The Tree Club
This month a unique after school club in West Lothian celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The Tree Club is West Lothian’s only after school club for children and teenagers with additional support needs. Run by a board of six people and seven staff including some of the parents - the club takes children aged 5 to 18. It fills an important gap in the support system for children with additional needs and their parents, providing after school care to 5.30pm every weekday plus holiday clubs.
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We rely nteers to work with staff. We welcome lvolu management. the children as welvidasesclub standards of hig The Tree Club proervision, offh erin ellent management sup those wishing tog exc er volu opportunities fortraining or as a step nte as part of their loyment. towards paid emp I spoke to Clare and Eileen at the Club’s office in Bathgate. “Your child doesn’t need to have a formal diagnoses in order to attend the Tree Club,” says Clare. “We’ve never turned anyone down who has needed us. If your child can’t attend mainstream after school clubs, you come here for a chat and we’ll always do our utmost to fit your child in.” With three children herself who all need additional support, Clare has put a huge amount of energy into the Tree Club and the families who rely on it, bootstrapping it from scratch last year when it had to close down for three months. During that time, Eileen, who is the Club Co-ordinator, left a secure full time job in order to help restart the Club, because, she says “I really believe in the Tree Club and the vital support it offers and I just wanted to help.”
Founded in 2005 by parents of children attending Pinewood Special School in Blackburn, it is still based in Blackburn (at St Kentigems) but they are actively looking for a new premises and ideally would like to build a custom facility. The team of staff and volunteers provides stimulating and creative activities and caring practical support for the children and young people in their care. “We couldn’t manage without our fantastic volunteers, and in fact some of them are former pupils who have come back to help with the younger ones.” Children attending the Club have a range of challenges, from autism, Angelman Syndrome, epilepsy, ADHD, Downs Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Smith Magenis Syndrome....and generally undiagnosed challenging behaviour. “We’re very conscious of the need for parents to get that extra hour or so in the working day. Parents of mainstream children are able to use afterschool clubs, and parents of children with challenging behaviours need to have that facility too. And we’re not ‘just’ the club, we also signpost to other services, and offer parent sessions with experts to help deal with challenging behaviours.” As many of the staff are parents themselves of additional needs kids, they are able to share experiences. Contact the Tree Club on 07867 414 144 / 07729 340 334 or visit www.thetreeclub.org.uk
Do you have a child with additional needs?
Contact the Tre b on details below for more informatioen.Clu e Club runs MonFri afterschool to Th 5.3 , £9 per session Mon – Thurs and £10pm 3 Fr afternoons. Currently vacancies Mondaysidatoy We The holiday club run for four weeks indnethesdays. summer holidayssand Easter, £17/day. a week in October and at