Swansea Children's Therapy Centre Support Group

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CHAIR’S REPORT 2010

This year, to differ from the traditional start to the report, I would like to focus on the hard working staff at our Therapy Centre. It has been a busy year and one in which resources have been stretched still further.

There was a joyful occasion in the summer, when Physiotherapist Ceri was married to Iain and we all, I am sure, wish them lots of happiness in the years to come. December saw the departure of our Receptionist Rachel to give birth to a lovely baby girl. In January, Physio Wendy went off on maternity leave and only a few weeks passed before we heard the news of baby Gethin. Yet further movement is reported as another Physio, Jimena, has gone on leave to prepare for the birth of her second child in June. Once again, amidst all the joy, we need to remember that, although a replacement has been found for the maternity cover of Wendy, the shortage of staff is adding to the huge burden borne by the remaining team and clamped expenditure looks like offering little to help in this difficult time.

It is part of the job of our support group to help in the purchase of equipment and we have been able to produce some very much needed items during the year. Anything we can do to help to make the Centre’s operation a little easier is always appreciated.

During the coming weeks, we shall be arranging for plaques to be affixed to some of the pieces of equipment, naming the larger donors as benefactors. We already have such dedications on, for example, the Sensory equipment on behalf of Pontlliw FC. We shall be acknowledging Swansea RFC, Swansea Lions, the Friends of Jack Morris and Simon Lane amongst others, as well as yet more from Pontlliw FC. Some people have continued to donate over the years and such amounts have added up to excellent sums.

Simon, having collected lots of money in sponsorship for the Group by running the Swansea Bay 10k and other such runs, as well as zip-slides and taking part in many events, has now been co-opted onto the Committee and has also put his name forward as Secretary for the group. It is great to have ‘new blood’ in the committee and willing to make an input. Also co-opted this year has been Susie Jewell, whose confirmation as a committee member we hope to ratify this evening. Susie will be helping with liaison between parents and the committee over needs.

In the ‘Events’ section, we had once again an enthusiastic team running in the 10k; another cycle ride by the Pontlliw team produced yet another weighty cheque received by our Patron Tony Clement down on Mumbles Pier; the annual Christmas Party was voted the ‘best yet’ by most – here we thank again Derek Gregory for those smashing pictures with Santa (John Salter) and the Elf (Ceri); the sale of ‘squares’ for the prize instead of a raffle was a pretty good innovation. Although we only sold about a third of the squares, the rest were sold before Christmas at the Mountain Dew Inn; our now annual Pantomime trip was also a big success, visiting Jack and the Beanstalk at Port Talbot.

One item that has been brought up is the need for a get-together for some of the Parents and Carers on a regular basis and the committee has decided to launch this as soon as possible. Wendy (Gadd) is investigating a ‘special’ launch at an upmarket venue to set the ball rolling and will shortly be advertising details. It has long been one of the stated aims of the Support Group to provide such network meetings for families and interested parties to meet, discuss problems and create mutual help, which will include ‘new’ parents, as well as those who have been dealing with issues and problems over a number of years.

During the year, we have, as usual, had a number of people to thank for efforts made. I have already mentioned the runners in the 10k, including our friend Simon. Also, our friends at Pontlliw FC have once again not let us down. The landlords at the Mountain Dew Inn at Mount Pleasant and their friends organised a Golf day at Fairwood Park, plus a meal and an evening entertainment, raising around £400.00. Another of these is a possibility during the summer. The family & friends of Jack Morris are off to a big ‘walk’ event in Scotland to raise more funds in May and this has prompted us to buy some Collection Boxes, which are available for people who organise events and are also collecting funds in some public houses, etc..

We are very keen to increase the numbers for the 10k this year and this also includes getting the children and families involved in the 1k, as we have traditionally had a lot of fun there and our collecting buckets have also done very well! It has been a good day out when we can ‘fly the flag’ and make ourselves known, so please spread the word. This goes for all the events and we would love to see more parents, carers and families becoming involved with the committee. This is not simply a matter of spreading the workload. We want to know more about what our children and their families really want and need. We will, hopefully, be restarting the archery at Perris Wood and we are actively looking at yet more facilities we can offer, some of which have been really great. Examples have been the Hippocampe amphibious wheelchairs that we can give out on loan, the ways in which we have been able to assist some families with bikes, etc., and numerous trips and various pieces of equipment. One problem is that all these ideas are being generated by a very small number of people for the benefit on many, so we implore more people to come along and help us to bring in ideas and make decisions.

Coming full circle back to the staff at the Centre, I have said that people and time resources are becoming more and more limited; the members of staff are under huge pressure and yet still find the time to take part in our committee and involve themselves in events that are outside their normal working day. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank them very sincerely and assure them of any support that we can give. Also, may I thank all the members of the Committee and the Support Group in general for their help and hard work throughout the year. Many of them make time out of very limited resource. They may be ‘few’, but their work is invaluable. By the way, please refer to the website, where we try to keep up to date with events. www.swanseact.co.uk

Roger Gadd (Chair, Swansea Children’s Therapy Centre Support Group)