MP visits children's centre
Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert made a special visit to the Camelia Botnar Children's Centre in Goring-by-Sea on Friday.
The centre, whose Patron is the Duchess of Norfolk, is an invaluable resource for those families requiring specialist early years care for their children. Mr Herbert was given a tour of the school that supports the children and families in and around his constituency.
The tour was provided by one of the centre's Directors, Michael Kay, and the MP also met some of the children and staff during the visit. Mr Herbert was shown the specialist equipment which supports the special needs children, including sensory rooms, specially adapted chairs, and toys that cater for the differing needs of each child that it cares for.
The Camelia Botnar Children's Centre is working hard to extend its availability, not just to the families who value the respite care and specialist support, but also to the wider community. Mr Herbert was shown the rooms which are also available for community and corporate use when not being used by the early years teams.
The centre is now focusing its goals on fundraising to support their aim to be able to open more weeks of the year. Currently the centre is open in term-time only, but they would like to offer care 50 weeks a year. The care they provide is free for the families who need it, and this commitment is at the heart of the charity.
Michael Kay, Director of Partnerships and Fundraising, said after the visit, "We were extremely pleased to welcome the Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP, to the centre recently. We hope that his support will encourage local people and businesses to come forward and help us to raise the £150,000 that we need to extend our services. We are looking for volunteers and people to get involved in raising money through sponsored events as well as local businesses that can help us through charity of the year, payroll giving and sponsorship schemes. We've had a very encouraging start to our fundraising campaign with generous donations from The Worthing Lions, the Masons, the Sussex British Motorcycle Club and Michael Jones estate agents to name a few."
Nick Hebert commented: "I greatly enjoyed my visit to the Camelia Botnar Children's Centre and it was a pleasure to meet the staff who provide such a wonderful service for local children with special needs.
"The Centre faces a major challenge in raising funds to support its work, and I wish it every success in this task. I hope that when West Sussex people see what is being done for children here, with no State support, they will rally to the cause."
Ends
Notes for Editors
1. For more information about the Camelia Botnar Children's Centre, please see their website: http://www.camelia-botnar-childrens-centre.org