Press & Media
Avril on BBC Radio Essex
Avril is on BBC Radio Essex talking about The Dream Factory and the Amazing Dream Factory E Cookbook
Hainault charity welcomes celebrity chef Dipna Anand as patron
Hainault charity The Dream Factory has a new patron in the form of celebrity chef Dipna Anand.
Dipna – owner of the Brilliant Restaurant and Banqueting Suite in Southall – is a Punjabi cuisine specialist, often cited as the curry queen of the Indian cookery world.
The chef has showcased her talent on TV show Saturday Morning with James Martin and with Mary Berry. She has also authored two cookery books.
The addition of Dipna is a welcome one for The Dream Factory, which makes dreams a reality for those aged three-25 who have serious disabilities or life-limiting conditions.
The Dream Factory is granting its 500th dream on Christmas Eve
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 this Christmas we have hit an enormous milestone as we have granted our 500th dream!
Our 500th Dream recipient was gorgeous Keyan Mustafa from North London. Keyan who is now 6, was first diagnosed at just 18 months old with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and is currently in remission. Keyan is a huge fan of YouTuber Ryan from Ryan’s World and his dream was to be able to play with all the Ryan’s World toy collection, which is currently only exclusively available in the USA – Keyan already has the entire UK collection! Keyan’s dream was also to meet or receive a video call from Ryan himself. However, due to the current global pandemic, we knew that it would be impossible to arrange a meet and greet or video call, but wanted to grant some of young Keyan’s dream.
Publication
Essex-TV
Date
December 2020
Turning dishes into dreams
Making the wishes of poorly youngsters come true has been the mission of The Dream Factory since its inception 22 years ago. And its intrepid founder Avril Mills wasn’t about to let a pandemic put a stop to that, which is how the idea of an e-cookbook came about.
Containing 46 delicious recipes, many supplied by the charity’s celebrity supporters including Ray Winstone, Patsy Palmer and Harry Redknapp…
Publication
West Essex Life Magazine
Date
December 2020
Hainault charity sets up Advent fundraiser
Hainault charity The Dream Factory has set up an advent calendar prize draw as it seeks to fundraise the money needed to grant its 500th dream.
The draw — to run for 24 days during the festive season — is an effort to make up the funding shortfall caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Not only have the majority of fundraising avenues been lost to the virus, but the charity also doesn’t qualify for government assistance due to not being classed as an essential service.
The Dream Factory has already granted 496 dreams for children and young adults with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions, and hopes this fundraiser will help them toward 500.
The Dream Factory launches E-CookBook
Hainault charity The Dream Factory has launched an E-CookBook featuring recipes from some of the UK’s biggest household names.
Amongst the 46 selections are 19 favourites picked out by celebrities such as Harry Redknapp — with his infamous Jam Roly Poly — Mediterranean Lamb from Judge Rinder, and a Rib of Roast Beef by Ray Winstone All proceeds will go to the charity, which specialises in making the dreams of those with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions come true.
The Dream Factory is turning dishes into dreams
The secret is out! The team from Essex-based charity The Dream Factory is launching an amazing ECookBook with 46 mouth-watering recipes, featuring 19 All-Star celebrities who have kindly donated their favourite recipes.
The ECookBook was started during the first lockdown period of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year, when people began experimenting with cooking new recipes and the team were delighted with the recipes that came forward which include a Jam Roly Poly from Harry Redknapp, Mediterranean Lamb from Judge Robert Rinder, an Oooooh Prawn Spaghetti A La Carte-Blanche from Vicki Michelle MBE and even a ‘The Guvnor’ Rib of Roast Beef by Ray Winstone….
Avril On BBC Radio Essex
Listen to Avril on BBC Radio Essex talking about The Dream Factory Amazing E Cookbook which was launched in October 2020
Dream Factory charity dream granted with car donation
The Dream Factory’s own dream came true when it was given a car to help it fulfil its mission of granting wishes for people with life-threatening conditions.
The vehicle rental company Global Go! donated a car to the Hainault charity to help it continue its work as it is on track to deliver its 500th dream this year.
Avril Mills founded the charity in 2008 in memory of her son, Oliver, who died of leukaemia at the age of nine. It has been able to grant almost 500 dreams to children and young adults with life threatening or life-limiting conditions. The charity uses any donations towards making those dreams a reality, which can cost between £500 and £3,000 to grant…
Local rental company donates vehicle to The Dream Factory
With many charitable organisations receiving little to no funding from the government, most rely on donations from larger businesses and community members to continue to provide support and opportunities for societies most vulnerable.
At The Dream Factory, this is no different. Founded in 2008, Avril Mills, BEM, wanted to build a charity in memory of her son, Oliver, who unfortunately passed away at the age of nine due to Leukaemia. Since 2008, the charity has been able to grant over 495 dreams to children and young adults with life threatening, life-limiting and or severe disabilities with no wish too small for the charity to help with.
Treasure Trail helps make Phoebe’s dream come true
Phoebe Muldoon from Laindon in Essex was born in February 2007, fifteen weeks premature and has cerebral palsy, autism and learning disabilities. Essex-based charity The Dream Factory has put together a family Car Treasure Trail with all proceeds helping to grant young Phoebe’s dream of a having a specialised disability bike which costs £1,500.
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. To date, they have granted over 490 dreams and their aim is to grant their 500th dream before the end of 2020.
The Dream Factory Prize Car Treasure Trail is running until the 31 August 2020 and visits 10 Essex countryside locations in a circular route that you can join at any point. It’s family friendly and contains delightful places where you can stop for picnics and walks – so you can really make a day of it!
Help the Hainault charity get to its 500th dream
Five hundred dreams in 12 years. That’s the number of wishes Hainault charity The Dream Factory hopes to grant by the end of this year.
Founded in 2008 by Avril Mills BEM, the charity aims to make dreams a reality for those with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions. As with many industries, coronavirus has ravaged the charity sector, with the survival of many organisations dependent upon being able to operate in a way made impossible by the pandemic. It’s clearly important that every charity survives — society has rarely needed them more. The reasons for wanting The Dream Factory to last go beyond that.
Avril’s charity is a memorial to her son Oliver, who died from leukaemia aged nine. Its survival is as personal as it gets.
Hornchurch teens running 5k
Ten boys from Hornchurch’s Emerson Park Academy have done a 5k challenge to help grant the wish of Jacob Tompkins, a courageous young boy who has beaten all the odds.
Harrison, Alfie, Owen, Luke, Hadley, George, Navun, Liam, Riley and Lenny hope to raise £4,000 for Hainault charity The Dream Factory which will use the money to make Jacob’s Disneyland Paris dream come true
Hornchurch teens to help The Dream Factory
Five-year-old Jacob Tompkins is hoping to go to Disneyland Paris with his family, courtesy of The Dream Factory, a charity who grants dreams for people with life-limiting conditions. Picture: The Dream Factory – Credit: Archant
Ten boys from Hornchurch’s Emerson Park Academy have done a 5k challenge to help grant the wish of Jacob Tompkins, a courageous young boy who has beaten all the odds.
Dream Factory asking for help
Children’s charity The Dream Factory is appealing for help to stay in business throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
The Hainault charity, established 11 years ago to brighten the lives and encourage hope for children and young adults who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, is not classed as an essential service, so is not eligible for any of the government’s grants.
Due to lockdown lots of the charity’s fundraising events have been cancelled, including two golf days, a garden party and more, although co-ordinators are doing bake sales outside their houses to help raise money.
