(3):181-96. 10.1179/146532810X12786388978481 . - DOI - PubMed

Grant support

This research was supported by CBM International at http://www.cbm.org/. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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national center for biotechnology information

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Evaluating the impact of a community-based parent training programme for children with cerebral palsy in Ghana - PubMed

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Children with cerebral palsy have complex care and support needs which in low and middle-income settings need to be met by their family. This study demonstrates that a participatory training, delivered through the establishment of a local support group, with an emphasis on caregiver empowerment, res ...

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The experience of caregivers of people living with serious mental disorders: a study from rural Ghana - PubMed

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Emotional distress, stigma, financial burden, lack of support networks, social exclusion, health impact, and absence of decentralised mental health services were experienced by family caregivers. These findings highlight the need for interventions to support people with MDs and their caregivers. Thi…

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doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.09.001.

Affiliation

¹ Rehabilitation Centre for Children, Inc, 633 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 0A8, Canada; Children's Hospital, AE 303, 840 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R1A 1S1, Canada. Electronic address: grempel@hsc.mb.ca.

doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.09.001.

Affiliation

¹ Rehabilitation Centre for Children, Inc, 633 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 0A8, Canada; Children's Hospital, AE 303, 840 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R1A 1S1, Canada. Electronic address: grempel@hsc.mb.ca.

Abstract

Poor nutritional status, which is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP), has generated considerable interest because of its wide-ranging impact on the children's health and well-being. Understanding the causes of poor nutrition, and the appropriate measurements required to interpret the nutritional status in children with CP, are integral to developing appropriate nutritional intervention strategies. Focusing attention on improving nutrition early in the lives of children with CP affords families and care providers with a unique opportunity for intervention, which may result in better outcomes for the children.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Enteral feeding; Growth; Malnutrition; Nutritional assessment.

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national center for biotechnology information

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The importance of good nutrition in children with cerebral palsy - PubMed

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Poor nutritional status, which is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP), has generated considerable interest because of its wide-ranging impact on the children's health and well-being. Understanding the causes of poor nutrition, and the appropriate measurements required to interpret the nutrit ...

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Elsie Owusu OBE is a Ghana-born British architect who was a founding member and the first chair of the society of black architects. She is also known to have co-led the refurb of the Supreme court of the UK in 2009. She has been an elected royal institute of British architects council member since 2014, and vice chair of the London School of architecture. Elsie was voted African businesswoman of the year in 2014. She was appointed an OBE in the Queen's 2003 birthday honours list. Owusu received a recognition award at the 2017 women4Africa awards.

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This is the portfolio website of the client, Elsie Owusu. We already knew prior to finding this website that Elsie was a well-known British architect but we didn't know much more than that. Finding this website has really helped to get a better understanding of Elsie, how she works, the projects she funds and the difference they make. We want to make sure our video is sensitive, informative and on brand and finding her site has helped us do just that.

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Experts in conservation, housing, urban planning, transport and infrastructure, both in the UK and the developing world. Elsie Owusu is a trustee of the RIBA Council and the Architectural Association.

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This is the website for JustGhana, which is the organisation we will be using in our video to support the chair project.

Finding this website has been really helpful to make sure we stay on brand and use her colour schemes to make sure our video would fit into her site.

So far, I think our video does match her website really well and could definitely be used on her site. We have stuck to her minimalist style and only used colours black, white and green.

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JustGhana Green Club Ltd (JGGC) is a UK not-for-profit company, dedicated to the advancement of the peoples and cultures of Ghana, West Africa - especially the children and young people.

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JustGhana Charity - Vision for Arts, Architecture & Education

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JustGhana Green Club Ltd (JGGC) is a UK not-for-profit company, dedicated to the advancement of the peoples and cultures of Ghana, West Africa - especially the children and young people.

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JustGhana is an independent UK company promoting investment, sustainable development and constructive social engagement in Ghana, in collaboration with organisations from The World Bank to the UK and Ghanaian governments. With a deep understanding of Ghana's unique culture and potential, JustGhana has excellent connections throughout the country at all levels of society up to the highest levels of government. Based in both Ghana and the UK, the company is uniquely able to assist organisations and investors wishing to explore the country's rich possibilities. We are also passionate about developing and supporting projects that sensitively deliver increased opportunities and quality of life to ordinary Ghanaians.

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Elsie Owusu is also the director of ArchQuestra. They provide the best of British architecture, arts and engineering to support emerging economies. The company has different projects around London. Projects like entrance re-design at Green Park, The UK Supreme Court, which had a complete refurbishment and in East London there is a new build housing. Those are only a short list of some of the projects this company has done.

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Our video is coming along really nicely. We all had a session with Pierre to work on the animated element of our video. We weren't sure how we were going to work this into the final product. However, what we managed to produce is simplistic and effective and works really well with the video so far. I think we are nearly done with the video and it is come together really nicely!

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There has been a slight change to our initial plans and ideas. We originally wanted our video to be about a minute long and work as an advertisement for YouTube or as social media content. Now we think the video will be more of an informative video for her website. Our ideas still work for both but the video will end around 3 mins 30 secs and with this, a website video seems more appropriate.

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The video is nearly finished but we still have yet to finish. In terms of group work, we are pretty much on top of everything so far. Once the video is done, we will review it together, finalise it and make sure everyone is happy. Once that is finished, we can all work on our individual elements needed for submission and make sure the Padlet is 100%, but we will obviously keep updating the Padlet.

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Our Decision to make a YouTube/ Website Advertisement 

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Our Decision to make a YouTube/ Website Advertisement 

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The reason we decided to make an advertisement to be used on Elsie's website or on YouTube was mainly due to the content we wanted to make. We all agreed to make a video and from there the decision on what social media content to make presented itself.

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Currently, Elsie's presence both personally and professionally on social media is not extensive. With this, we knew many of the other groups would want to add to her Instagram or Twitter presence. We wanted to produce something else that could be used in many different ways. Not only can our video be used on Elsie's social media pages/ YouTube page, but she would also be able to use it for her website or for fundraising. With this, the decision to make this style video was easy!

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This is her personal Instagram account, which as you can see doesn't have that much on it. I couldn't find any accounts for her architectural work or for the JustGhana project

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Elsie's presence on Twitter is much larger and more significant than on Instagram. This could be due to the free speech element of Twitter, allowing Elsie to shed light on the importance of her work.

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Tweets by elsie_owusu

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This is an animated video using Powtoon. Unfortunately, we were not able to use this software. As it was very restricting unless you paid a yearly subscription. It also doesn't allow you to export for free. This would not be effective for our video

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This advert is about a young boy who is suffering from grief. Our video is similar in terms of dealing with children and how they have suffered. The tone of this video also fits with our ending storyline.

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This advert is very similar to ours, it starts off with a high and changes tone. The involvement of children in adverts adds a heightened element of emotions which is why we have chosen them to be the central part of our video to help people connect and sympathise.

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RSPCA release tear-jerking Christmas advert

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This advert is also about children suffering in silence. The link to our advert is close. The quotes and stats about children is important so that the audience knows how critical it is and how they can help.

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I can't count the number of times I've queried Google, marketing industry resources, and individuals for information on "nonprofit business-to-business (B2B) marketing." I've spent hours trying to gather best practices and industry trends on this subject and ones like it, including "nonprofit corporate partner best practices," to build the business case for nonprofit B2B marketing. The stock answer, on- and off-line, is Cause Marketing. Yet B2B marketing is so much more than Cause Marketing for nonprofits.

Cause Marketing, defined simply by causemarketing.com, is "when a company does well by doing good." This definition and others describe Cause Marketing as what businesses are doing: how they are investing in nonprofits. While important, Cause Marketing does not fully capture the strategic marketing approach nonprofits should apply to secure business investors, or partners. In other words, B2B marketing.

Just like B2C (business to consumer) marketing strategy, B2B marketing starts with the target audience and their buying journey. In fact, the consumer and business buyers' journeys are very similar. In McKinsey's "Driving business growth by zeroing in on the consumer decision journey" article, the business buyer's journey is described as a loop. It starts with a trigger that moves the buyer to initial consideration set, then active evaluation, and through purchase, post-purchase, and loyalty. This journey also defines the path consumers take when they buy and re-buy goods and services.

The journeys are very similar, but the messaging and positioning, sales cycle, and channels for marketing to businesses and consumers are not. Key differences in the business buyer's journey include:

Objective: "Businesses purchase with the goal of improving their business and (most importantly) the bottom line." <Disruptive Advertising>

Messaging and Positioning: "B2B marketing is more logical and focuses on the knowledge and return on investment." <Chief Marketer> "B2B marketers must communicate more complex messages to a relatively small audience of business decision makers."<Customer Think>

Awareness: "57% of the business buyer's journey is happening before the sales development representative gets involved" <Sales for Life> with businesses "conducting more research before (engaging and) purchasing." <Disruptive Advertising>

Sales Cycle: "The length of the B2B sales cycle is challenging, as multiple touch-points can make it tricky to determine the impact of different components." <Chief Marketer> "In B2B, several top-level decision makers are involved, and you will have to speak to each one of them and educate them and educate them about your solutions." <Demand Gen> Additionally, "<Businesses> require much more nurturing and close attention <than consumers>...B2B decisions are meant to complete long-term goals." <Hubspot>

These differences have key implications for nonprofits, beginning with messaging and positioning. In addition to the pull-at-the-heartstrings messages and stories nonprofits create to attract consumers, B2B messaging should include business-benefits information that addresses B2B buyers' needs, such as increasing sales of products or services, improving employee engagement, morale and brand retention, and driving customer and brand loyalty. < Top Nonprofits>

In other words, nonprofit B2B messages should be tailored to the business buyer to:

Educate business influencers/buyers about the nonprofit and its differentiators, including proof points around how the nonprofit will uniquely help them reach their business objectives.

Position the nonprofit's brand and subject matter expertise to earn the trust of business buyers.

Link features and specifications to business benefits using both quantitative and qualitative information.

Armed with the right messaging and positioning, nonprofits can begin to develop and deliver content aligned with the business buyer's journey:

Awareness/Consideration: Buyers are open to solutions and researching online to understand options - blogs and social posts, research studies, eBooks, educational content.

Consideration/Evaluation: Decision-makers evaluate potential opportunities to determine which one best fulfills their needs - comparisons, expert insights, 3rd party evaluations/articles, case studies, podcasts, videos.

Evaluation/Purchase: Companies are ready to choose preferred options: content is more brand-specific - comparisons, case studies, testimonials.

Nurturing/Loyalty Loop: Business owners want data that shows the value the business is getting from their nonprofit investment - customer newsletters, promotions and loyalty, news and events, surveys, and brand lift.

Ultimately, many business decision makers engage in nonprofit causes with which they have a personal connection. Yet, "Companies exist to maximize shareholder wealth. Exercises in charity and philanthropy by companies must help them towards their goal in some ways." < For Momentum>

With thousands of nonprofits competing for the same limited corporate dollars, relying on decision makers' connections to the cause is not enough. Nonprofits need to be savvy about their partner development approach and how they enlist businesses to invest as the cause for Cause Marketing. A B2B marketing strategy is the answer.

Stephanie Williams is an innovative marketing leader and consultant with years of experience building and leading marketing organizations to define and develop differentiated brands and innovative marketing strategies. Her background in working with SMBs and enterprise B2B and nonprofit organizations across industries garnered her interest in this opportunity for nonprofits to improve their partner development efforts.

Stephanie is now seeking a new marketing leadership or consulting opportunity with another service, solutions, or software organization supporting society. Contact her on the subject of this article or with career opportunities at ignitemarketing@bellsouth.net.

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Nonprofit Partner Development: More than Cause Marketing I can't count the number of times I've queried Google, marketing industry resources, and individuals for information on "nonprofit business-to-business (B2B) marketing." I've spent hours trying to gather best practices and industry trends on t

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Charities use YouTube to reach new audiences, educate, share expertise, and collaborate with creators to raise awareness and funds.

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We look at how charities can use YouTube as more than just a place to store videos

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UK Government guidelines for charities to raise funds 

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UK Government guidelines for charities to raise funds 

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This article is useful to see a more governmental approach to charity guidelines and funding.

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This is an article about how charities can get the best return on investment (ROI) through video advertisements, which is something we can consider for our video.

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You're already using video, but now it's time to maximise your ROI. Here's how charities can get the best ROI from video content used along the audience journey, by producing the right content at the right time.

By employing video marketing strategies at different stages of your audience journey, you'll be able to get the most out of your overall campaign.

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Produce video content that counts

Bold Content and Empower share their expertise to help charities produce the right content at the right time.

Redundant content can be an expensive and time consuming process that ends up costing more than just time and money. Negative impressions can be hard to change, and when you're working with limited resources you need to make sure that your content is relevant and making an impact.

It's all about creating content that's geared towards reaching your target audience at different stages of their audience journey. The more your content relates to their position in the Donor Lifetime Cycle, the more likely it is to be successful. In this guide we'll walk you through the best types of video content to produce at each touchpoint with your donors, to make sure you get great ROI on your content creation.

Using the Donor Lifetime Cycle

Marketers around the world have different approaches to the concept of a sales cycle - or 'cultivation funnel' as it's often called in the world of nonprofits. Although the phraseology might change, the principles (on the whole) stay largely the same. We'll be using these basic principles in our video marketing strategy. For charities we like to call the audience journey the Donor Lifetime Cycle - which is essentially an extension of the AIDA framework (Awareness > Interest > Desire > Action), just with more relevance to the longer-term goals many charities have, such as regular donation, legacy and gifting. The Donor Lifetime Cycle is a valuable tool to identify key touch points your charity has with potential donors. You can then use these touch points as a guide for your content creation. If every piece of content you create is targeted at one stage in the cycle, then you'll ensure all your content and video marketing is relevant for your target audience and their relationship to your charity - thus helping to nurture potential donors to become long term supporters.

The Six Stages

We've broken up the Donor Lifetime Cycle into six stages that cover all of the important touch points a charity will have over the course of a donor's lifetime:
Awareness Interest Consideration Conversion Retention Loyalty
Creating content at each of these stages in the cycle will help to enhance customer experience and increase ROI. That's because your content will be tailored to their specific needs and interests at different parts of their journey. If their questions are answered and their needs are met, they'll progress to the next stage of the cycle. Let's put it this way: if you've only just found out about a charity, you don't want to be hearing about legacy gifting already! You want to make sure that that potential donor is only accessing content geared towards the Awareness stage that introduces them to your charity and your mission.

The Tent Strategy

Your content marketing strategy should be working together towards a common goal. Content marketing covers everything from your blog, email newsletter, copywriting, infographics and video. It's important that all elements work together to communicate your message. We like to think of a content marketing strategy like a tent. For every major piece of content you produce (the "tent pole") you use "tent peg" content, such as blog posts, to lead audiences from other sources to your central content. This tent pole / tent peg principle is an effective way to ensure that your marketing strategy is buoyant and cost-effective. We call this "Halo Content" as it surrounds your pillar content, which you've invested a lot of time and money into - such as a promotional video. Charities can work with agencies, such as Empower, to work out and manage a content marketing strategy. This involves making sure that every aspect of your content marketing is pertinent to your overall campaign. If you're pushed for time, agencies can assist with the production of your content too - which frees you up to focus on different things. This guide will walk you through the six key "tents" that we think your charity could benefit from.

Video Content Creation Along the Audience Journey

Tailoring your video content to where your audience is in relation to your charity is key to a successful campaign. The more relevant your video content, the more resonant it will be. So it can be helpful to use the six stage customer segmentation as a guide for creating videos that support long-term lead growth.

So let's look at our Donor Lifetime Cycle and consider what type video should be used when, and what halo content we can produce to support it.

This funnel we'll also suggest how your video marketing budget could be broken up, to ensure that you're investing money at the right touch points.

Awareness is the discovery phase where a potential donor learns about the charity and your work.

This is where a brand video can have the most impact.

Brand videos should be a creative introduction to the charity mission. Keep it short (around 30 to 45 seconds) and try to make it entertaining or rewarding to watch.

Budget allocation: This is where most of your budget should be allocated (we recommend allocating 50% of your video marketing budget here) so make sure you invest in producing a high quality video that can be used as evergreen content on your website, socials and as ads on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. This might be the first time that a potential donor engages with your brand so you want to make a good impression. Allocating enough budget to make a high quality piece will give a good first impression. Making something that connects with the viewer on an emotional level or in an entertaining manner is a great way to get them to engage with content in the next stage of the donor cycle.

Halo content ideas: print ads, mail drops

Distribution channels: homepage, TV, paid social, dark social

Once you've got the interest of your audience, they'll most likely start to research your charity.

Maybe that's reading multiple articles across your website, looking at Charity Checker and seeing what impact your work is having on the community.

Producing content at this stage of the customer-lifetime cycle is all about answering donor questions. This could come in the form of an About Us video, an FAQ video, a charity history video, or explainer animations.

These videos can be longer, up to 2 minutes in duration, so you can give your audience a clear overview of your charity impact and core values.

Budget allocation: we suggest using 25% of your budget at this stage. You can keep costs low and quality high by using motion graphics and animation to cut down on expensive shoot days and casting talent.

Halo content: impact reports, research papers, blog posts, statistics, about us webpage, charity history webpage

Distribution channels: website

The Consideration stage is designed to encourage your leads to start engaging with your charity.

Engagement might be via following on social media, liking, commenting, and sharing posts; attending events and listening to podcasts.

Here, videos with real stories can get your audience thinking about the people your charity helps. Think about producing case study videos that get your audience engaging with real people and the difference you make.

Tell human interest stories about your beneficiaries instead of facts and stats (that comes later).

Videos can be as long as 3 minutes, as long as social media cut downs are also created for shareability.

Budget allocation: These case study videos don't require a huge amount of investment. Consider allocating just 5% of your video marketing budget to this stage, as you encourage customers to start engaging with your charity on an emotional level. These films can be simple interview set ups, with subtitles and a few motion graphics to keep costs low but audience retention high.

Halo content: podcasts, magazine articles/PR, influencers, YouTube channel vlog, blog posts

Distribution channels: specific landing pages, social media, Vimeo and YouTube

A crucial stage where your prospective customer becomes a donor for the first time.

Donation could be as simple as a text donation, or attending a charity fundraising event but sometimes viewers need that extra bit of content to get them across the line.

When asking for a donation your call to action is an unusually tough one in the world of online video. You're not asking them to download a whitepaper or click to learn more... You're asking for their money but they won't be receiving a product or service in return.

So in order to get someone to make a change to their spending habits you need to have taken them on a journey that will lead to that change. The journey could be the story arc of a character who was helped by your charity. Assuming you've already taken them on that journey in the content that you've created up to this point, then the final piece of content needed might be as simple as a piece of social proof. This could be in the form of a testimonial from a donor saying why it's important to them to donate to your charity or how it makes them feel to have given to your charity.

In order to capture a testimonial from an existing donor you could ask them why they are helping, who they are helping and how they are helping by donating to your charity.

Hearing a short message from another person who has decided to give is often all that's needed to nudge a passive viewer into action.

Budget allocation: Think about allocating 10% of your budget here. It's about affirming the messages they've already seen and making them feel comfortable about donating.

Halo content: written case studies on website, interviews, filmed speeches from events

Distribution channels: YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, newsletter

This brings us to the Retention stage in the customer journey. Once you've converted them it's now about how you encourage the customer to become a regular donor.

We think one of the best ways to convert one-off donors into more frequent donors is by telling a story. Triggering emotion has the power to change perspectives. Whether you're telling an uplifting or sad story, human-interest narratives are vital components of conversion.

So, tell a human story. Keep the video under 2 minutes but make sure they are moved.

Tell stories about the beneficiaries of your charity that will entertain an audience member or move them or generate empathy.

Big things happen at this stage. Maybe your customers run a marathon in aid of your charity. Maybe they do something simple like a Facebook birthday donation, or host a bake sale or coffee morning. Maybe they set up a regular donation and subscribe to your newsletter and YouTube channel.

The Retention stage is all about triggering action. Getting your customers to feel a part of your community and showing how their actions can make a meaningful difference.

This is where you want to make videos full of compelling statistics and stories. Charity Bigger Impact Videos will keep your audience engaged with your work and feel like a part of the narrative. These videos can be up to a minute long and filled with positivity on social outcomes and how it comes back to help the individual.

Budget allocation: You don't need to set aside a big chunk of time, energy or money here. Keep investment low by using user generated content (UGC) - share videos of your customers whilst fundraising, use behind the scenes images and footage. Just keep about 5% of your budget aside for post production costs like editing and adding motion graphics to the video to keep it dynamic and professional.

Halo content: sharing stories on social media, charity event advertising, newsletter

Distribution channels: YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo, newsletter

Finally, we're at Loyalty - where you engage with long term donors.

By now, your donors will be regularly sharing your content, perhaps volunteering and might advocate for your charity at events, on social media and otherwise fulfil the role of a charity brand ambassador.

At this stage you might want to consider creating Legacy videos designed to encourage gifting. This video will have a specific call to action about how much impact a legacy donation would have.

The target audience for this campaign would be regular donors and careful consideration must be taken in terms of messaging. We recommend legacy videos being 90seconds long and principally being sent to customers via direct messaging, rather than being presented on your website or social media.

Budget allocation: If you're an eager mathematician, you'll realise that you've only got 5% of your budget left to spend on video content. This is because you're targeting a small and rather niche audience.

Halo content: newsletter, mail drop, direct email

Distribution channels: direct mail, specific landing pages

Videos to help the beneficiaries of your charity.

Sometimes charities use videos to directly communicate with and help people.

One great opportunity for these beneficiary focussed videos is for charities to raise the budget for video creation via corporate sponsorship. If you can capture the imagination of a brand marketing team with a proposal for a video that can only go ahead with their help then they may well come on board and fund a video which has their logo on the end.

Answer donor questions

Each stage of the funnel is really about answering audience questions. For example:

Awareness. Who are you?

Interest. What do you do?

Consideration. What difference do you make?

Conversion. How does your work change people's lives?

Retention. Where does my donation go?

Loyalty. Am I a valued donor?

If every potential question that a donor might ask is answered in content across your marketing, you'll be able to build brand trustworthiness which will ultimately convert to brand loyalty.

Regular donation to a charity comes as a result of finding a cause that seems trustworthy, that supports an important cause, and values it's donors. Transparency can help to nurture amazing relationships with donors and earn their support.
Tip. Make a list of every question a donor or potential donor has ever asked. Do you answer these questions in your marketing? If not, is it something that can be addressed in blog posts, FAQ pages or video content? The more information you can provide to your donors about what matters to them, the better placed you'll be for converting your leads into lifelong supporters.
Distributing your video

Once you have your plan for what videos you need to produce, you'll need to work out the best way of distributing them. Here, we'll go into more detail about the possible ways you can distribute your video content at each stage of the audience journey.

Maximising ROI

We understand that producing video content can be expensive. That's why we share some top tips for producing high quality video content for a fraction of the cost.

A great way to save time and money is to repurpose old video content. By reusing and adapting existing video into different formats, you'll be able to target your audiences again in different ways or on different platforms.

Look at the outtakes and the content that wasn't used, as well as the material featured. You'll have tons of footage from the filming day and possibly some behind the scenes footage that could make some great B-roll for new videos, halo content, or be used on social media.

B-Roll is an industry specific term that refers to footage shot in addition to the main action. B-roll refers to footage that shows the general atmosphere of the location, event, shows specific elements of what the interviewee is talking about, establishes the setting of the video etc. These are shots to which the editor can cut while making the edit.

Use animation and motion graphics

Adding animation and motion graphics to live action content is a cost-effective way to add visual flair to a video, without having to capture B-roll or use expensive and generic stock footage.

Motion graphics add a touch of quality and dynamism beyond the usual opening titles and lower thirds. Kinetic typography is often used as a form of motion graphics to add energy to your video and keep your charity's brand at the forefront of your viewer's mind.

Brands love to get their name out via video so if you can entice a brand to sponsor a story that your charity can tell then both parties win. The brand association is valuable to the brand so don't be afraid to ask for a good sized budget to allow you to tell the best story possible. Of course you should only align with brands who share your values but when there's a good synergy it can be the catalyst for powerful storytelling.

Use video on landing pages

Using video on all of your pages that customers interact with will also help them to pop up in the SERPS because video is great for SEO.

Video attracts users to stay on your platform for longer, helping to drive up your conversion rate by up to 80% ( Invisia Technologies). So presenting high-quality video content on your website is an easy way to keep potential customers engaging with your brand, learning about your products and helping to encourage sales.

SEO optimisation for video is just as important as any other content marketing, so you need to make sure that your video title, description and tags are optimised for your preferred search queries.

Sites like YouTube read closed captions (CC) to better understand the context of your video and help your SEO ranking. So if you can, it's great to go in and update these automated captions manually to make sure it accurately transcribes your script.

More and more social media users watch videos with no sound too, so this is a key reason to ensure that your videos have subtitles so you are not missing out on communicating your message.

How can I work with a digital agency to support my charity's growth?

If you don't have the time, resource or expertise to grow your charity's digital activity, getting support from an agency can help you overcome the growth challenges your charity is facing.

Whatever your situation, you know you want to find an agency that understands your charity, your supporter's needs, and your particular individual cause.

You should have shared values, beliefs, and common goals. Even if you contract an agency for a short amount of time, go into the partnership with a long-term vision in mind because it will better help you in working out if the agency is the right fit for you.

To have worked with another charity in the same area doesn't make an agency qualified to work with your charity. What makes them qualified is if they have a track record of helping businesses overcome problems and challenges. Asking for case studies or references from similar charities they have worked with will help determine if they're the right fit for you.

Overall, what you really need to know is, is the agency you're talking to capable of getting you the results you need? An agency can have experience in the nonprofit sector but what's their track record? Are they meeting those clients' objectives?

Google Grants offers charities and nonprofits $10,000 per month in in-kind advertising to promote their mission and grow their nonprofit on Google search result pages.

The Google Grants program brings you the power of AdWords to create a custom marketing strategy to help your non-profit achieve its goals. Through Google Grants, you can expand your reach online, gain greater visibility, and recruit volunteers for no additional cost.

Want to apply for the Google Grant programme? Go to google.com/grants for details.

Already got the Google Grant for your charity? Here are our top tips to get the most out of your Google Ads.

1. Don't focus on donations at first: No one is searching for a charity to support financially. Even if someone visits your website via a Google ad, they won't immediately hit the "donate" button. People usually go online to learn more about an issue or a cause. If you can capture the attention of those people with your nonprofit's ad, in time you can turn them into donors.

2. Aim to gain supporters first: Though few people will be willing to donate to a nonprofit the first time they visit its website. That doesn't mean you shouldn't ask them for anything. Ask visitors to sign up for your nonprofit's email newsletter, to "like" your group's Facebook page, to follow your charity's Twitter handle or some other low-barrier activity. After building a relationship with these potential supporters through those channels, it will be much easier to ask for donations. The likelihood of them giving at that point is much higher.

3. Keywords are where you should focus: Relevancy is how well your website matches a website visitor's expectations. For example, if someone searches for "nonprofits" they are most likely looking for the definition of the word, the history of nonprofits or possibly a directory listing of nonprofit groups. They aren't looking for your organisation. The same can be said of other generic words like "give," "donate" and "volunteer." Don't waste your time and Google Ad Grant dollars going after generic nonprofit keywords. Be precise when choosing keywords.

4. Keep your charity's goals at the centre: What are the goals for your charity? Before launching your nonprofit's first ad on Google, examine all the goals for your nonprofit's website and make any necessary changes. The goals could be to: Grow your nonprofit's email list; Encourage people to download a fact sheet; Inspire people fill out an online form or petition; Generate more online donations.

The best charities and nonprofits know exactly how much every contact is worth to them. One simple method is to track the number of email addresses your charity receives over a period of time, the number of donations it receives online and the average size of these donations. Tracking these numbers will help you determine just how much Google Ads have helped your charity.

Pick the right story to tell

For charity marketing, it's all about focusing on three core principles:

Show real people

Tell real stories

Show emotional impact

Compelling marketing is moving away from cliched, staged or overly dramatic images and messages but focusing on creating authentic emotional responses.

Let's take climate change as an example, who are moving away from melting ice caps to telling true stories about people who are affected on a day-to-day basis by global warming.

Seeing how a child is struggling to breath due to poor air quality is going to have far greater emotional impact than facts and stats. It's all about telling human-interest stories to bring important issues to the fore.

The more your video content can be visual representations of identifiable emotions, the stronger your message will be communicated.

Charity Videos Conclusion: get the best ROI from video content

If you are looking to get the best ROI from video content, producing video content along the audience journey could provide meaningful opportunities for your charity to engage with your donors at key touch points. This will lead to increased donations and will help to build a sense of community around your charity. High quality communications lead to good interactions and donors will feel valued as they view content tailored specifically to them.

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Charity Videos: How charities can get the best ROI from video content

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You're already using video, but now it's time to maximise your ROI. Here's how charities can get the best ROI from video content used along the audience journey, by producing the right content at the right time. By employing video marketing strategies at different stages of your audience journey, you'll be able to get the most out of your overall campaign.

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We decided to add subtitles to our video as the premise bases itself on a need for more accessibility for Ghanaian children with CP, so we wanted to make our video as accessible as possible to reflect this.