Your guide for your leisure time in & around Oxfo rdshire
GROUP
Bicester and surrounding villages Thursday, March 8 - Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Weekly leisure guide for in and around Oxford
Out& About
Enjoy a girls night out with Kathy Lette all-round bonne vivant take you on a journey
oxfordshireguardian.co.uk
Pedal cars up for auction at heritage site
Duchess adds her support to school scheme
Page 5
Terence Rattigan’s The Winslow Boy comes to The Playhouse
Free
Young baker’s cake sale raises lots of dough Page 16
Pages 6&7
Disabled children just want to have fun and play like others Mum launches petition calling for more playground equipment to help her son By Owen Hughes A FAMILY in Bicester is petitioning the government to put more disabled play equipment in playgrounds around the UK. Mum Suzanna Johnson launched the petition on change.org to make it easier for both her children to play. Her son Oliver was three and a half years old when he suffered a seizure at home in February 2016 that left him with acute brain damage. Oliver’s acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood means he is unable to eat, walk or talk and is partially sighted. Suzanna said: “I have a disabled son aged five, also a daughter, two years with no disabilities and believe me, it is very hard to fi nd places to go for day outings that are ideal for both children. “But just a little trip now and then to the local playground would be lovely, but pointless for us as there is nothing for my son to play on due to being in a wheelchair. “It must be hard being disabled, especially if you are a child. All they want to do is to be able to have some fun, learn and play in their local playground like other children.” The petition is almost halfway to
achieving its target with more than 230 signatures. Former Secretary of State for Education and Employment Lord Blunkett unveiled a report by deafblind charity Sense in 2016 addressing the lack of play opportunities for disabled children. Lord Blunkett said: “Our inquiry found that all too often the parents of children with multiple needs point to barriers they face in accessing and enjoying play. “It means that disabled children don’t have the same chance to form friendships, and parents are prevented from taking a break from caring.” More than 90 per cent of parents said their disabled child did not have the same opportunities to play as nondisabled peers. Suzanna is also trying to fundraise £50,000 for equipment, therapy and medical treatment for Oliver. She said: “Unfortunately, whilst our NHS is extremely good, they are not always able to provide all equipment/ therapy/treatment that people need on occasion. “Before all this happened Oliver was a happy go lucky fabulous little boy who loved running around in the garden, eating his favourite
Picture: GoFundMe. com/helpsaveolly
foods, watching his favourite TV programmes, and telling us all sorts of stories. He was such a happy little lad. We miss him.”
The online petition can be found at bit.ly/2FvL75g and contributions can be made to Oliver’s GoFundMe campaign at http://bit.ly/2I3isDf
Suzanna and Michael Johnson with son Oliver and daughter Isabelle – they are hoping to raise £50,000 for equipment and therapy for Oliver
More printed copies than any other weekly newspaper in Oxfordshire (16,103 audited JICREG pending) Lighting Mirrors Furniture Curtains Pictures ,Gifts decor-us.co.uk
Decorus 66 High Street Witney OX28 6HJ
01993 773734
new season styles