SpoonProjects
Spoon Scotland were approached to assist in spoke to them during the assembly about her life as “...THIS FACILITY WAS A
supporting the much-needed extension to Tayavalla, a rugby player and the 50 plus caps she gained for DREAM COME TRUE AND
the respite and assessment centre in Falkirk and England before officially declaring the Bridge open. MUCH APPRECIATED BY
donated £45,000 towards the project. THE CHILDREN, PARENTS
Tayavalla, opened in 1993, provides day time “Visiting the Lonsdale School, meeting a number of AND STAFF INVOLVED.”
activities, residential short breaks, home support the children and staff and opening the Wheelchair
and a 24-hour emergency service for families living Bridge on behalf of the Wooden Spoon was an MRS. MARY DONNELLY, THE
in the Falkirk/Sterling/Clackmannan area who have a absolute pleasure. At the Assembly, I spoke about MANAGER OF OAKLANDS
disabled child with complex needs. Twelve years on my experiences as an international rugby player and
the service is thriving. Four children stay at once brought along my World Cup medals and my RFUW
and, at any one time, over thirty five families with cap for the children to see. The Bridge and the “THE BRIDGE AND THE
children aged between 5 and 18 benefit from the surrounding playground have already been well- SURROUNDING
services of Tayavalla. used and are obviously bringing a lot of happiness PLAYGROUND HAVE
The demographics of the people attending the The school wanted to be able to provide each of and enjoyment to break times.” said Emma. ALREADY BEEN WELL- and, whilst there, therapists can assess the
facility, however, are changing and this is reflected its 17 classrooms with a music kit and having seen USED AND ARE conditions of those needing this service. Counselling
in the current group of young people referred to the benefit of one kit purchased last year were keen OBVIOUSLY BRINGING A and help for parents is also given.
Tayavalla. They are younger and with considerably to embrace Spoon’s offer to help purchase the WARWICKSHIRE - WELCOMBE HILLS LOT OF HAPPINESS AND The Unit previously only had two twin - and one
more complex health and care needs than when the remaining 16. SCHOOL, STRATFORD-ON-AVON ENJOYMENT TO BREAK single-bedded rooms which failed to accommodate
service opened. This has implications for the staffing “THIS MAGNIFICENT NEW The music kits are designed to interact with the £25,000 FOR A SENSORY GARDEN TIMES.” the demand.
levels and for the nature of the service offered and EXTENSION WILL MAKE A pupils and to provide a wide range of sounds (not Spoon was approached to fund the £21,000 costs
consequently the new extension has been essential REAL DIFFERENCE TO just music), allowing them to feel a sense of Welcombe Hills is a co- educational community EMMA MITCHELL, COACH, to convert the existing garage into a new single
to the future success of Tayavalla. The extension will CHILDREN WITH recognition and achievement. The kits also allow special school with 140 pupils aged between 2- 9 WOODEN SPOON WOMEN’S room with en suite facilities, increasing capacity and
allow the project to offer a range of new services DISABILITIES AND THEIR recording of speech and sounds made by the pupils with a broad range of moderate to severe learning TEAM making more efficient use of the available beds.
including a multi-sensory facility that will provide a FAMILIES IN THE FALKIRK or teachers and allow playback in clear or with difficulties. Its catchment area is South
calming environment for children when needed. AREA. WE ARE INDEBTED various musical or other distortions to capture the Warwickshire, but pupils also come from Whilst Spoon initially thought this was a
TO ALL THE attention and amuse. Operation is by simple Birmingham, Solihull, Worcestershire and reasonably small project, Mrs. Mary Donnelly, the
The extension includes a multi-sensory room, ORGANISATIONS WHICH switches, pressure-pads or movement. In short, the Oxfordshire. Manager of Oaklands when welcoming everyone at
known as a snoozelen, which provides sensory WORKED SO HARD TO kit allows a wide range of means of communication Wooden Spoon Warwickshire chose Welcombe the project opening said “When you consider
stimulation and encourages children with profound RAISE THE MONEY TO with and by the pupils. Hills School as its first project to and contributed Spoon’s involvement provides 365 nights of respite
learning disabilities and/or sensory impairments to PROVIDE THESE NEW Shropshire Chairman, Glyn Dobbs said “Shropshire £25,000 to the creation of a new sensory garden
Above right: Spoon Ulster
care, then viewed like that it is not small at all – we
interact with their environments. It offers new ways SERVICES. THEY SHOULD region of Wooden Spoon is delighted to have that will help staff and children develop sensory
Committee members, TNT staff,
Spoon Chairman, Roger Davies,
have a number of autistic children on our books
to encourage awareness, exploration and learning, BE VERY PROUD OF WHAT helped with this good cause and having visited the perception. The new facility is overlooked by
and Joint Honorary President,
who can’t share bedroom accommodation with
and to help young people have some control over THEY HAVE ACHIEVED.” school, was amazed by the new facilities and how classrooms, making supervision/safety easier and
Willie John McBride look on as
fellow Joint Honorary President, Dr
other children and this facility was a dream come
their environment. much pleasure they bring to the children.” providing ready access to its likely users.
Jack Kyle presents a plaque to
true and much appreciated by the children, parents
Joint Honorary President Peter Brown was on hand ANDREW GIRVAN, DIRECTOR Former England and British Lions star Nigel Redman
Head Teacher, Mary Donnelly at
and staff involved.”
to officially open the project along with one of the OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES was the guest of honour at the official opening.
the opening of the Oaklands
Respite Centre
Ulster’s other joint Honorary President, Willie John
young people who use the Tayavalla service FOR NCH SCOTLAND HERTFORDSHIRE - LONSDALE SCHOOL, Nigel helped the day to be even more memorable
Below bottom: Willie John McBride
McBride and Ulster Chairman, Allen Gibson, were
Peter Brown said: “Spoon is particularly active STEVENAGE by joining the school choir in singing two songs cuts the ribbon at the opening of on hand to assist Dr Jack Kyle with the official
here in Scotland in enhancing the lives of £20,000 FOR PLAY STRUCTURES from the hit musical ‘Joseph and his Amazing
the facilities at Longstone Riding
unveiling. Also in attendance were members of the
disadvantaged children and young people and have “IT IS FANTASTIC STATE OF Technicolour Dreamcoat’.
for the Disabled
Below bottom: Former player, Nigel
local TNT depots who themselves contribute so
provided well over £1 million’s worth of support to THE ART EQUIPMENT. IT Lonsdale School occupies a very pleasant five-acre Warwickshire Wooden Spoon Chairman Jai
Redman with a child from
much to Spoon locally and nationally.
projects such as Tayavalla. The new extension was a USES A LOT OF LIGHTS hilltop site in Stevenage New Town and caters for Purewal said: “Fortunately for him, Nigel’s rugby
Welcombe Hills School at the
Jack Kyle added “From my own background of
perfect fit with our criteria and it was a pleasure to AND MUSIC BUT IT IS children aged 2-19 from Hertfordshire, ability was much better than his singing - but the
opening of the sensory garden
helping children in need of medical care, the
support such a creditable and worthwhile cause.” ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and North day was a great success. quickest and best way for children to improve was
THAT. IT IS CURRENTLY THE London. Many of the pupils have severe and/or “We are very proud of the sensory garden and to give them as pleasant surroundings as possible
BEST IN ENGLAND FOR degenerative conditions. Approximately 50 children, hope that the staff and pupils at Welcombe Hills during their time of need and recovery. Having had
SHROPSHIRE – THE BRIDGE SCHOOL, KIDS WITH SEVERE on a rota basis, spend two nights a week at the School enjoy using it for years to come.” a look at the facilities in Oaklands it was very much
TELFORD COMPLEX LEARNING four four-bedded dwellings incorporated into the a home from home.”
£34,000 FOR 16 CLASSROOM DISABILITIES.” school, providing respite for their families.
MUSIC KITS The school was built in 1971and is very well ULSTER - OAKLANDS RESPITE CARE
UNA VAN-DEN-BERG, HEAD equipped including a medical resource centre and AND ASSESSMENT UNIT, ARMAGH ULSTER - LONGSTONE RIDING FOR THE
Significant regeneration has taken place at Bridge TEACHER, THE BRIDGE an extensive play area comprising a wooden £20,100 FOR CONVERTING A GARAGE DISABLED, ARMAGH
School since 2000 under the leadership of Head SCHOOL, TELFORD gazebo, raised play-stations, a wheelchair INTO A BEDROOM £29,000 FOR EXTENSIONS TO THE
Teacher, Una Van Den Berg and recent accolades roundabout and a grouping of activity panels, all CLUB ROOM BUILDING
prove that the process to improve the school is these features linked by tarmac wheelchair paths. On April 14, Roger Davies, Chairman of Wooden
working to great success. The school was formed Spoon Hertfordshire were approached to help Spoon made his first visit to Ulster in time to attend The stables, Club Room, riding area and field of the
ten years ago as an amalgamation of two Telford fund the next stage in the development of the play the opening of two projects. Longstone Riding for the Disabled, lie within the
special schools and now caters for more than 150
Above left: Shropshire Committee
area, The Wooden Spoon Bridge. This is a long, In the morning, Dr jack Kyle, OBE, former British extensive grounds of Longstone Hospital, making
pupils aged 5-19 on the two sites, as well as a
members, Michael Edwards, Glyn
Dobbs, and Spoon Project
double wheelchair width, wooden bridge with and Irish Lion and Joint Honorary President of Ulster the charity a tenant of the Health Trust. Since the
nursery of 40 children on the junior school site, all
Coordinator, Philip Blunden, with
‘whisper–dishes’(a communication device somewhat Region officially opened the extension to the operation was set up 14 years ago, the premises
from a 15 mile radius catchment area. The pupils
Head Teacher Una van-Den-Berg
and pupil Daniel Tugman at Bridge
more sophisticated than tin-cans linked by string!). Oaklands Respite Care and Assessment Unit in had grown to comprise a club-room which doubled
have a wide range of conditions, including autism,
School
The official opening of the playground took place Armagh. as a changing area, an outside toilet, stables and an
but all have serious communication difficulties. Above right: Hertfordshire in April. John Nicholl, Committee Member of Run by the local health trust, Oaklands resides in exposed, open space where the horses were
Committee member, John Nicholl
Hertfordshire Spoon, Philip Blunden and Projects the middle of modern residential housing and serves exercised.
Wooden Spoon Shropshire adopted the Bridge
with Former England Women’s
rugby player, Emma Mitchell and
Coordinator were joined by Emma Mitchell, former a large area around the city of Armagh, providing Volunteers at the school were teaching up to 45-
School as its very first Regional project and donated children at the Lonsdale School Saracens and England Scrum Half and present day and overnight respite accommodation for a 55 children per week despite the basic, cold
£34,000 towards the purchase of musical
opening
coach of the Wooden Spoon Women’s Rugby team wide range of disabled children from six months to facilities, including many children from the adjoining
equipment for the sensory rooms. The children enjoyed the company of Emma who 18 years. Stays are generally for one or two nights Longstone hospital which caters for patients with
12 Spoonews Summer 2007 Spoonews Summer 2007 13
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