Press & Media
Hollie’s Princess Party Dream
Hollie from Dagenham is a very special little girl. At the young age of just ten years old, Hollie under went a nine hour operation for a brain tumour, neurofibromatosis 1 NF1.
Being the amazing little girl she is, she came out fighting and left the doctors speechless at how quickly she got herself back.
Now, thanks to The Dream Factory Charity based in Hainault, Hollie had her very own princess party dream come true yesterday in Chigwell
Help Hollie’s Dream Come True
Ten year old Hollie from Dagenham contacted The Dream Factory charity based in Hainault to help make her dream come true. She has recently undergone surgery for Neurofibromatosis, a brain tumour and asked the team to see if they could please help grant her wish of having a ‘Princess Party’.
Dream Makers Linda and Annabel visited Hollie and came away with a long list of things that she loves and would like at her party
‘Wheelie’ Whizzing Wheelchairs
The Redbridge Cycle Centre played host to an event with a difference recently. Young wheelchair users pushed by skaters could be seen gleefully zooming around the track, cheered on by some familiar faces from the world of sport.
So what was the occasion ?
Publication
West Essex Life
Date
July 2021
Michael Watson – A Walking Miracle
By his own admission, former boxer Michael Watson shouldn’t be walking or talking. After sustaining a near-fatal brain injury during a world title fight with Chris Eubank in 1991, he spent many years in rehabilitation, eventually defying his doctors to recover some movement and regain the ability to speak and write. Today, the fighter who nickname was ‘The Force’ is determined to be a force for good, and we met him at his Chingford home to discuss his remarkable life and he’s just become a patron of The Dream Factory, a local charity that grants the wishes of poorly youngsters:
The sky was leaden and the rain torrential, which according to the weather forecast would last all day, but nothing could dampen the spirits inside one Chingford home recently, where excited chatter, good natured banter and loud guffaws rang out throughout the usually quiet cul-de-sac.
Publication
West Essex Life
Date
July 2021
Freedom of the Borough
What do a 111 year-old Marathon runner, an award -winning vlogger, two charity founders and a leading figure of the Three Faiths Forum all have in common?
They are the first recipients of the ‘Honorary Freedom of Redbridge’ for 19 years!
In recognition of all the hard work throughout the pandemic, we resurrected our Freedom of the Borough accolade, the highest honour we can bestow on a resident, as we want to shine a light on some of the amazing people in Redbridge.
We now intend to make this a permanent feature, as we want to showcase the strength of our communities and thank individuals for their outstanding work and commitment to helping others.
Mayor of Redbridge Cllr Roy Emmett said: The last year has been so difficult for so many people, and yet community spirit and the kindness of strangers has shone through. This has highlighted how many amazing people we have in Redbridge.
Publication
Redbridge Life Magazine
Date
June 2021
Support Krish doing his Wing Walk
Read more to see our wonderful supporter talking about The Dream Factory and his sponsored Wing Walk in September .
Publication
You Tube
Date
June 2021
5k Whizzing Wheels Challenge
Patrons of Essex-based Charity, The Dream Factory, Anne Wafula-Strike MBE, British Wheelchair Paralympian, former British Super Middleweight boxer Michael Watson MBE and former British Featherweight and Commonwealth Boxer Colin McMillan BEM, will be attending a brand-new event – The 5K Whizzing Wheels Challenge as part of The Dream Factory’s Kids Helping Kids Campaign on Sunday 27 June 2021 at the Redbridge Cycling Centre in Hainault.
This fabulous event is in collaboration with The Wheels and Wheelchairs Charity, who are a group of wheelchair users and skaters who regularly go out in London parks together, enjoying the sensory rush of speed.
Avril’s Going for Gold
Calling all local companies, The Dream Factory urgently needs you. The Hainault-based charity recently celebrated granting more than 500 dreams to poorly youngsters and to mark the occasion it has just launched a new initiative.
Publication
West Essex Life Magazine
Date
June 2021
The Dream Factory in The Braintree Community Magazine
There are thousands of different charities you can fundraise for or donate to, but the story of a local lady and her charitable journey is one that will bring a tear and perhaps inspire some dreams.
Avril Mills BEM set up The Dream Factory in 2008 in memory of her son Oliver, who died of leukemia aged nine. While Oliver was ill, Avril helped to grant a dream for a little boy who wanted to visit a football club. That day, Oliver said ‘Mum when I grow up I want to grant dreams just like you’. Sadly, Oliver never got that chance, but the premise for The Dream Factory was founded. Since 2008, the charity has granted hundreds of dreams in his memory.
Publication
The Braintree Community Magazine
Date
May 2021
500 Gold Club
ESSEX-based Charity The Dream Factory grants dreams to children and young adults between the age of 3 to 25 years, who suffer from life-threatening, life-limiting conditions or have severe disabilities and to date has granted over 504 dreams!
To celebrate granting over 500 dreams, The Dream Factory have launched their 500 Gold Club – The aim of this campaign is to invite at least 50 Companies into the 500 Gold Club, who will each commit to raise or donate a minimum of £500 during the next 12 months. The initial response from Companies has been amazing and we are extremely grateful to the following Companies that have already signed up:
Avril awarded The Freedom of The Borough of Redbridge
Essex-based Charity The Dream Factory is welcoming the exciting news of not one but two great achievements!
The Dream Factory this week announced that their Founder and Trustee Avril Mills BEM has been awarded The Honour of The Freedom of The Borough of Redbridge in recognition of the fantastic hard work and success she has shown with the Charity.
Avril founded The Dream Factory in 2008, 13 years ago, in memory of her son Oliver who died at the tender age of 9 from Leukaemia. Avril and The Dream Factory have granted over 500 dreams in Redbridge and beyond, to children and young adults aged between 3 and 25 years who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and/or severe disabilities. In fact, the team at The Dream Factory are bursting with pride and want to also say congratulations to their amazing Ambassador Isaac Harvey, who also received this award.
Honorary Redbridge’s Freedom of the Borough
A quintet of community heroes have been awarded the honorary Freedom of the Borough in Redbridge.
Announced at a council meeting on April 29, Ghazanfar Ali, Avril Mills BEM, Isaac Harvey, Ruth Salahi and Fauja Singh BEM were all given the highest accolade a council can bestow on those who make invaluable contributions to the borough.
Nominated by the Council Civic Panel, these difference-makers were each sent a virtual scroll and a thank you message from the council.
An official ceremony is to follow when Covid regulations permit, where each recipient will be given their real scroll by the authority’s leader Cllr Jas Athwal and Redbridge’s new mayor Cllr Roy Emmett.
STUDENT WILL BE FLYING 135 MPH DURING WING WALK
On Sunday 6 June, 18-year-old Davis Ince from Langdon Hills will be flying high to help grant the dreams of children/young adults aged 3 to 25 years with life limiting/threatening conditions or severe disabilities by doing an exhilarating Charity Skymax Wing Walk for The Dream Factory.
Davis, a former St Clere’s School pupil, is currently completing his A Levels at Seevic College in Benfleet and will be starting Commercial Pilot Training at a College in Gloucester in September.
Corporate 500 Gold Club Launched
Essex-based Charity The Dream Factory grants dreams to children and young adults between the age of 3 to 25 years, who suffer from life-threatening, life-limiting conditions or have severe disabilities and to date has granted over 504 dreams!
To celebrate granting over 500 dreams, The Dream Factory have launched their 500 Gold Club – The aim of this campaign is to invite at least 50 Companies into the 500 Gold Club, who will each commit to raise or donate a minimum of £500 during the next 12 months.
The initial response from Companies has been amazing and we are extremely grateful to the following Companies that have already signed up:
Freedom of the Borough for Redbridge for Avril and Isaac
The Honorary Freedom of Redbridge has been awarded to five residents whose tireless and selfless work has helped numerous vulnerable people in the borough and beyond.
Freedom of the Borough is the highest accolade that the council can bestow to community heroes who make an invaluable contribution to our borough.
