Amongst the most recent grants were funding to provide weekly extra-curricular sessions for children with special needs at the Marine Academy in Plymouth and towards providing music therapy for 500 children at Ernesettle Primary School, also in the city. Okehampton Community Dance Project have been given funding for dance sessions for 84 children to help with mental and physical wellbeing.
New accessible kitchen for young residents
WESC Foundation has recently opened a new adapted kitchen for students with vision impairment and complex needs, thanks to a generous donation from the Northbrook Community Trust.
The grant has meant that young people at the Exeter charity are now able to access height adjustable worktops, cooker-tops and kitchen sinks in their shared accommodation. The new facilities mean that more of the young residents – who all attend the charity’s specialist College – can now develop essential independent living skills that will stand them in good stead for later life. It’s also a practical space used for socialising and preparing and eating food in a busy home from home. Visit their website for a full report...
Devon-based organisation Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship have recently celebrated receiving grants to help support their work with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. Hannah Burgon, co-director, said: “We are hugely grateful for these grants which will enable us to provide more courses and horsemanship sessions to young people this coming year.” Now in their third year, Sirona help over 150 participants a year from their centre based in the grounds of the charity Hannah’s at Seale Hayne, near Newton Abbot. Last year they introduced the Level 1 Horse Care course in partnership with Duchy College which the new grants will help to support. Di Gammage, psychotherapist and co-director, explained: “Many of the young people who attend Sirona struggle in school for one reason or another, some are fostered or adopted and have had a difficult start in life meaning that they find it difficult to make friends and settle at school. By learning to look after horses and building friendships with them they are then able to start to transfer some of these new found skills and benefits back into their lives.” Sirona is offering several new courses this year for people interested in finding out more about equine-assisted learning and therapy at Sirona. These include ‘Mindfulness and Horses’ which incorporates some of the mindfulness techniques they use at Sirona as well as a week long ‘Equidramatherapy’ summer course where art and drama activities are included alongside learning with the horses and proved highly popular with young people last year. Sirona Therapeutic Horsemanship hold open days from time to time where members of the horse and human team will be on hand to meet the public and answer any questions. For more information please visit their website.
Little Bridge House Children’s Hospice in Barnstaple provides respite, emergency and end of life care to children with life-limiting conditions and illnesses. The hospice provides whole family care supporting the needs of parents and siblings too. Our dedicated Care Team supports families from the point of diagnosis or referral, through their child’s life and into bereavement. Over the years the Trustees of the Northbrook Community Trust have supported the hospice with a range of equipment including a specialist bed, wetroom chairs and bathroom trolleys, and a sun canopy to enable children with light sensitive skin to play outside. “Specialist equipment such as the shower trolley really do make a phenomenal difference to the children’s care, allowing us to provide the safest of comforts.” Head of Care Tracey Freame Mostly recently the Trustees have provided a grant to create an additional bedroom for siblings visiting the hospice with their sick brother/sister. We are truly grateful to the Trustees for their support which is enabling us to provide an extra 300 bed nights of care and support every year for children facing difficult times. “I love Little Bridge House! It’s my favourite place. I wouldn’t be able to live without it!” |
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March 2021
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The Northbrook Community Trust, c/o 11 David’s Close, Sidbury, Devon EX10 0QS | Phone: 07552 992139 | Email: northbrookcommunitytrust@gmail.com
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