Reuse Littleborough donates specialist chair to Jolly Josh

Team from Reuse Littleborough delivering the chair to Jolly Josh

Local organisation Reuse Littleborough has donated a specialist chair worth thousands of pounds to Jolly Josh – just days after the Castleton children’s charity added one to their wish list.

Jolly Josh's lead session facilitator, Rachel Bell, has a 'wish list' of items that are needed at the centre in Castleton, from the simplest of items, like oversized plastic 'messy play' trays, to hi-tech, specialist sensory and support equipment.

Rachel explained: “We provide 'stay and play' and social group sessions for 0–19-year-olds living with complex medical and physical needs. Our visitors have their own unique diagnoses and different needs when it comes to specialist support equipment.

“Some of this equipment is financially out of our reach. We receive very little funding at Jolly Josh, so the majority of our funds are needed to pay for core running costs.”

With the phrase "if you don't ask, you don't get" at the front of her mind, Rachel decided to add a specialist postural support chair, costing £3,500, to their list.  Little did she know, help was just around the corner in Littleborough! 

Rachel continued: "A few weeks ago, I'd been chatting to an engineer called Nick from Symmetrikit who was visiting Jolly Josh to service a piece of equipment. During his visit I asked him for a quote for this particular type of chair which he did. 

"I was astounded when, a few days later he rang me, telling me about another local organisation, Reuse Littleborough, who had been given one of these exact chairs and wanted to donate it to Jolly Josh.

"The team at Reuse Littleborough were just as amazed at the coincidence as we were, especially when I explained that I had literally, that week, put the chair on our wish list."

The following day Reuse Littleborough dropped off the chair at the centre, ready for Nick to service and for session visitors at Jolly Josh to use.

Centre Manager, Sarah Ford said: "This is such an amazing story of coincidences, and a fantastic example of connecting with local people to support each other.

“We are so very grateful to Nick and to the whole team at Reuse Littleborough.”

Michael Bamford of Reuse Littleborough, said: "The drivers collected the chair as a donation, and our Steph rang the manufacturer as printed on the label. We spoke to a rep who covers Rochdale and they recommended Jolly Josh. After we took it to them, the rep took it and refurbished it at no cost.

"We are glad we could find it a good home; it’s what we do."