Dozens of families from across Berkshire helped mark a charity’s 40th anniversary by enjoying a day of fun and games in Wargrave.
Parents and children who use Dingley’s Promise, which is headquartered in Reading and has centres across the country, gathered at Camp Mohawk, a multi-functional day centre, earlier this month to celebrate the birthday.
Activities included swimming, soft play and meeting animals from the Basil and Crew mobile farm. The 37 families were also able to explore Camp Mohawk’s facilities including the music, arts and games rooms and the adventure playground.
There was also a celebratory lunch, and a raffle was held, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell Solicitors and supported by the Dingley’s Promise team, with prizes up for grabs for families both past and present.
Catherine McLeod, CEO of Dingley’s Promise, said: “It was wonderful to see our families so relaxed, enjoying new experiences together and meeting other families.
“Thank you to everyone who made the celebrations so memorable.”
One family who attended said: “Thank you so much for a fantastic day it was really very special.
“Dingley’s Promise is such an amazing place, and we feel so lucky to have this wonderful place as part of our journey.”
Away from partying, Dingley’s Promise offers nursery provision and developmental support to SEND children in the early years, with the aim of ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. It also works hard to support families at what can be a challenging and isolating time.
The charity operates across the south, including Reading, Wokingham and Newbury, and, further afield, Southampton and Gloucester.
Dingley’s Promise wants to train practitioners in mainstream settings across the country via their Comic Relief funded training, with the aim of reaching 30,000 practitioners in a five-year programme, and settings in their partner local authority areas can access all of their training for free.
Their event venue Camp Mohawk is a multi-functional day centre for children with special needs set in five acres of ancient woodland. It provides a safe haven for children to enjoy a range of indoor and outdoor activities year-round in a secure and caring environment.
To find out more about Dingley’s Promise visit dingley.org.uk
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