Buttons & Bubbles CIC

Who we are

Buttons & Bubbles works to increase inclusion and representation for children, families and anyone connectedand affected by disability.
 

Our Services

Bespoke characters. Our characters are a mixture of human and animal depictions each representing a different condition. Each is named but we have not named the conditions. We have also created an imaginary world where the characters live. There are eleven characters who are from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

 Interactive Imagination Workshops. Our workshops use our characters and world with specially designed activities and games. Our workshops are offered to organisations so each one we collaborate with comes with their own requirements. We tailor the activities to meet this. For example if we work with a group of young carers we may provide a treasure hunt and slime battle. If we have a group of young people with complex sensory needs we can provide activities that heighten different senses and are food safe, i.e rainbow rice and sugar sea.

 Resources. We design free resources, featuring our characters and are based on different themes such as Christmas. They feature a number of different activities with the aim they can be enjoyed by the whole family. Our resources can be downloaded by families, schools, hospitals or hospice. Our aim is to release regular bumper activity packs in addition to specific targeted resources.

 ‘Safe Bubble.’ Our ‘safe bubble’ (safe space) is where we take the concept of our workshops and put them into festivals and public events. We wanted to create an area for disabled families where they could be supported. Targeting places they may have found difficult to attend due to the environment being overwhelming, non inclusive and
inaccessible. As Well as often feeling subjected to judgement and stereotypical attitudes. 

Our culture and values

Dignity. We believe it is important to portray disability and illness in a realistic way. However this should not be at the cost of a child or young person's dignity. We will not use photos, drawings or any marketing materials that portray upset or distress.
 

Inclusion vs Inclusive. We feel strongly about the distinction between working in the ‘inclusion zone’ and being in an ‘inclusive company.’ It is our belief that no-one can ever be fully inclusive because there will always be a need in some respect that cannot be met. We therefore prefer to say we are an inclusion CIC however we are not inclusive. But we will always strive to be. We want every family to feel they are represented in the products and materials we create and produce and it remains our mission to have every race, religion, culture and ethnicity represented. We will always try to design products that mean children with disabilities are able to use our products no matter how their disability or illness affect them.
 

Compassion & Kindness. We have a saying at Buttons & Bubbles ‘leave the world a kinder place than when you found it.’ That doesn’t just mean as a life's mission but in everything you do everyday. We want to treat everybody who comes into contact with our company, be it customer, colleague or volunteer with compassion and kindness. It is not difficult to be kind and to not judge others.

 Smiles & Memories  Working with children and families who go through some of life's toughest challenges means that each time we interact with them we have one small but powerful job to do, make them smile, if only for a brief second and provide them with opportunities when we can to make some memories.

 Individuality & Innovation. We celebrate everything that is unique about people and we want to encourage this right the way through our CIC. Everybody has value andsomething to offer, with ideas worth exploring. We promise to be considerate of the fact that to access these valuable ideas, can mean making large adjustments to communication, work routine, job description and others. We will embrace this and any and all adjustments to allow children and adults to flourish. We strive to live by the concept of ‘square pegs round holes’ and encourage innovative thinkers to promote and
encourage true neurodiversity.
 

Our Theory of Change
Our work is rooted in belonging and our theory of change is, people gain this sense of belonging from seeing themselves included and represented together in all areas of society. From resources, to TV characters, to play, to education. Currently families are often defined by society with a medical diagnosis / label and the expectations associated with it. A lack of
inclusion and representation has a detrimental impact on mental health, wellbeing, lack of self esteem and self worth for not just children directly but the adults and other children around them. All of this contributes to social exclusion, reduced opportunities and accessing services in the local community.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Disability Disclaimer
We are a non-profit run by and for people with disabilities and illness. Therefore we have a very strong, proactive
and positive stance on disability and illness. We believe and promote that you can live a very good quality of life and disabled children and adults should not be portrayed as suffering or less in anyway.  We acknowledge and accept that disability and illness can often be challenging and heartbreaking.  We expect every organisation, sponsor, volunteer, business partner and contractor we work with to share our same ethos and values. If you disagree with this or wish to discuss it in further detail then please do not hesitate to get in contact and we will be happy to have a conversation.

We do not tolerate discrimination, abuse or sterotyping of any kind no matter who it is towards. We strive to create an open, honest and collobrative culture for everyone connected to our organisation. We are commited to making any and all accomodations for disability, culture and religion from the application process through to working with us.