Published on: 21 October 2021
Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) has officially opened an inclusive slide at Snapdragons. As a result of fundraising by Medway Cares and donations from both Medway Sunlight Rotary Club and the Chatham Maritime Trust Community Fund, MCH has been able to install the slide in the sensory garden. The slide is used on a regular basis by the children attending their sessions at Snapdragons and benefits children with speech and language difficulties, non-verbal children as well as children with Cerebral Palsy. Children who are wheelchair dependent can go up in their wheelchair and transfer onto the slide by using the safety handles.
One parent remarked, “It has helped my daughter to feel inclusive and the joy of having the wind in her face whilst sliding down the extra wide slide is so rewarding, we don’t have this in a public play area”.
The slide is also used by MCH therapists to carry out treatment and support communication development. The thrill they have and the ability to start communicating with others is so beneficial.
Medway Community Healthcare was joined for the opening by Tommy Ray Gee age 3yrs, Medway Sunlight Rotary Club members Ian Payne (President), Bill Parkinson, Jane Loder, Dottie Taylor and David Taylor who is also a Trustee of Chatham Maritime Trust.
President of Medway Sunlight Rotary Club, Ian Payne, commented that “Medway Sunlight Rotary Club enjoys getting involved in the community and meeting needs that make a difference, I am delighted that the slide we have partly funded at Snapdragons is such a great success and will bring much fun and learning to children who otherwise would miss out.”
David Taylor, a Trustee of Chatham Maritime Trust said "We are delighted to have been able to support this project knowing that it will be used and enjoyed by so many children. The Trust’s Community Fund is available to improve the leisure, educational and recreational facilities in Chatham Maritime and the Medway Towns with the objective of developing everyone’s physical, mental and spiritual capacities”.
“We were very fortunate to have received funding from Medway Sunlight Rotary Club and the Chatham Maritime Trust Community Fund. The slide in our fabulous sensory garden is much needed. We cannot thank them enough for supporting us.” said Karen Adgie, Family Engagement Officer at Medway Community Healthcare.