PRESS RELEASE 9th
February 2012
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
High Sheriff finds children’s centre visit
‘overwhelming’
David Tupper, DL, the current High Sheriff of
West Sussex, recently made a special visit to the Camelia Botnar Children’s
Centre in Goring-by-Sea.
The High Sheriff, accompanied by his wife Hilary, was given a
guided tour of the purpose-built centre that has been supporting children and
families in West Sussex for the past 32 years. Fully
inclusive and free of charge to all pre-school children, the centre is an
invaluable resource with many specialties that provide co-ordinated support
to all families and their children, whatever their special needs.
The office of High Sheriff is an
independent, non-political, royal appointment that lasts for one year and there
are currently 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales. Their
duties include attendance at royal visits within their county, support for
visiting High Court Judges, active support and encouragement to the police,
emergency services, probation and prison services and to other agencies
involved with crime prevention, particularly among young people. High Sheriffs
also play an increasingly active role in promoting the voluntary sector within
their communities.
Michael Kay, the centre’s Director of
Partnerships & Fundraising, showed Mr Tupper and his wife the specialist nurseries and areas which support the
special needs children - including sensory rooms, adapted equipment, and toys
that cater for the differing needs of each child. The High Sheriff and his wife were also
introduced to the team of nursery nurses, who explained their roles and
the challenges faced by some of the children.
David Tupper said: "I found my visit to the
Camelia Botnar Children's Centre overwhelming. It gave me a wonderful insight
into the daily problems and challenges the staff face and made me realise the
incredible amount of work that goes into the specialist care the centre
provides to children and their families throughout West Sussex. I will now lend
my support in spreading the word throughout the local community to encourage
donations and fundraising activities for this very worthy cause, which receives
no state or external funding."
Care is provided free for the families who
need it and this commitment is at the heart of the children’s centre – a
registered charity. The centre is now completely reliant on donations and is working
hard to secure enough funding to expand, refurbish, and open 50 weeks of the
year. As well as aiming to attract fundraising support from individuals and
local businesses, the centre is also offering its facilities to other special
needs groups and the wider community - the High Sheriff was shown the rooms and
areas which are available for hire when not being used by the early years team.
Michael Kay said: “We are extremely grateful
to the High Sheriff and his wife for visiting our centre and for their pledge
of support in raising awareness for our cause. It gave a real boost to our
hard-working nursery nurses and just as importantly gave me the opportunity to
explain why the support of the local community is vital to secure the future of
the centre.”
For further information on how individuals, groups and
corporate organisations can support the centre, please contact Michael Kay,
Director of Partnerships and Fund-raising, on 07711 432491, 01903 504077 or by
emai michael.kay.cbcc@btconnect.com.
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Notes
for Editors:
Contact for more information
about the charity:
About the Camelia Botnar
Children’s Centre:
The Children’s
Centre is a registered charity which was founded by Octav and Marcela Botnar in
memory of their daughter Camelia in 1979.
The centre was previously supported by the Nissan UK and the Camelia
Botnar Foundation, however funding from both sources ceased in 2009. The children’s centre receives no state or
external funding and is 100% reliant on donations. The future aim is to secure
enough funding to expand and refurbish the centre and to evaluate the
possibility of opening for 50 weeks of the year.
The centre was
purpose built for pre-school children especially for those with special needs
and from disadvantaged homes. Now the facilities are fully inclusive for all
children from 2 months to 5 years, and are free of charge. There are four
nursery groups with a high staff ratio of expertly trained nursery nurses
ensuring each child receives individual attention. Children with social needs
and long-term medical conditions such as epilepsy, asthma and cystic fibrosis
are welcome at the centre which also has sensory rooms.
The centre has
close links with the local health, educational and social services (the centre
act as a contact centre for children in care) authorities and assists local
Colleges with their student training programme for nursery nurses, social
workers and teachers.
