Fun Friends Groups

by | Sep 15, 2021 | Children, Dartford Charities, Dartford News, Families

Orchard Garage Limited recently raised money at a Shop and Pamper Evening for Fun Friends Groups, which enabled them to take their Young Adults on a trip to Thorpe Park and Thomas Brown Estates kindly paid for the minibus.  Together we made it possible for those young people with additional needs to have the BEST day out with their friends, with the support of Fun Friends staff/helpers too.

Fun Friends supports children and young adults with additional needs and disabilities. They run groups, workshops, parties and days out for those aged 7-21 during the week, weekends and school holidays! Groups are located at Swanley, Wilmington and Sidcup. Fun Friends enables the young people to make friends, feel accepted, try different things, learn new skills and most importantly have fun with the support of staff and volunteer helpers. It also allows for parents, carers, siblings to have some well deserved, important respite time too.

Please contact funfriendsgroups@gmail.com or 07745036868 if you are interested in booking on / volunteering  / sponsoring an event. Esther Dawson (Funder/Director) and her team would love to hear from you!

These are some of the testimonials from some of the parents following our trip:

Charlotte, Nicholas’s Mum – Most 18 year olds would go to a theme park or just hang out with their friends all the time. My son cannot do that without support. Esther and her team are amazing allowing him to have fun with friends without his parents being there. Thank you ever so much for your help to fund a trip to Thorpe Park – an outing to remember for them! I’m so pleased for Nick! He’s always been too scared to do fast rides. He’s over the moon talking about the rides he did on Saturday! Thank you!

Tina, Peter’s Mum – Thank you for giving my son the chance to go to Thorpe Park with his friends.He doesn’t get out much without parents so was nice to hear how much he enjoyed it. He said he had a great day and giving him the chance to be with good friends. Thank you Esther for organising it.

Donna, Olivia’s Mum – Olivia had a wonderful day and enjoyed every moment. Thank you everyone involved in making this a special day for her xx

Jessica, Ronnie & Charlie’s step mum – Boys had a great time at thorpe Park! Thank you so much Esther for running the groups and making the connections with local businesses providing different opportunities and experiences for the boys!

Julie, Sam & Max’s Mum – Thank you so much for a lovely trip to Thorpe park, both my boys had a great day:)

Sarah, Ellen’s Mum – Thank you to everyone involved it was such a treat for Ellen she had a really great time!

Jackie, Adam & Amy’s Nan – They had a great day thank you so much 😊 

Families were all so appreciative and loved that they could have a full day’s break too! 

FFG throrpe park byminibus | Dartford Living
fun fun flyer | Dartford Living

DARTFORD FC WOMEN | CLASS OF 2025-26 | MEET ELSA EJUPI

Dartford took on Chatham Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Chris Palmer spoke to Elsa Ejupi, who featured in the matchday programme for that fixture. For those who missed it, here is the article: Elsa Ejupi arrived at Princes Park, having signed from the Millwall Lionesses...

DARTFORD FC WOMEN | CLASS OF 2025-26 | MEET STEPHANIE CASERIU

Dartford took on Hashtag United last month. Chris Palmer spoke to Stephanie Caseriu, who featured in the matchday programme for that fixture. For those who missed it, here is the article: Stephanie Caseriu is new to the Dartford FC Women’s team this season, and the...

Dartford Pride Marks Milestone 5th Anniversary with First-Ever Week-Long Celebration

Orchard West, in proud partnership with Dartford Borough Council and sponsored by Taylor Wimpey, is delighted to announce the return of Dartford Pride 2026. This year’s festivities mark a major milestone as the event celebrates its 5th anniversary by expanding from a...

Local community group celebrates 5 years of changing lives and launches new lottery to keep vital support going.

A Dartford community group that has spent the last five years helping people through illness, disability, poor mental health and isolation is celebrating a major milestone and inviting local people to be part of what comes next. The award-winning Kindness and...

A Colourful Celebration of 30 years of We Are Beams

We Are Beams is excited to invite the community to celebrate a very special milestone as the much loved fundraising event Messy Dash returns, marking 30 years of Beams supporting disabled children and their families. Taking place on Sunday 5th July at Dartford Central...

WHEN WORDS ARE TOO HARD, CLAY SPEAKS

Naomi still remembers the pot. Not because it was good - it wasn’t. It was small, uneven, a little misshapen. A wonky pot, made by a six-year-old who had already started to believe she wasn’t very good at anything. “I loved it,” she says. “I thought I might see...

DARTFORD FC WOMEN | CLASS OF 2025-26 | MEET IZZY FRANKLIN

Dartford took on Lewes last month. Chris Palmer spoke to Izzy Franklin, who featured in the matchday programme for that fixture. For those who missed it, here is the article: This is Izzy Franklin's first season within the Dartford FC Women’s First Team squad. The...

DARTFORD FC | CLASS OF 2025-26 | MEET ROHAN VAUGHAN

Dartford took on Chatham Town on Bank Holiday Monday. Chris Palmer spoke to Rohan Vaughan, who featured in the matchday programme for that fixture. For those who missed it, here is the article: Rohan Vaughan arrived at Princes Park recently, having joined on loan from...

DARTFORD FC | CLASS OF 2025-26 | MEET SAMUEL OKOYE

Dartford took on Hashtag United recently. Chris Palmer spoke to Samuel Okoye, who featured in the matchday programme for that fixture. For those who missed it, here is the article: This is Samuel Okoye's second season as Dartford’s definitive right-back. He has made...

PANTOMIME FAVOURITE JOE PASQUALE TO STAR IN CINDERELLA AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE

As the clock ticks closer to the biggest ball of the year, The Orchard Theatre is thrilled to announce that Panto Legend JOE PASQUALE is set to return to Dartford later this year to star in the spectacular family pantomime CINDERELLA. A firm favourite with panto...