We are delighted to announce our second charity partner for the upcoming East Midlands PA Awards, the amazing Me & Dee! Me&Dee is a Derbyshire-based charity supporting children and families facing life-changing and uncertain futures due to complex, often terminal, health diagnoses. Founded in 2006 by Maria Hanson MBE following personal experiences of severe illness, we exist to help families create precious memories together – memories that last far beyond the time they may have left. The approach is personal, wraparound, and continuous. Rather than providing one-off experiences, they focus on building lasting relationships that support families throughout their journey.
The continuous care that Me&Dee provides include activities like private swimming sessions, days out and excursions to venues such as White Post Farm and GoActive Falconry. In addition there are support groups such as peer support groups like the Girls and Boys Clubs and the Hospital & Mortuary Support in conjunction with Derby and Burton Hospitals Trust. Overall, Me&Dee seeks to create opportunities for families to spend quality time together and build precious memories. The support that the charity provides often helps families to manage their grief, reduces anxiety and gives them something positive to focus on during the darkest periods of their lives.
Speaking about the link up between the PA Forum and Me&Dee, Daniel Skermer said: “To be working with Me&Dee is fantastic for us all at the PA Forum. We know that this charity means so much to our colleagues in the East Midlands so the connection with the East Midlands PA Awards in particular is great. We really hope that we can help to raise awareness and much needed funds for the charity with not only the awards later this year but all of our other events too.”
The next event in the East Midlands will be at the National Space Centre in Leicester, a free networking event aimed at bringing our members from across the region together and you can find the details here. Commenting on the connection between the two organisations, a spokesperson for Me&Dee said: “We are incredibly honoured and grateful to have the support of the East Midlands PA Forum. As a small, local, self-funding charity, partnerships like this truly mean the world to us. The recognition and endorsement from such a respected professional network not only validates the work we do but also help amplify our voice within the local community. This support will play a vital role in helping us to grow our presence and forge meaningful connections across the East Midlands. Increased visibility through the PA Forum’s promotion will allow us to reach new audiences, engage with potential supporters, and build collaborative relationships that are essential to the sustainability of our work. Most importantly, this support directly impacts the families we work with through our Continuing Care Programme. With greater awareness and connection, we are better equipped to provide memory making experiences and compassionate care to those who need it most. Every new connection and every ounce of support strengthens our ability to continue delivering tailored, ongoing support to families facing incredibly difficult circumstances.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the East Midlands PA Forum for helping us to lasting difference in the lives of the families we support.”
To find out more about Me&Dee and the work that they do, you can visit their website here.