Swings & Smiles disability charity holds 10th birthday anniversary in Thatcham
A Thatcham disability charity held its 10th birthday celebrations at the weekend.
Children’s disability charity Swings & Smiles, located on Lower Way, marked its milestone on Saturday (September 7) by hosting a small gathering of staff, volunteers, dignitaries, patrons, families and supporters.
It also celebrated the launch of its new 14 to 19 service PULSE
Former TV personality Chris Tarrant, who acts as a patron for the charity, and Mayor of Thatcham, Suzanne Adamantos, were among those in attendance.
He said: “No child should ever miss out on the opportunity to play.
“What Swings & Smiles does for families is incredible and I’m immensely proud to lend my support.”
Swings & Smiles was set up in 2007 by Sian Cook, whose daughter inspired her to provide children with special needs and their families with a facility to access play, respite care and support.
The charity has since supported an increasing numbers of families, providing more than 7,251 hours of support in 2021.
“I’m a parent to a child with complex needs myself, which is what inspired me to create Swings & Smiles,” said Mrs Cook.
“Our services have made a tremendous impact on so many local families, and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for us, especially with our new 14 to 19 service launching.
“This will give older children a chance to make new connections during their formative years.”
Reflecting on the anniversary, CEO Rhonda Nicklin added: “As we celebrate our 10th year since Sian Cook's vision, it was wonderful to see A Place to Play full of friends, supporters and families celebrating the success that Swings & Smiles has grown into.
“We are a charity that has a lot of fun and make our young people smile and feel safe through the serious work that we do in addressing inequalities, at times desperation, and isolation for families that have sons and daughters with complex needs.”
The charity opened its first site at the Phoenix Resource Centre in Newbury in 2014, before moving into the former Lower Way Children’s Centre in Thatcham in 2017 after this shut due to district council cuts.
The centre opens seven days a week supporting children and young people with special needs and their families during the day, after school and through an outreach service.
The charity relies on fundraising and has been supported by many individuals and organisations over the years, including its founder patron, the sports broadcaster Clare Balding.
