Latest news with #RuthThompson
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
York Inspirational Kids charity facing uncertain future due to funding cuts
For Leah Kilvington, her weekly session with York Inspirational Kids' post-16 group is about more than the activities she and her friends take part in."It's about accepting people for who they are," the 25-year-old tells Phillips says attending the sessions puts a smile on her face."I like coming here because they do fun activities and they make you laugh every time," the 19-year-old explains with a broad bosses at the support group for young people with disabilities or additional needs strike a different tone, warning that the charity could cut sessions or activities unless it can attract greater Executive Ruth Thompson says York Inspirational Kids needs to raise an extra £25,000 to keep services going for the 3,000 families it not, it could face a bleak future after 14 years of existence."We're in a situation where there are more and more diagnoses, particularly of autism, so the need is greater," she explains. "We are in a situation where finances have been cut, there isn't enough money going into local authorities to help support, there isn't enough money within charities, so the criteria for funding is getting tighter and tighter and tighter."The charity supports a wide range of young people, from children to young adults, all of whom have a disability and/or special educational post-16 group is focused on developing social skills and independence in a safe environment, with staff on hand to young people play cards, table football and air hockey - and handle the running of their own tuck shop.A recent trip to the Houses of Parliament to see democracy in action was one of the supervised excursions provided by the charity, along with trips to the cinema and tenpin bowling."Instead of roaming down the streets and getting into trouble, I can come here and enjoy myself," says Kai Embleton, 20. "It's the social high point of her week," says Sarah Smith of her daughter Eleanor, 23. "I don't know what we would do without it. It's not just for the kids, it's for the mums and dads as well, so we can meet up and discuss what's going on in their lives."Tanya Berasnevich says the experiences her daughter Masha takes part in help boost her confidence and social skills."It's the highlight of her week, she really loves it. She feels safe and relaxed. "She was very shy but then she started coming out of her shell and joining activities and now she talks a lot at home after the session."The charity receives some funding from the City of York Council and some from the National Lottery, but has to raise the rest itself. "All the funding we try to go for, there's a lot of competition," says Ms Thompson."We are out and about all the time, bucket collecting in supermarkets, we do coffee mornings and all kinds of fundraising, as much as we can, but we're only a really small organisation."Our young people speak for themselves, they get so much out of it and it would be absolutely awful to have to start making cuts."City of York Council's Maxine Squire says reduced public sector budgets and the increasing costs of support services were increasing pressure on the voluntary sector across the told the BBC that the council continues to support York Inspirational Kids "both financially and in developing a sustainable operating model for the future."The Treasury has been approached for comment. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Congratulations to Erie's 2025 Remarkable Woman: Ruth Thompson!
Every Tuesday in March, Jet 24 recognized women who are making a difference in our community. It's part of Nexstar's yearly, company-wide Remarkable Women contest. Tuesday night, we introduce you to this year's winner — Ruth Thompson, the founder and executive director of the ANNA Shelter! Jet 24 is sending Thompson to Los Angeles for a star-studded awards dinner where she will meet 125 other remarkable women from around the country. She'll enjoy vip treatment and be in the running to be named Nextstar's Remarkable Woman of the Year, which comes with a $25,000 award for the charity of her choice. To get a closer look at the remarkable woman representing Erie, click here. The map below highlights all 125 winners as well as their stories. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remarkable Women: Ruth Thompson
Ruth Thompson is no stranger to JET 24 viewers. We see her every week in our Jet Pet segments, highlighting shelter animals and usually making us laugh. Unfortunately, she's also brought us heartbreaking stories of animal abuse and neglect. Thompsom started the Association for Needy and Neglected Animals, or the ANNA Shelter, in June 2004. The nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter has become a vital resource in our community. 'When I started the shelter, I literally wanted something really small, something I could do myself literally. That obviously has not happened, 39 employees later. We handle about 10,000 animals a year,' said Thompson. For the past 21 years, Thompson has worked tirelessly to rescue unwanted, abused, neglected and stray animals, all while being a full-time mom, starting a successful for-profit business she started in her early 20s and helping her family at Rosebud Flower Shop. 'I try to stress this to my daughter, you know, to get up in the morning and feel good about what you do, to have a purpose,' said Thompson. And despite the physical, mental and emotional toll running an animal shelter can have, Thompson said she wouldn't change a thing. 'I think that's the ticket. Find what you're passionate about,' she said. Ruth Thompson — Truly a remarkable woman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
