Cerebral palsy society move into new headquarters

Thurrock & District Cerebral Palsy Society has moved out of the council-owned Dilkeswood Centre in South Ockendon to permanent new headquarters in Corringham.

The centre, which boasts an office, committee room, counselling room and a fully equipped school room was built on land at the back of the society’s charity shop in Lampits Hill.

The project, which took around two years and is estimated to have cost £150,000, was funded by donations from many local groups, businesses and organisations as well as proceeds from the society’s charity shops.

Consultant for the Kids First School of Conductive Education and volunteer of 15 years, Carol Day, said: “We now own our own centre freehold outright and it can never be taken away from us.

“The children seem really happy here and the parents are delighted with their new surroundings.”

The new centre will give children from birth to 11-years-old a place to learn with qualified volunteers.

It will also provide a base for adult members of the society.

Chairman of the Thurrock & District Cerebral Palsy Society, Walter Day, added: “We would like to thank all the companies, groups, and individuals who have contributed to this great achievement.”

The Thurrock & District Cerebral Palsy Society was founded in 1964 by a group of parents to give each other mutual support.

In recent years it was based in Richmond Road, Grays then from 2002 The Dilkeswood Centre in South Ockendon before moving into Lampits Hill in March.

Cerebral palsy is a general term that describes a group of conditions that cause movement problems.

The most common type is spastic cerebral palsy where the muscles are stiff and rigid in one or more limbs.

The underlying problem is damage or faulty development in a part of the brain which usually occurs sometime before birth.

Cerebral palsy ranges from mild to severe.

In some cases there are associated problems such as learning difficulties and epilepsy.