
Latimer
sort-of qualifies as being in my Chesham patch so I can tell you about a local charity, spearheaded by two families and now expanding to include a small staff team.
Gary and Catherine Grant started
the Entertainer toy shops in 1981 and have long been involved with youth and family work. Together with friends
Sue and Dave Trevor, they set up the charity
Restore Hope Latimer, based at Latimer Park Farm,
www.restorehopelatimer.com. Restore Hope Latimer provides a base for family and community work, as both hosts and in partnership with other organizations. Catherine comes from a nursing and health visiting background, and along with a team of volunteers set up a toy library at Restore Hope Latimer. The Toy Library runs regular sessions each week for a large number of families who join as members. It provides a wonderful play space for children with their mums, dads and grandparents to meet and borrow toys in much the same way as a traditional library does. It also offers other family orientated opportunities such as parenting courses, cookery schools and social evenings.
Restore Hope Latimer aims to assist families, children and young people to improve life skills and provide opportunities for personal growth and development. The facilities offer enjoyable experiences that are different from the everyday life of many families and young people, in a safe environment where they can learn and develop. I was able to see this in action when the
Buckinghamshire Children’s Fund Programme held an exciting award ceremony and activity day to celebrate the achievements of the young people involved in these projects. Restore Hope Latimer hosted more than 175 young people and helpers, many from the inner areas of High Wycombe and other Buckinghamshire towns. It is a shame that government funding for the Buckinghamshire Children’s Fund Programme, working together with Youth Focus and Thames Valley Police, is being withdrawn after three successful years.
Labels: Charity, Event, Local government, Young people