This year marks the 20th anniversary of the very first edition of Wellspring newsletter. In 1996, Chris North (bottom left) and the founding members started Wellspring to provide information to families with special needs children. I joined the committee in 1998 aged 15, after I moved to Sidlesham and I started by writing articles and contributing my ideas as a young disabled person. During my A Level studies, I took on the roles of newsletter Editor and Chairman of the committee. We became a registered charity in 2003 and in 2004 we received funding from Connexions for more professional publishing software when the Wellspring website was also set up.
Sometimes parents find it difficult to know where to find the right help so in 2007, with grants from a variety of sources, we published a Parents’ Resource Booklet which contained details of local and national points of contact and support for families with special needs children. This Booklet was extremely well received both by professionals and families so with funding from West Sussex County Council, I worked with committee member Bernie Daly (top right) to update and reprint it in 2009. In 2011 the Youth Opportunities Fund supported us to create a Transition Guide for young people moving from Children’s to Adult Services. All of the information from these Guides is now available under the Resource Directory tab on our website. We hope that by making it available online, everyone can access the information and find the right support.
Some readers will remember that until 2009, we ran Family Fun Events with the support of the Child Disability Teams. These were held firstly at Cobnor Activities Centre with events for all on the field and water. Some families found that these were too far away so a second event in the north of the county took place in 2006 and 2007. The following two years the Fun Weekend took place at Hobbs Farm in Yapton. I have really happy memories of these days and particular highlights were launching the balloons and meeting new contacts. In 2004 I represented Wellspring at the launch of the new Cobnor Wheelchair Boat and enjoyed a beautiful ceremonial ride around Chichester Harbour.
Through funding from various sources over the years our Creative Arts Programme has reached all corners of West Sussex! Since 2010, I have been able to provide free places at my Craft Club for 23 children with special needs or their brothers and sisters. Most of these children have come to more than one course and I have received really enthusiastic feedback from all the parents who say how lovely it is to see their children integrated into the sessions and showing their work with such pride. I love being able to offer these spaces and getting to know all the very special children!
Chris North has been running Wellspring funded music, drama and poetry workshops with groups of special needs children and young people since 2006. Most recently with a grant from Awards for All, his work with the Portage service included many activities including puppets, storytelling, bubbles and parachute games. Chris has compiled all these ideas into an Under 5s Resource Guide which is available to download from Chris’ page on our website or by contacting me for a hard copy.
Adam Gellibrand (top left) joined the Wellspring committee in 2008 and has been providing music, and DJing workshops for children and young people of all abilities in clubs and schools. Adam’s sessions have been an opportunity for children, staff and parents to come together to enjoy music making as a group.
Our Treasurer Debbie Newson (centre) has helped us to get many grants and funding for all the Booklets, workshops and newsletters we have achieved. It is a lot of work and we are extremely grateful for all the financial support we have been given over the years. If you are able to support us in any way, either by joining the committee, doing some fundraising for this big year or just by sending in your ideas, please get in touch! We need continued funds to be able to support all our projects and carry on our work into the next decade!
Lizzie Baily 2017
Sometimes parents find it difficult to know where to find the right help so in 2007, with grants from a variety of sources, we published a Parents’ Resource Booklet which contained details of local and national points of contact and support for families with special needs children. This Booklet was extremely well received both by professionals and families so with funding from West Sussex County Council, I worked with committee member Bernie Daly (top right) to update and reprint it in 2009. In 2011 the Youth Opportunities Fund supported us to create a Transition Guide for young people moving from Children’s to Adult Services. All of the information from these Guides is now available under the Resource Directory tab on our website. We hope that by making it available online, everyone can access the information and find the right support.
Some readers will remember that until 2009, we ran Family Fun Events with the support of the Child Disability Teams. These were held firstly at Cobnor Activities Centre with events for all on the field and water. Some families found that these were too far away so a second event in the north of the county took place in 2006 and 2007. The following two years the Fun Weekend took place at Hobbs Farm in Yapton. I have really happy memories of these days and particular highlights were launching the balloons and meeting new contacts. In 2004 I represented Wellspring at the launch of the new Cobnor Wheelchair Boat and enjoyed a beautiful ceremonial ride around Chichester Harbour.
Through funding from various sources over the years our Creative Arts Programme has reached all corners of West Sussex! Since 2010, I have been able to provide free places at my Craft Club for 23 children with special needs or their brothers and sisters. Most of these children have come to more than one course and I have received really enthusiastic feedback from all the parents who say how lovely it is to see their children integrated into the sessions and showing their work with such pride. I love being able to offer these spaces and getting to know all the very special children!
Chris North has been running Wellspring funded music, drama and poetry workshops with groups of special needs children and young people since 2006. Most recently with a grant from Awards for All, his work with the Portage service included many activities including puppets, storytelling, bubbles and parachute games. Chris has compiled all these ideas into an Under 5s Resource Guide which is available to download from Chris’ page on our website or by contacting me for a hard copy.
Adam Gellibrand (top left) joined the Wellspring committee in 2008 and has been providing music, and DJing workshops for children and young people of all abilities in clubs and schools. Adam’s sessions have been an opportunity for children, staff and parents to come together to enjoy music making as a group.
Our Treasurer Debbie Newson (centre) has helped us to get many grants and funding for all the Booklets, workshops and newsletters we have achieved. It is a lot of work and we are extremely grateful for all the financial support we have been given over the years. If you are able to support us in any way, either by joining the committee, doing some fundraising for this big year or just by sending in your ideas, please get in touch! We need continued funds to be able to support all our projects and carry on our work into the next decade!
Lizzie Baily 2017
