The London Centre
for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Lynne Featherstone MP Hosted Event At The House Of Commons To Celebrate 45 Years Of The Hornsey Trust

On Wednesday 12 November 2008 Lynne Featherstone MP hosted an afternoon tea in the Terrace Marquee at the House of Commons for The Hornsey Trust. The event marked two special anniversaries: 45 years of our charity and 20 years of conductive education at our centre and school in Muswell Hill.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools and Learners spoke on the day.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP, Flynn Ruttley and dad Steve,
Agi Palanki, Conductor, and Kai Surrey.

Other speakers included Douglas Cooke, Managing Director of Principle Cleaning Services Ltd, a Hornsey-based company which was our event corporate sponsor. Doug and Principle Cleaning Services Ltd have supported our charity over many years. Catharine Seddon, mum of Theo Seddon-Deane in Key Stage 2 here, also spoke. Catharine had just attended Theo's 8th birthday party at our school.

Lynne Featherstone MP

Douglas Cooke

Catharine Seddon

Over 120 people enjoyed the occasion. They included past and current funders and donors, our pupils and their parents and our trustees. David Lammy MP and Lord Dholakia OBE DL also joined us during the afternoon.

Anthony Hewson OBE, Chairman of The Hornsey Trust, Deepa Korea, CEO and David Lammy MP

At the event, Deepa Korea, Chief Executive at The Hornsey Trust, outlined our plans to significantly increase the number of children we support through a variety of different developments such as developing new services aimed at children with cerebral palsy, their families and professionals; the launch of a £3million capital appeal to rebuild our centre and school; and a re-brand to become the London Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Deepa said, "It is heartening when parents tell us their child has developed physical, emotional and social skills thanks to the dedicated support of our staff. Taking into account parents, carers, professional and others, the lives of an estimated 50,000 people in the London region alone are in some way touched by cerebral palsy. Yet an Audit Commission report on services for children with disabilities noted that a family had to meet with 12 different agencies in order to have the totality of their child's needs met. We hope our event raises awareness of our crucial services so we reach even more families in the future."

Here are some examples of what your donation will help fund:

• £5 - two-handed cup or picture book
• £20 - one parent and child session
• £50 - a home visit or switch access computer game
• £100 - a ladder back chair or new reading scheme
• £3.5 million - a new school building (our dream wish!)