News & Blog

Here you’ll find the latest news from Challengers and blog posts from our community.

Orange Aid 2026: A Day for Making Memories

Author:: Challengers

There was something magical in the air as families arrived for the third edition of Orange Aid on Saturday 20 June. With the sun shining and over 400 guests joining us, our annual family fun day was once again filled with unforgettable moments.

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Wood Street Jazz Festival – Q&A with Marianne

Author:: Challengers

With our legendary Wood Street Jazz Festival coming up soon on Sunday 19 July, we caught up with Marianne Windham, Chair of Guildford Jazz – which Challengers hosts the event in partnership with – for a Q&A on all things Jazz Fest.

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Meet the Maker: The Story Behind Challengers’ Much-Loved Gnomes

Author:: Challengers

You may remember our lovely gnomes Colin and Helen, which we have announced earlier in the year. From their distinctive orange design to the careful craftsmanship that goes into each one, these gnomes are more than just decorations – they are helping to make a difference for disabled children and young people. We caught up with Julie, the artist behind the gnomes, to talk about where the idea came from, what inspires her work, and why supporting Challengers is so important to her.

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Meet our 2026 London Marathon Team! 

Author:: Challengers

This year, we are excited to introduce our 9 outstanding runners supporting Challengers at the London Marathon! Team Orange will be raising essential funds, transforming the lives of disabled young people and their families through the power of play. Our amazing runners have already raised over £16,000 and we hope you can help them reach their goals before the big day!  

Now, get inspired and meet our amazing London Marathon team of 2026…

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Challengers CEO, Gen Dearman speaks with BBC Radio Surrey on the Government’s Schools White Paper 

Author:: Challengers

The UK government’s white paper “Every child achieving and thriving”, published by the Department for Education this week, sets out a comprehensive vision and reform plan for England’s schools system, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at its heart.

Gen Dearman, Challengers’ CEO, was invited to speak on BBC Radio Surrey earlier this week to discuss what the white paper means for children with SEND and their parents.

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A Season of Giving: Oscar Raises Funds for Challengers

Author:: Challengers

Just recently, 11-year-old Oscar turned a simple, Christmas craft activity into something special. Inspired after walking past our Guildford centre, and remembering what we do, Oscar created handmade, light-up twine stars to raise money for Challengers!  

We absolutely had to find out more so caught up with Oscar to talk about how the idea came to life, what he learned along the way, and why he’s already planning his next fundraiser.

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