Children and young people from the Ashdown Club, Worthing celebrated their 10th Anniversary on Saturday, 31st January with a party and giant games. The Ashdown Club supports children and young people with special needs, and their parents and carers. People who had been involved with the original concept and with fundraising joined parents, children, their siblings, carers, staff and trustees. A celebration cake was cut and everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’.
The club, which is run by Guild Care, began 10 years ago with Saturday sessions on a first come, first served basis. Today, there are separate groups for children of different needs aged from five to 12, allowing them to mix with children at a similar level and for staff to meet their needs more effectively. In addition to Saturdays, sessions are offered during the school holidays and there are weekly youth club sessions for 12-18 year olds. Sixty-five local families enjoy the respite that the Ashdown Club provides.
The celebration was a few weeks later than the actual anniversary to allow new equipment to be installed in the special sensory room. The equipment was purchased following a successful application to the Co-operative Community Fund for £2934. The party was the first opportunity children had to enjoy the new Galaxy Projector, wire free bubble tubes and a Steplite. The changes made in the room are also of benefit to older teenagers who now have the equipment to design and create their own projector wheels.
Charlotte Brackley, Ashdown Manager said “It was wonderful to see so many people come along for the celebration, we even had some of our first children return who are in their twenties. We are extremely grateful to the Co-operative Community Fund for the new sensory room equipment as this is a special place where children can go and have some time alone if they wish. The room has been in constant use since Ashdown opened in December 1998 and was in need of modernisation.”
Charlotte Brackley, now Manager at Ashdown, and Sarah Beldam, a session leader, both started 10 years ago as care assistants. The original staff of 5 has expanded over the years to a team of 14 which includes a children’s nurse. They are now able to offer one-to-one care as part of the sessions, for children who need it.
In addition to using the centre it is the days out offered during the holidays and during youth sessions that are so valuable and provide an opportunity to enjoy many attractions that would be virtually impossible without special assistance. Outings last year included the Sealife Centre, farms and lambing, bowling, parks, restaurants, the circus, beaches, pitch and putt, Brooklands, pizza making, pubs (with the older teenagers!), shops, swimming, shows, concerts and Christmas lights!