We really hope that people will join us on Thursday 10 September 7.30pm onwards at Soul Survivor Watford, Greycaine Road, Watford, for a Special Night with food, our AGM, and a visiting speaker, a Psychologist who has a disability, speaking on Strengthening Self-Esteem in Children with Physical Difficulties.We are also having a coffee fundraiser morning the following day with homemade cakes on Friday 11 September 9.15-10.45am, to which all are welcome followed by a special lunch for the parents of the year 7 children who have left Chipperfield school all in aid of the charity. Both daytime events will be based at 24 Tower Hill, Chipperfield (but in the Baptist Church Hall if bad weather).
Playskill’s Summer term finished with a wonderful beach party in Watford! It was very emotional saying goodbye to 3 children who are leaving the group. 2 of the children have been with us for a number of terms of intensive work and have hugely changed. Writing their end of year reports was really emotional as we recognised the huge difference we had seen come from the dedicated work of all. It is only now we are seeing just what a huge work of change for life we are doing for these children. One child has learnt to walk and talk with us and will go to Mainstream as a result. The other had thought at one time to only have 5 years to live, but while the diagnostics were still all being done we all kept working away and supporting the family, and she is now actually likely to live into her twenties or longer, but has learnt to stand, sit and use some sounds to communicate. She is going to a school for children with physical difficulties and her mum is delighted because all she used to do is cry at any noise in groups, but she loved our last two parties! The third child now has age appropriate skills – but his mum is really sad to leave all the support she has had after his foot surgery this year.
We are so grateful for all the local support from the village to the work of Playskill, from which all the three therapists uniquely come – Gillian (Popsi) Stokes opposite The Larder, Debbie Hughes from The Croft Estate and Andrea Clarke from Tower Hill.
Andrea Clarke, Paediatric Physiotherapist/Playskill Team Leader www.playskill.co.uk
Tel: 01442 834438
mobile 07890 267722