Autumn 2018
update Transforming the lives of children with disabilities
In the autumn edition of Pace update: Page 2 Introduction: Pace Welcome new Chief Executive
Page 2 Fundraising News: The Big Walk, Bisham Abbey Boating Trip and more‌
Page 3 Service Update: Find out about key developments from our services
Celebrating Outstanding Achievements Page 5 School Update: All change in Secondary School expansion
Page 6 Events: The Children’s Challenge: sponsored by Kidsinsport
Fundraising News
Introduction: Pace Chief Executive Ian Sansbury Ian joined us as our new Chief Executive on 1 September 2018. He comes with a good deal of Pace experience, having been a trustee and then our Director of Finance and Resources between 2011 and 2015.
The Big Walk just keeps getting bigger!
Ian, a chartered accountant and qualified fundraiser, has degrees in marketing and history. Prior to his time at Pace, he enjoyed a successful city career, predominantly with US investment bank Goldman Sachs. He started his relationship with Pace in 2010 as treasurer and a member of the trustee board, but in 2011 stepped down from the board to take on the role of Director of Finance and Resources, leading the fundraising and development of our Early Intervention and Independence Centre on the Bradbury Campus. Ian and our outgoing Chief Executive, Amanda Richardson, also worked together to develop Action Cerebral Palsy, the national policy and campaigning charity. He moved on in January 2015 to become Director of the Oasis Foundation, the policy and research arm of the Oasis group of charities. Now Pace is pleased to welcome Ian back as its new Chief Executive.
Thank you! To all our amazing patrons, fundraisers, supporters and volunteers we would like to say a huge THANK YOU for all your extraordinary contributions throughout the year! Only with your help can we continue to deliver our highly specialist integrated provision to all the wonderful children and families at Pace.
‘I am really delighted and excited to be able to come back to Pace and I’m honoured to lead this remarkable organisation at such a crucial time in its development. I look forward to reacquainting myself with some old friends and to meeting many new ones: children, families, staff and supporters. My goal is to ensure Pace’s sustainability and growth so that we can continue to have a positive impact on so many children and their families.’
Above: Equipment purchased thanks to the generosity of supporters, for our Child and Family services, to aid the development of motor skills, coordination and confidence.
Service Update
Donations are still being received from this year’s Big Walk which took place on a beautifully sunny day in April. Around 200 people took part in this year’s event which is growing in popularity, up from 30 walkers last year. To date, generous supporters have raised over £19,300 and we thank each and every one of the participants, volunteers and sponsors who took part. Among the participants that braved the hot weather were parents, staff, patrons and trustees along with several dogs and children. Walkers registered at Wendover Memorial Hall before being shuttled by coaches, kindly donated by Motts Travel, to the appropriate start point along the Ridgeway trail. Supporters chose from 18, 12 or 6-mile routes – all of which culminated in Wendover for a celebration of their achievements. We’re hoping for an even bigger event next year. Join us on 27 April for the 2019 Big Walk.
Pace Clinical Services pioneer work in assistive technology Lindsay Hardy, Director of Pace Clinical Services, reports that the department is continuing to expand and is pioneering work in the field of assistive technology. Pace aims to establish itself as a ‘Smart School’, deploying digital technologies to support independence and enhance the curriculum. Thank you to Elixirr, who, as part of their Time to Donate scheme, have generously provided their expertise in strategic planning, to help us get this project underway.
Child and Family in the community Pace is proud to offer baby massage and yoga classes for the local community. This not only raises the profile of Pace but gives parents of babies at risk of developmental delays direct access to expert support.
Bell-boating at Bisham Abbey On 5 July pupils from Elder, Maple and Oak classes spent a day at Bisham Abbey where they enjoyed bell-boating & wheely-boating on the River Thames! Our very generous sponsors, BlueSpark, Bisham Abbey and volunteer drivers from Risborough Community Buses, enabled us to make this such a valuable experience for the children.
The team is now looking to run support groups in partnership with staff of the Stoke Mandeville Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for parents of premature and poorly babies. Pace is also able to offer free early intensive interventions to babies under the age of one, and to support parents as they adjust and understand the impact of the potentially life-changing events they have experienced.
Please help us this Christmas
Keep a look out for our Christmas Appeal: we are aiming to raise £20,000 to buy a Minibus so we can take the children on more trips and visits, improving their independence, confidence and wellbeing!
Events
2018 Children’s Challenge was a joyous event One of the highlights of our summer term was celebrating the extraordinary achievements of our children at the biennial Children’s Challenge. Thanks to our valued supporter Kidsinsport we were again able to host this remarkable sports day at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the national centre for disability sport. The children and staff started proceedings with a hand-clapping, foot-tapping, wheelchair-dancing routine, followed by the ‘Pace Cheer Squad’ and our secondary school ‘Oak Band’ who played ‘Smoke on the Water’, supported by Marrillion’s Pete Trewavas. Challenges ranged from using switches (remote controls) to score goals and seated football, to relay walking and independent powered wheelchair skills. Every child beamed with pride as they completed their task! The Children’s Challenge is an important platform for participation and building confidence as the children demonstrate skills that they have been developing throughout the year - skills that not only allow them to enjoy sporting activities, but also increase their independence today and in the future.
Amanda Richardson, our outgoing Chief Executive, said, ‘We say this every year, but it really was the best ever. There was such a joyous atmosphere and the level of support and encouragement the children give each other is wonderful. So much hard work, effort and attention to detail from everyone concerned resulted in a wonderful experience for the children and their families.’ We are so grateful to all our brilliant volunteers from Knights, Barclays, Chiltern Masonic Lodge, and to Jenny Emerton and Dave Prall; to Metro Bank for much needed refreshments; and of course our families and supporters who clapped and cheered the children on from the stands. Thank you for helping to make the day such a success.
‘We say this every year, but it really was the best ever. There was such a joyous atmosphere and the level of support and encouragement the children give each other is wonderful.’ Pace, Philip Green House Coventon Road, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP19 9JL Registered Charity 1011133
School Enquiries: 01296 392 739 General Enquiries: 01296 614 287 info@thepacecentre.org
School Update
All change in secondary school expansion In 2016 Pace took the first intake of Key Stage 3 pupils into its Secondary School, expanding to include Key Stage 4 in 2017. Over the last academic year nine pupils enjoyed the facilities of the Weston Centre on our Bradbury Campus. We now have fourteen pupils in the Secondary School and we would like to thank all the volunteers and staff who worked hard over the summer to move them to their new home in the Anniversary building. We look forward to updating you on how they are getting on in their new classes, as well as showing you round the Weston Centre which now accommodates our Child and Family services.
Whole school curriculum day
Based on the topic of ‘where food comes from’, Pace pupils enjoyed a cross-curriculum day. They used food to create wonderful recipes, worked on exciting art projects, and also developed language and numeracy skills. Both staff and children enjoyed this fun day of learning!
Hands on impact
Hand clinics are now well established at Pace and are proving to be very successful in improving hand function. Appreciation was shown recently by one grateful child who, having waited two years to be referred for hand splints within the community, came to Pace for assessment and was fitted with bespoke splints on the same day. He couldn’t wait to get home to show his grandparents. The clinics are generously supported by The James Tudor Foundation and due to the growing demand, we are now looking for longer term funding for staff and materials for these valuable clinics.
From the classroom The school groups have been exploring a range of different activities over the summer term. Here is what they have been up to. Willow has been helping the community and their friends by looking after the garden at school. Elder has been talking about the idea of ‘long’ and ‘short’, as well as using things from nature to create art. The children in Maple have been learning in Science about growing foods and using their EyeGaze equipment to communicate important facts, such as that plants need water. Oak has been exploring the use of money, learning how to recognise coins and exchange simple amounts for goods.