Jolly Josh broadens horizons for parents and carers

Jolly Josh

The team at the Jolly Josh Centre for children and young people living with profound and multiple learning disabilities, complex medical needs or physical disability, is holding its first monthly, ‘New to Jolly Josh?’ information session next week.

Parents and carers are invited to pop in to the informal and informative sessions, have a coffee and a chat, to find out what Jolly Josh can offer their child and family.

Centre manager, Sarah Ford said: “We have created these new, monthly sessions specifically to help parents and carers access our services. The team will be on hand to show visitors around the centre, talk about what Jolly Josh can offer individuals and their family, based on their unique circumstances”

“If Jolly Josh isn’t able to support their child, our friendly and knowledgeable session facilitators, Rachel and Anna, who have years of experience working with children of varying diagnoses, will be able to signpost parents and carers to other services, more suitable for their child’s needs.”

With a multitude of opportunities for families at the centre, Jolly Josh is encouraging as many people as possible to drop-in to this free session to enable more families to benefit from the experiences on offer to children, young adults, carers, families and even siblings.

Sarah said: “As well as supporting children’s development, the aim of the Jolly Josh Centre is to bring parents and carers together, helping them to make new connections in a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, so they feel less isolated and to support one another.”

Jolly Josh runs weekly early years, junior social and senior group sessions, with a timetable that includes mornings, afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

The centre’s facilities include a multi-function room, packed full of sensory toys, a virtual magic carpet and electronic white board, along with specialist furniture and full electric hoist system, all of which help children to relax and make the most of their themed sessions. The centre is also home to a brand-new hydrotherapy pool and a Changing Places facility, both of which benefit from a full hoist system.

The first ‘New to Jolly Josh?’ drop-in session is on Friday 11 November 1.30pm – 3.30pm at Jolly Josh, 2 Ensor Mill, Queensway, Castleton, Rochdale OL11 2NU.