SpoonProjects
NEW REGIONAL
representatives, Karen Macaulay and Sue Ryder to
officially open the Centre in memory of the late
Spoon Trustee, Trevor Abbott. Trevor’s family were
also present with Ric Law, Chief Executive of
PROJECTS
Disability Challengers at the private gathering to
open the centre.
Ric Law said: “we are tremendously grateful to
Wooden Spoon and all its supporters for helping us
create this fantastic new facility. We know of
hundreds of disabled young people who currently
have nowhere to go and nothing to do and this rare
ONCE AGAIN SPOON HAS OPENED A RECORD
facility will help over 200 families access hugely
NUMBER OF PROJECTS THIS QUARTER, 12 IN
important leisure opportunities. As the Wooden
TOTAL, WITH A CUMULATIVE VALUE OF
Spoon knows, the fight for this site and the second
centre has been fraught with problems and we are
£518,100. IN ADDITION SEVEN NEW PROJECTS
very grateful for the Spoon members’ support
HAVE BEEN APPROVED THIS QUARTER TAKING
throughout this time.”
THE TOTAL OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO
The Youth Centre is one half of a major project
£3.2 MILLION ACROSS 59 PROJECTS. which will see the two-acre site in Farnham being
developed into the first play and youth facility of its
kind in the UK.
NATIONAL - YOUTH CENTRE FOR
Above: A great number of people
turned out for the opening of the
The second phase, the play centre, is being
DISABILITY CHALLENGERS, FARNHAM,
new Disability Challengers Centre in worked on at present and is on schedule to be
SURREY Farnham. Former Racing Driver,
complete by the end of the year. Once operational
£200,000 TOWARDS COST OF
Damon Hill is at the back, on the
climbing frame
the site will be able to support over 600 families
REPAIRING AND REFURBISHING A with disabled children by helping them access a
Below: Worcester Warriors’ players
FORMER SCHOOL BUILDING
look on as children demonstrate
range of play, leisure, sporting and creative
their skills on the IT equipment in opportunities.
Disability Challengers is a registered charity
the new Study Centre
dedicated to providing play and leisure
Left: Damon Hill and his wife
Georgie receive a kiss from a happy
opportunities to disabled children and young child at the opening of the new Spoon has helped fund another two Playing for
people. It provides essential leisure, play and
Disability Challengers Centre
Success projects in the last quarter and has now
learning experiences for young people with any supported seven to date. This government-approved
kind of physical, learning or emotional impairment. learning scheme for pupils who are not performing
It started life as Guildford Adventurers in 1979 to the required standard in school is really helping
and opened its first centre in Guildford in 1984. to improve the educational ability of many children
Some years later the name was changed to who have difficulties in their lives. Spoon reports on
Disability Challengers and it now ranks as a major the latest projects undertaken at Worcester RFC and
provider of leisure, respite and support programmes League side Hill Kingston Rovers and goes into more
for disabled young people and their families in details about the scheme on Page 29
Surrey and the south-east. Services are provided
both in the community and at the Guildford Centre. “WE KNOW OF HUNDREDS
Demand for DC’s service far exceeds existing OF DISABLED YOUNG WORCESTERSHIRE – WORCESTER RFC
capacity. The current Challengers Centre is full. PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY £24,000 FOR COMPUTERS,
Approximately 750 individuals make some 9,000 HAVE NOWHERE TO GO WHITEBOARD AND SOFTWARE FOR
visits p.a. They have over 700 families on their AND NOTHING TO DO AND PLAYING FOR SUCCESS STUDY CENTRE
waiting list and are forced to decline numerous THIS RARE FACILITY WILL
enquiries from other organisations that support HELP OVER 200 FAMILIES Playing for Success at Worcester Warriors is a
disabled children throughout the southern Home ACCESS HUGELY county-wide initiative aimed at pupils aged 8-13
Counties, simply through lack of space. IMPORTANT LEISURE throughout Worcestershire who are failing to
OPPORTUNITIES.” achieve their potential at school due in most cases
Finally after much searching, a site for a second to related social problems. PfS seeks to improve
centre was identified in Farnham and after two RIC LAW, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF literacy, numeracy and IT skills by introducing the
years of exhaustive fundraising and building works,
DISABILITY CHALLENGERS
‘wow’ factor of pleasant teaching surroundings, a
the long awaited Disability Challengers Youth relaxed atmosphere, innovative teaching to small
Centre was opened in April. groups and the involvement of sporting role-
Spoon donated £200,000 to transform a decaying models. Much needed self-confidence and self-
and rotting Victorian building into an exciting and
respect are the anticipated side-effects as well as
adventurous centre with large games hall, activity
the overall improvement in learning.
room, fully accessible kitchen diner and a very
The PfS Centre is in a building owned by
challenging outside climbing structure. The new
Youth Centre also hosts an advanced fully
Worcester City Council, situated to the rear of the
interactive multi sensory room that offers disabled
South Stand at the Sixways ground, the home of
young people the chance to control their own
Worcester Warriors. It will support up to ten schools
environment through sound, movement or touch.
a term, meaning that around 120 students per term
Damon Hill, his wife Georgie and son Ollie joined
and 360 students annually will benefit. Initially, each
Spoon representatives Peter Scott, Life Honorary
group of 14 will be offered a 20-hour programme
President and his wife Sheila, Philip Blunden Project
delivered in two-hour sessions over a 10-week
Coordinator, David Jackson, Brian Hodges and Mark period, where they will take part in a number of fun
Quinn, from the Surrey Region and head office exercises tailored especially to educate them
8 Spoonews Spring 2007 Spoonews Summer 2007 9
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