A LOCAL special needs Childrens’ Centre that was the chosen charity for this year’s Celebrity Mastermind Champion, Ken Bruce, was severely damaged by hard-hearted thieves over Christmas.
On December 29, 2012, callous thieves targeted the Thomley Activity Centre at Worminghall, near Thame, a recreational centre for disabled children who visit with their families, friends and schools.
Claire Ackworth, Thomley’s Director, told ThameNews: “Thomley is a lifeline to families with disabled children as there are so few centres which understand the many challenges that face them. Having caused significant damage to doors and cupboards looking for more valuable items, these un-Christmas spirited thieves found very little to steal and were clearly disappointed to find just children?s toys and play equipment.
“They caused a huge amount of mess through their thuggish approach using heavy objects to smash doors and glass. Although little was stolen, this break in has caused anger amongst both staff and visitors about the heartless attack on such a small children?s charity. Thomley has received many words of support from regular visitors such as ‘What is wrong with this world?’ ‘That’s really mean, who would target a centre designed for disabled kids and adults?’ “
Claire added: ?This break in has not only put a dampener on our Christmas, but on Thomley Activity Centre?s 10th anniversary celebrations. It also took the wind out of our sails as our Patron, Radio 2?s Ken Bruce, won Celebrity Mastermind to raise funds for our charity just the following day. We are however extremely grateful to all our supporters who have kindly offered to help clear up the mess or to replace stolen items. Most of the damage was to the fabric of the building and we are therefore not calling for donated goods.
“Being a small charity, we welcome any financial support, especially following such a tough economic year.”
If you would like to help, please donate via www.justgiving.com/thomleyhall/Donate,/a> or contact fundraising@thomleyhall.org
More information about Thomley Activity Centre
Thomley Activity Centre was launched in July 2002 by parents of children with autism. These parents found that their children were excluded from other play-schemes due to unavailability of appropriate activities and facilities, as well as their child?s considered inappropriate behaviour. These parents also observed the need to cater for the siblings of disabled children as they are often disadvantaged by the fact that attention is focused on the disabled child.
In response to their own experiences, they were eager to lessen the feeling of isolation in the challenges of bringing up disabled children.
Programme objectives
Fuelled by their own personal experiences, the founding Trustees established Thomley Activity Centre as a recreational and informal education facility for disabled children, their families, friends and schools. Its aim is to achieve the following outcomes.
? To increase self esteem, health, confidence, social and physical skills of disabled children, their siblings and friends through accessible play, recreation and informal education.
? To provide parents and carers with opportunities to meet others who have disabled children, to lessen their isolation and to increase their ability to support their children through play, recreation and access to information.
? To raise awareness amongst the community, to encourage understanding and acceptance of disability issues, and to increase ability to include disabled children within their own community activities.
Based in Worminghall, Thomley Activity Centre is the only fully accessible facility of its kind within a 35 mile radius. Set in 7 secure acres of countryside, Thomley offers a safe and supportive environment for disabled and non-disabled children to play together, have fun and grow in confidence. Facilities Include a 1km cycle track, outdoor play and music equipment, play rooms and a soft play area, a sensory room and an imagination area, art and craft and music activities. In 2011, a new teenage facility was launched which aims to enhance the social, early vocational, healthy living and life skills of disabled teenagers.
The uniqueness of the centre draws visitors from 22 different counties merely to access a facility which understands and meets the needs of disabled children. In the past 3 years, Thomley received over 17,165 visits by over 3,650 different children, with the majority coming from Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire.