Andrea, Victoria and Colin Lennox-Gordon a family supported by the children’s respite home
Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s disability charity, launched its Lilypad Appeal to many of its supporters at the Italian Villa this week. The event introduced the charity’s major appeal to those in attendance and urged for their support to help raise £250,000 to redevelop its children’s respite home, which supports children with complex disabilities and their families almost every single day of the year and is a lifeline for parents.
The Lilypad Appeal will transform the day and overnight respite facilities to meet the changing and increasing needs of children and young people with disabilities in Dorset. The improvements Diverse Abilities wish to make through the Lilypad Appeal will make such a difference to children, stimulating their senses to achieve more and enjoy their stay at the respite home.
Furthermore, through doubling the building’s size, the respite home will be able to accommodate even more children, providing families more respite hours, supporting more families in the area and benefitting children for many years to come.
Andrea Lennox-Gordon, mother to Victoria who visits the respite centre and spoke at the event, said: “Currently the respite home gives a massive amount of support to many local families, but just think how much good could be done with more funding, how many other children and families could be helped. I certainly do not want to return to life before respite and there are so many other families in Dorset who need the help and support but because places are so limited and other facilities have closed or are closing, there is nothing to offer them – i have no idea how those families survive.”
Fiona Hansford, corporate and community manager at Diverse Abilities, said: “The event was a great success and we are very grateful to everyone that attended and pledged their support on the night. We hope many more local people get on board and make the dreams of families in Dorset a reality.”
Play your part in making a difference to children with disabilities today. Visit www.lilypadappeal.org.uk or call 01202 718266 to find out more.
