Tesco provides toys for child development centre

Monday 2 November 2009

A local Tesco branch in Hove has donated £2,000 to Rockinghorse, the charity that makes life better for children in hospital.

Tesco Store Manager Helen Pearce presented the cheque to Seaside View Child Development Centre, just one of the many causes helped by Rockinghorse. The centre, which opened in 2007 and is based at South Downs Health’s Brighton General Hospital, provides therapeutic support for children aged up to 19 with a range of disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, Down’s syndrome and Autism. 

The money has been used to buy specialised toys for children at the centre, including a Leckey Squiggles Early Activity System (EAS), which is a versatile positioning system to assist caregivers and therapists in helping children learn different developmental positions.

The toys will be loaned out by means of a library system, allowing the children to make use of the toys at home. 

To date, Rockinghorse has raised over £20,000 for the centre, providing a covered outdoor playing area, tactile wall panels to distract children in the reception area and – most recently – the specialist toy library.  

Dr. Sian Bennett, Clinical Director / Consultant Community Paediatrician with the Children and Young Peoples Trust, said: “These special toys and other equipment will support our work in promoting the children’s development and enable them to have fun whilst developing their skills. 

“We are very grateful to Tesco and Rockinghorse for supplying these learning aids, which will also help parents and carers engage with their children allowing them to fully support their progress.”

If you work for a company and you are interested in finding out more about how you and your team can get involved with corporate fundraising, contact Emily Hahn on 01273 730286.