Located off Longford Lane in the Longlevens area of Gloucester, important work goes on at the Chamwell Centre Charity, operating to do their very best to transform the lives of children and adults with disabilities and special educational needs. No matter whether it is permanent or temporary, mental or physical - the Chamwell Centre has a vision to enhance the wellbeing of disabled people.
To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday December 3, the importance of the centre is paramount to families and also gives an opportunity to disabled people. Deriving its name from the Chamwell School, which was Gloucester's special school for children with physical disability up until 1997, the current site is now the Milestone School right next to Chamwell.
When further expansion saw three other special schools join Milestone to form the SAND Academy in 2019, a new hydrotherapy pool and new facilities came about, which is exactly the place you can see today.
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With an experienced team of trustees, specialists and even a community cafe where anyone can come and visit for coffee and cake, the importance of Sunday December 3 matters to the community.
Ria Heap, 53, is Fundraising Manager at the Chamwell Centre where she works incredibly hard with a warm character but also has a heartbreaking story to tell.
Her daughter Jasmin was just two-years-of-age when Ria found that she was not talking very well. Seeing a speech and language therapist 23 years ago, a paediatrician had a hunch that something was bad and a blood test found MPS (Mucopolysaccharide). Finding out her daughter had a rare genetic condition, Ria said: "Looking at me you might never know that I'm a mother who is completely bereaved, crushed and heartbroken. Jasmin lost her ability to talk, walk and eat, and her understanding was lost."
Jasmin went to Milestone School, the hydrotherapy pool to help mental health and give disabled people the chance to relax allowed Ria the perfect opportunity to cuddle her daughter in the warm water, these are the precious moments that will never be forgotten.
In 2011, Jasmin passed away aged 12.
"We must let others know in the county we are here for them," Ria adds. This place is fully accessible and that is unique for the whole of Gloucestershire. Sunday December 3 is a great day to celebrate and champion the awareness of disability. It's nothing to be scared of and we need to be aware of each other and everybody's needs."
Being aware of each other is an important mission at Chamwell where people are given an opportunity. Zac Dance, aged 19, from Cheltenham travels to the centre most days in the week and has been studying Maths and English at Gloucestershire College for the past three years. Through an internship for people with disabilities and SEN, Zac has a paid employment role at Chamwell while living with disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Dandy-Walker Syndrome and Hydrocephalus.
Mastering the computer system, answering the phone and doing his bit to help at the centre, "This was a good opportunity and before I came here I struggled to speak to new people but coming here has made me feel more comfortable", Zac said. "For me it's normal because I've lived with this my whole life. There are times in the morning where I can struggle to get up where one morning I might get pain or I may not. December 3 is quite good because some people know about disabilities but this is a day for people to improve their knowledge about people living with real needs.
The SAND Academies Trust based at Chamwell are "focused on supporting schools to enable the best education and care possible for our pupils, families, parents and carers". Chief Executive Martin Hughes said: “SAND Academies Trust is hugely supportive of being part of the International Day of Disability; we care for over 600 children in our special schools in Gloucestershire. We strongly advocate for our pupils to give them every chance in life and the skills they need to succeed in their chosen path and career.”
You can find more information on the Chamwell Centre's website here.
