About The Bedford & District Cerebral Palsy Society

Bedford & District Cerebral Palsy Society was established over fifty years. Our primary aim is to support people in North and Mid Bedfordshire with Cerebral Palsy, their families and carers.

 

What We Provide

• An information and support service, which allows those individuals to make informed choices, access services and work together with us towards the development of more 'needs-led' services.
• Playschemes or activities in all school holidays.
• Monthly Saturday activity clubs.
• A monthly "Indulgence" support group for parents/carers.
• A monthly hydrotherapy swim club.
• Funding to individuals for specialist equipment, holidays etc.
• Newsletters, campaigning, information days and social activities.

For information on the team and policies and procedures click the links on the right.

The Team

Jane Howard White - Support and Development Manager

Jane has worked with young people with disabilities for 28 years in a variety of settings. Firstly with children who had visual impairment and physical disabilities at Rushton Hall School run by the RNIB. She then moved onto what was then called “The Spastics Society “ to work at Meldreth Manor School where she qualified as a specialist Social Worker. She moved to Bedfordshire and after working at the newly opened George Beal House for two years moved on to join the team setting up Sunflower House as the deputy then becoming Officer in charge. After a break taken to have children she began the role of Support and Development Coordinator at BDCPS.

Jane has overall responsibility for all of the projects run by BDCPS. She was responsible for the creation of the activity schemes and expanded them to such a degree they now require separate coordination.

Rose McHugh - Activities Coordinator

Rose has been managing play provisions since 2001 after a change in career from the legal field. Rose gained her Level 3 Diploma in Playwork in 2003. She has experience of a wide variety of different settings. Her experience in the field has given her a great passion for play and the benefits that it can provide for all children.

Rose joined the charity to continue the development of the holiday scheme that Jane began. She has taken on new and exciting opportunities in terms of activity provision, including theatre group residencies, wildlife conservation awards and outdoor activity centres, as well as continuous, innovatative updates to the sessional timetables. The wealth of opportunities have grown to a point were additional support was again needed. Rose now oversees the schemes and has a lead on raising funds, to allow us to continue to offer exciting opportunities to our users. Rose is now enrolled on NVQ Level 4 Childcare, Development and Learning.

Adam Emms – Activities Coordinator

Adam has been with the organisation for over four years, starting as a volunteer on the Summer Playscheme. Adam now works as an activity coordinator with an additional view to creating, maintaining and developing partnerships within the community. Adam has worked with young people for over eight years within various roles both in the UK and overseas.

Lillian Circuit - Administration Assistant

Lillian has worked with people with disabilities for over 20 years. Lillian joined BDCPS as a volunteer and as the projects have grown successfully gained employment as administrative assistant. Lillian also has a child with a disability who participates in the scheme.

Lillian is responsible for all of the administrative support of the activities schemes. Lillian devotes time above and beyond her specified role to devise and implement systems that ensure we have accurate records and systems in place for the safeguarding of your children. Lillian’s invaluable support frees the scheme’s staff time to focus on the ‘hands-on’ work with the children

Our Committee

BDCPS is run by a voluntary committee. They are extremely supportive of the development of the activities schemes and undertake whatever tasks they can to ensure the team have the resources they need.

Our Staff

We aim to provide a quality training programme for our staff team so they are equipped to care for your child. Our training includes:

• Manual Handling
• Speech and Communication
• Feeding – complex feeding issues and gastrostomy tube
• Child protection
• Disability awareness
• Epilepsy awareness and the administration of emergency medication (only paid staff are trained to administer emergency medication)
• Allergy awareness and administration of an Epi-pen (trained staff only)
• Movement and posture
• Play training