A generous donation from BBC Children in Need will allow Cornerstone's CLASP and Jigsaw services to continue providing activities and respite to the people they support.

Cornerstone’s CLASP service, and neighbouring Jigsaw service, both offer active and social activities to children, and provide respite to families across Argyll & Bute. Each year nearly 60 children with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs take part in the regular youth clubs, sports clubs, respite days, parties, and other sessions to meet new people, make friends and discover new hobbies and interests.

Each session is fully staffed by their dedicated care and support team which provides parents and carers some well deserved time to themselves, safe in the knowledge that their child is well cared for and enjoying themselves.

Over the past few years, the teams at CLASP and Jigsaw have been trialling more adventurous activities to take children out of their comfort zone and show them a side of life they might never have experienced before. Activities like climbing walls, bouldering, horse riding, archery, and sailing have been big hits with the children. Adventures like these have improved confidence, reduced isolation, encouraged friendships and shown the children and young people that they’re capable of anything. It’s created a team spirit among the children and inspired them to try new adventures.

Team Leader, Frances Wilshin said;

“Without this funding, we could never provide activities like these for the children. Seeing the delight on their faces when they first try something like rock climbing or canoeing is so heart-warming. Some of the kids have even started taking on adventures like these on their own. The sense of achievement they feel fills them with pride, confidence, and memories which they can carry into the future.”

Thanks to over £23,000 in funding from BBC Children in Need, CLASP and Jigsaw will build on this great work and continue to provide, and seek new, adventures over the next three years for all the children they support. We’re excited to see where this work leads and can’t wait to see what the children achieve next.

Branch Leader, Jesamine Griffin, said, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with BBC Children in Need. It’s funders like this that enable us to offer children something different and we look forward to seeing the smiles on the children’s faces after such a challenging year.”

Thanks Pudsey!

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