Well, me and my team - The Bunny Kickers - will be participating in the Cosgrove Care Sponsored Fun Walk on 2nd August 2009, Rouken Glen Park. Between us we will be walking 6 miles (in relays!) ... and if I can do it at nearly 9 months pregnant then you can put your hand in your pocket and donate to a very good cause indeed!*
Established in 1962, Cosgrove Care has built up a wide range of services for children and adults affected by learning disabilities and complex needs, which can mean they experience difficulties with learning and memory, communication, self-care, and awareness of health and safety issues. Their complex needs include cerebral palsy, dyspraxia, Angelman Syndrome, epilepsy, ADHD and mental health problems.
Cosgrove believes that people with learning disabilities have the right to access the same opportunities and experiences as everybody else.
The aims of its Services are:
o To overcome isolation and the lack of opportunities for people with learning difficulties and/or complex needs.
o To enable people with learning difficulties to make better connections with their peers, different generations, their families and the local community thus increasing opportunities for socialisation and happiness and preventing mental health problems.
o To broaden learning and employment prospects for people with learning disabilities.
o To reduce stress and increase support for families and carers by helping more parents to develop the knowledge and skills to support children with learning difficulties
o To involve volunteers and the wider community in helping to overcome the exclusion of people with learning difficulties that still exists.
Cosgrove is in desperate need for funds to support its art and music groups, playschemes, respite holidays and
supported training and employment schemes. They get so little statutory funding for these activities and yet they play
such an important role in the lives of Cosgrove's service users. For example, a creative group not only increases
aspirations, confidence and self-esteem, but supplies the participator with a social network and a supportive peer
group. Quite often the groups activities become a central core of support in the person's life.
Please give generously. I've set a pretty low target which I hope, with your help, to smash to smithereens - but even
£200 would be a fantastic gift for Cosgrove and every penny would go directly towards supporting children and adults
with learning disabilities.
many thanks in anticipation, Jules X
*If I'm in labour on the day of the walk donations will NOT be refunded you cheap skates! I will just ask one of my team to do my part of the walk :-)
