Operation Sunshine


	Registered Charity Number 1121315


	Updated 1st December 2008


	MISSION STATEMENT To bring joy and healing into human lives – especially disadvantaged families.

Operation Sunshine Family Therapy Programmes, guarantees that 100% of money raised goes towards bringing joy and healing into the lives of special needs families.
Please make a donation and bring sunshine back into the lives of children and young adults with severe physical and mental challenges.

If you are a UK resident who pays enough UK income tax and/ or capital gains tax.

Using Gift Aid means that for every £1 you give, the charity can claim an extra 25p. So, for every £100 you give Operation Sunshine we will be able to reclaim a further £25 from HMRC

Operation Sunshine is a pioneering programme to support special needs families and as such there is a lot to learn and research. All families attending are made aware of the challenges to overcome before taking part in this programme and have to be prepared to work with us, knowing they are going to the Bahamas and swimming with dolphins in their natural environment. All comments from participants will be taken into account when planning future programmes.

Group Operation Sunshine Family Therapy Programmes is a UK based charity helping special needs families throughout the UK and Internationally

In the warm, safe waters of the tiny island of Bimini, in the Bahamas, we offer children and young adults with severe physical and mental disadvantages, the opportunity to fulfil their dream of swimming with dolphins.

What’s so different about Operation Sunshine?

Operation Sunshine Family Therapy Programme offers families facing similar situations the unique opportunity to support each other in a trusting, caring, sharing and giving environment.

We are the only charity in the world that offers a programme for severely disadvantaged children that includes experiencing wild dolphin encounters using appropriate equipment and experienced, understanding staff and support workers.

By only working with wild dolphins, the results are significantly more powerful and life changing, they choose to be with the children, they are not lured and we ensure that they and their environment are respected

Bimini offers a small, secure community committed to supporting the programme.

What results do we achieve?

The child, young person, all their family and carers have increased confidence, self-esteem and communication skills.

The children go on to achieve in ways never dreamt of.

The families and children build up an on-going self-help support network.


	We do not support dolphins being kept in captivity and therefore will not participate in programmes where dolphins are kept in such a way. Our intention is always of minimal intrusion, and our dolphin swims are conducted with respect and awareness.

	How do we ensure we protect and respect the wild dolphins and their environment….. We follow a strict code of conduct provided by International Dolphin Watch:

IDW is a non-profit organisation for the observation, conservation and study of dolphins - especially their relationship with humans.

Where is the evidence that an experience with dolphins can have a positive and powerful effect?…..

Dolphins by Sonya Whilst Operation Sunshine does not perform specific research, at this time, there are a number of other sources of support research, as well as our own experiences with those such as Benoit, Eve and Minga.

From long-term research by Dr. Horace Dobbs, BSc PhD, and author of many books, including Dolphin Healing, it has been found that an encounter with a wild dolphin can have a significant effect on children who are neurologically and physically impaired. Also a study by Dr. David Nathanson showed that children with brain damage, Down’s Syndrome, cerebral palsy and other mental and physical disabilities increased their learning abilities significantly after interactions with dolphins.

The people we are aiming to help….

Caring for children and young adults with severe physical and mental disadvantages is demanding and stressful on the whole family. Relationships and siblings often come second place, leading to tensions and anxiety. Operation Sunshine helps the whole family and their main carers by giving them a unique, supportive environment in which to express and release emotions, encourage communication and give them all the chance to embrace the future with confidence and courage.

Details about the programme….

Boat The main part of the programme is a carefully managed respite stay in Bimini for the children, their family and main carers.

During the visit they will take trips out in a specially adapted boat with support staff. Our aim is to experience the wonders of swimming with wild dolphins and whilst we cannot guarantee the outcome of each trip, we are rarely disappointed!

Eve at Art Centre For the rest of the stay everyone can take advantage of a number of other activities which may include:

Arts and crafts such as pit firing on the beach, being creative with clay, making cane baskets and tie dying

Music and dance

Yoga and meditation

Watsu, a form of body massage (Shiatsu) performed while lying in warm water.
The receiver of Watsu is supported by the therapist and because it is performed in the water, the body is free to be manipulated and stretched in ways impossible while on land.

Following on from respite…..

Books Operation Sunshine maintains connection with families beyond the stay in Bimini with evaluations to monitor progress. We offer projects to schools in the children’s local community to extend the reach of Operation Sunshine and raise awareness of protecting and respecting wild dolphins and their marine environment. We also offer educational material such as books and presentations.


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