The Elizabeth Foundation

At our Beethoven Ball on 10 November, CEO and Founder Shirley Metherell and her husband Dave were delighted to announce the launch of a major Fundraising Appeal called "Raise the Roof!".

The Appeal is needed to finance construction work to double the size of our original Family Centre building at Cosham, Hampshire. Our supporters will remember that the Family Centre was lovingly "self built" by the Metherells and other founder-families, nearly 25 years' ago. It has served us so well, and helped us to help hundreds of families with young deaf children over the years. Now we need to grow! We will put a whole new top storey on the building, giving us the opportunity to modernise and expand as well as allowing us longer term to establish the new baby unit right next door to the Newborn Hearing Screening facility where it belongs. We will also be able to create a much-needed resource centre for our Home Learning Programme, which is rapidly gaining new enrolments following introduction of our web-based enrolment form.

Please take a look at our first Appeal Brochure and also details of our "Buy a Brick" Campaign in support of our Appeal - Buy a Brick for £10 or more, and place an entry in our commemorative "Roll of Honour Book".

We will be putting more news about this on the website soon, but if you can't wait (we hope you can't), then please contact Alison Robinson or Sally Moger, or call us on 023 9237 2735.

Please come back again soon for more news about "Raise the Roof!".

"OPTIMISM AT THE ELIZABETH FOUNDATION" - We are delighted to be featured on that happy new website www.optimistworld.com where you can find all the chirpiest news about the nicest people. Why not visit and take a moment to smile?

CHARITY GOLF DAY AND GALA DINNER 2008 - Marriott Meon Valley Hotel and Country Club

On Friday 20 June 2008, we are delighted to be holding an exciting new event, namely a Charity Golf Day followed by Gala Dinner in the evening. This is team event (please contact Alison Robinson for details of how to book!) including 18 holes of golf, prizes for winning team and longest drive, briefing by Golf Pro, and evening auction and entertainment! All proceeds raised will go towards our Raise the Roof Appeal (see News Item above).

ART EXHIBITION 2008 - Change of Venue

Our 2008 Art Exhibition is being held on 15th & 16th March, at the Portsmouth Marriott Hotel, as building work is due to commence by Easter 2008 as part of the Raise The Roof Appeal. This will be the 14th year that we have held an Art Exhibition. The standard of work by local artists is always very high and a good percentage of sales is achieved, with 20% commision from sales going to The Elizabeth Foundation.

If you would like to exhibit your paintings, or would like further information, please contact Sally Moger at The Elizabeth Foundation.

CIVIC AWARD

Portsmouth City Council presented a Civic Award to our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Shirley Metherell, during this year's Mayor Making Ceremony. The award was "in recognition of her outstanding achievement in creating The Elizabeth Foundation and the support which it has provided to babies and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and their families". Shirley said she felt really honoured to receive this from her home city.

WOODLAND TRAIL OFFICIAL OPENING

We were delighted to welcome Admiral Sir Jonathon Band, the First Sea Lord, to The Elizabeth Foundation in February. After a tour around the Family Centre and the Hearing Clinic, he and his wife Sarah officially opened our Woodland Walk area by cutting the ribbon at the entrance (pictured), and leading the way down the new pathway. Our pre-schooler children followed closely behind, clutching their green and purple Elizabeth Foundation balloons.

IMPACT AWARDS

The Elizabeth Foundation was Highly Commended in the 2006 Impact Awards announced last year, reaching the top 25 of over 300 UK-wide entrants in this annual, prestigious award scheme run by Glaxosmithkline in partnership with The Kings Fund. The awards ceremony was held at the National Gallery, London, and we were delighted to be recognised as one of the leading "Impact" groups in the country making a real difference to peoples lives.