A Special Day For Special Children

Frimley Children's Centre is a haven for special needs children. It provides expertise and specialised treatment for children with a wide variety of therapeutic needs. Margie Brett explained what had been done with the money donated to the centre. "The layout and space were causing inefficiencies and frustration to the staff and parents who brought their children to us it, was also imposing restraints on the treatment of the children. Something needed to be done".

An ambitious project was put into operation. Local architect Brian Hendry designed and built wonderfully imaginative sets of double doors (paid for by the charity) leading into the various rooms. An underwater theme beckons the children towards a play area with equipment bought by the charity. A Little Tikes play house (costing £400) complete with furniture stands in a Romper Ring, costing £250 and specially designed for babies is well used; in the teenage corner £600 was spent on a television and video. "Also used for training sessions, and invaluable," Margie assures me.

In the next room a beautiful wooden rocking horse with specially designed support seat stands supreme. 'Dobbin' is a work of art hand-carved by Frank E. Lord from Devon. "They can only use it until the age of eight," Margie said. "It makes the little ones feel quite powerful!" A ball pond in a therapy room off the main corridor is well used by the Rainbow Group' for treatment and assessment sessions. It is vital for sensory learning.