Parents, children and staff were dismayed to find a play house in their garden had been kicked in and damaged last week. The structure at the far end of the garden was vandalised and is unusable. It urgently needs to be replaced. As ‘Hop Skip and Jump South West’ is a charity it does not have funds at present to replace the item. Sue Finch Manager at the facility for children with disabilities and life limiting illnesses, said: “We are extremely upset that someone would take the time to enter the charity’s grounds and ruin such a vital piece of equipment. It will mean that some of our children are unable to play and take part in outside activity, without a replacement. We would like to appeal to your readers and the local Bristol community to help find those responsible for the act of vandalism that happened here. This has made the work of our charity harder, the children often use the outside area for their development and it aids their recovery”
Despite this set back, staff at Hop Skip & Jump at Grimsbury Road, Kingswood are preparing for a busy summer with new ventures in hand. These are: A CLIC Sargent Children and Teenagers Group that will meet Thursday afternoons from 3pm-5.30pm. Also starting in April there will be a Girls Only Group. This will be for girls with a disability who are aged between 12 and 18 years. It will involve such activities as cooking, listening to music, brushing up on piano or guitar skills or just relaxing with a book and a cup of tea. Another new venture is an Adult Social Group which will meet twice monthly on a Friday evening. This group is expected to start shortly and will be for 16-24 year olds with disabilities. For more information about Hop Skip & Jump and prices for sessions, details can be found at www.hopskipandjump.org.uk.
