The Countess visited Surrey Dolphins Swimobility to present The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2015 at Woking Pool in the Park. Over 160 guests, including the charity’s many volunteers and clients, gathered in Woking where the Countess unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit. HRH's visit was hosted by Freedom Leisure with support from Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council.
The Countess spoke to some of Surrey Dolphins Swimobility’s volunteers about their roles and saw some of the charity’s clients exercising in the pool along with physiotherapists and volunteers from 251 Signal Squadron.
Speaking about the visit Theresa Fuoco BEM, Vice-Chair of Surrey Dolphins Swimobility said: “It was such an honour to be able to show the Countess how the water therapy we provide helps to provide vital rehabilitation. Volunteers and clients were proud to share their stories with the Countess too.”
Phil Edwards, Freedom Leisure Area Manager added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome the Countess of Wessex to Woking Pool in the Park to celebrate the success of the Surrey Dolphins Swimobility in winning the Queen’s Award for Volunteer Service. Surrey Dolphins Swimobility provides a valuable and vital opportunity for our local community and I’m very pleased its work has been recognised in this way.”
Surrey Dolphins Swimobility is an assisted swim charity, offering residents across Surrey with restricted mobility the opportunity to swim and exercise in a safe and friendly environment. Surrey Dolphins Swimobility was established by Knaphill resident and Vice-Chair, Theresa Fuoco in 2002. Surrey Dolphins Swimobility's members are amputees, stroke victims, patients of hip or knee replacement operations, are blind or have other physical disabilities such as MS, Parkinsons or arthritis and range in age from 18 to 86. For some, the swimming pool is the only environment in which total independence and freedom can be achieved. More here.
Twenty volunteers in roles such as swim instructors and assistants, drivers, trustees and communications make up the charity which helps over 130 people and also provides respite care for the friends and family who help to look after them.
Lifts and ramps, adapted wheelchairs, hoists and water chairs enable people with a range of disabilities to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of the water, aided by a physiotherapist, a qualified swim instructor and additional military volunteers from 251 Signal Squadron Aldershot. Post-swim refreshments and social events help members to get to know each other and establish friendships and support beyond the pool.
In June 2015, Surrey Dolphins Swimobility has been named as a winner of a prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the MBE for volunteer groups. The award was received for the services their volunteers provide to help people with physical disabilities to improve mobility and strength through water therapy.
This is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
Theresa Fuoco BEM, Vice-Chair of Surrey Dolphins Swimobility said: “It is an honour to be recognised by Her Majesty the Queen for the support provided to disabled people within the community by our volunteers. This award highlights the dedication of everyone involved in the charity who, in many cases, has worked tirelessly to improve local people’s lives for many years.” Full press release here.
Later, The Countess opened the new building at Samson Centre for Multiple Sclerosis, Guildford Waterside Centre, Riverside, Guildford. HRH has opened physiotherapy suites which provide individual physiotherapy rooms.
The Samson Centre for MS is located on the outskirts of Guildford and provides practical and emotional support for people living with multiple sclerosis in Surrey.
From press release " The Countess also saw our members using the Motormed exercise bike, having physiotherapy, taking part in an exercise class and using a the rowing machine. In addition the Countess met some of our volunteers as well as a few of our donors who represented the enormous number of people and organisations to whom we are most grateful for helping us raise the money to both continue functioning as well as extending the centre." Full text here.
The centre enables people living with multiple sclerosis to remain as active as possible by providing the physiotherapy, exercise and oxygen therapy they need in a supportive and welcoming environment. MS is a debilitating disease which attacks the central nervous system. It is both permanent and progressive and is the most common neurological condition among young adults today.
The Samson Centre for MS is a totally self-funded charity with operational costs in excess of £200,000 per annum. With no funding from the NHS, National or Local Government these running costs are met from numerous fundraising activities and generous donations. More info here.
Last step for HRH - visit to Jigsaw Cabas School, Dunsfold Park, Stovolds Hill, Cranleigh to celebrate 15 successful years of educating and supporting people with autism.
courtesy of The Jigsaw Trust via Facebook. Click on pic to view more pics of HRH's visit.
Some pupils have been preparing for the visit by producing a poster of the Royal Family. You can see their artwork below.
The first stop-off on HRH's visit was at Jigsaw’s ‘Café on the Park’ social enterprise. Set up in 2013 to provide clients and pupils with an opportunity to work within a busy café environment, HRH met Café Manager, Jo Stevens, and clients working front-of-house before enjoying a light buffet lunch with pupils from Jigsaw School.
The Countess then made the short journey, accompanied by Jigsaw’s Chief Executive, Kate Grant, to Jigsaw+ Adult Services, where she was shown around their Centre for Lifelong Learning. Dedicated and passionate in its commitment to supporting adults with autism to make positive, personal choices that enhance wellbeing, independence and social inclusion, the centre was opened in 2012 and has grown from strength to strength. The Countess spent time meeting clients and staff and hearing about the various opportunities available to clients, including the Jigsaw ARTworks social enterprise, the Business Suite, Wellbeing Room and IT Suite.
courtesy of Kim Robson, Jigsaw's Patron since 2008 - 'Jigsaw Time-Line’
The final stop-off was at Jigsaw School, home to 59 pupils between the ages of 4 and 19. The tour of the school started with a look at the recently commissioned ‘Jigsaw Time-Line’, which highlights key dates in Jigsaw’s history and, being more than 12’ long and 7’ high, is the perfect display board for pupils artwork. The piece was designed by Jigsaw, funded by West Surrey DFAS and created by Paul Godden at his Carved Wall Art studio in Rudgwick.
courtesy of Kim Robson, Jigsaw's Patron since 2008 - 'Jigsaw Time-Line’
After calling in on class lessons and Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy sessions, she ended her visit by unveiling a plaque celebrating 15 years of Jigsaw and by being presented with a piece of art work created for her by pupils. Other guests at the event included Chairman of Surrey County Council, Mrs Sally Marks and Mayor of Waverley, Cllr Mike Band.
HRH was also reminded of her previous visit to Jigsaw back in 2003 when she met pupils and staff at the school’s previous site in Guildford.
Kate Grant, CEO of Jigsaw Trust said: “We were delighted to welcome HRH The Countess of Wessex back to Jigsaw at the end of this, our 15th year and it was a great opportunity to show her how we have grown and developed since her previous visit in 2003. I was very pleased to be able to introduce her to clients and staff at Jigsaw+ Adult Services as well as pupils and teachers at Jigsaw School and those working at our Café on the Park social enterprise.”. According to radio coverage, The Countess was simply great, down to earth and very engaged with pupils and students, whom she asked questions.
courtesy of 96.4 Eagle Radio via Their Facebook. Click on pic to view more images of HRH's visit.
Kim Robson (Jigsaw's Patron) met HRH today as she was broadcasting live (apparently from cupboard) from Jigsaw School. Kim was very excited but also nervous, she remembered to curtsy, and in her own words the Countess was lovely, very pretty and thought it was great that Kim was broadcasting her show just for her visit! Kim also talked to Jerome who also met The Countess today. He spoke about HRH's outfit and that she gave great answers for his questions. Later Kim talked to Paul who got to ask HRH his question, if she has met Princess Charlotte yet. Sophie said that she hasn't. When Kim asked Paul how The Countess looked, he gave the best possible answer: 'like a princess' ! :)
The Jigsaw CABAS® School is an independent day school for children and young people with an autism spectrum disorder. The School provides places for up to 60 pupils aged 4 - 19 and operates for 43 weeks per year divided into three terms. There is a 1:1 staffing ratio with all pupils receiving an individualised curriculum and comprehensive outreach programme, delivered by a highly qualified specialist teaching team. The school recently expanded Assessment Classroom facilities and can now accept pupils across all Key Stages throughout the School Year.
courtesy of The Jigsaw Trust via Facebook. Click on pic to view more pics of HRH's visit.
The School is supported by The Jigsaw Trust, a UK registered charity. The primary objective of the Trust is to improve the lives of those affected by autism through the provision of high quality, accessible, educational and wellbeing services. The Jigsaw Trust is a registered Charity set up in 1999 by a group of parents of children with autism. The Jigsaw Trust opened Jigsaw CABAS® School in September 1999 as an independent day school for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is one of a few schools in the UK offering a structured programme of intensive intervention based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).
courtesy of The Jigsaw Trust via Facebook. Click on pic to view more pics of HRH's visit.
ABA is a structured teaching programme built on a discipline devoted to the understanding and improvement of human behaviour. CABAS® stands for The Comprehensive Application of Behaviour Analysis to Schooling a research-driven system-wide approach providing individualised programmes for children and young people with and without disabilities. It was developed by R. Douglas Greer PhD and colleagues of Teachers College, Columbia University. More about the programme here.
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