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Camelia Botnar Children's Centre 

 

SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 33 YEARS

 

FACILITIES             The Camelia Botnar Children’s Centre opened in 1979 was purpose built for pre-school children, especially those with special needs and from disadvantaged families. Now the facilities are fully inclusive for all children 2 months to 5 years and are free of charge. There are four Nursery groups and with a high staff ratio of highly trained nursery nurses ensuring each child receives individual attention. Children with social needs and long term medical conditions (see below), are welcome at the centre. The Centre has sensory rooms, which provides light, sound and touch simulation, which has a calming influence.

 

SPECIAL NEEDS SYNDROMES 

      

Children’s Centre caters for the following syndromes.

  •  Agenesis Corpus Callosum         
  • Aspergers Syndrome
  • Autism
  • Cerebal Palsey                                        
  •  Cystic Fibrosis                             
  • Down’s  Syndrome                       
  •  Dysgenesis Corpus Callosum     
  • Erbs Palsy                                    
  •  Hydrocephalus                             
  • Lebers Amaurosis – Sight            
  • Metabolic Diseases                      
  • Muscular Dystrophy                     
  • NoonansSyndrome
  • Prada Willie Syndrome                                
  • Retinophy- Cone Dystrophy
  • Rett Syndrome  
  • Spina Bifida      
    Spinal Muscular Atrophy
  • Tuberous Sclerosis        
  • West Syndrome – Seizures

 EXTERAL LINKS                   The centre has close links with the local Health, Educational and Social Services (we act as a contact centre for children in care) authorities and assists local Colleges with their student training programme for nursery nurses, social workers and teachers. Parents are welcome in the nurseries, and there is a coffee lounge where parents are encouraged to meet, relax and discuss their children’s needs.

 

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW                 For 30 of the 33 years the Children’s Centre was fortunate to have the financial patronage of Nissan UK and the Camelia Botnar Foundation. During this privileged period we did not have to search for any funds, however at the end of 2009 both sources of funding ceased. This left us in uncharted waters and to keep the Children’s Centre operational we embarked on the quest to replace our lost funding, a very challenging task, especially in this difficult financial climate. A complete re-launch of the centre together with a new website has been undertaken and a fund raising strategy has been put in place, which will encompass all revenue streams normally associated with charity fundraising. We will seek funding from Trusts, Foundations, National, Regional and Local Companies, Governmental Agencies, Local Clubs and Associations, Parents Forum and importantly Donations and Legacies from Individuals.

 

FUNDING WISHES              The principal reasons in requesting financial support are –

  • To maintain the operational status of the Children’s Centre this being the only pre-school special needs facility in this part of West Sussex, which has served the  communities of Worthing and the Towns and Parishes of the Districts of Arun and Adur for over 33 years. The loss of the Children’s Centre will create a significant gap in the provision of pre-school special needs care within our catchment area.
  • To maintain our policy of free provision across all demographic groups. This has been welcomed by our parents, especially those experiencing financial hardships in these difficult times.

FUTURE PLANS                  Once appropriate funding has been secured the Trustees wish to evaluate the possibility of opening the Children’s Centre once again for 50 weeks of the year. This will allow the parents of the Children who use the centre additional respite and it will be especially beneficial to those parents with Children with special needs  Also extending the opening times will give the Children a regular and stable environment to enable them to continue to play, which is a vital part of a Child’s pre-school development. Also, our future plans will include the option to extend the catchment area we serve, which will undoubtedly be of benefit to a wider audience.

 SUMMARY                           Hopefully this briefing document will address any points that you may have about the operational aspects of the Children’s Centre and should you or your organisation consider making a grant, gift or donation, then we would indeed be very grateful. We have two areas to which funds can be allocated.

    1    Core Costs Fund – Unrestricted funds (essential) for vital running costs and salaries.     

   2    Refurbishment Restricted Fund – We have embarked on a refurbishment programme.

 

RECOGNITION                    We would be delighted to give recognition on our new website (with a hyperlink to your site) and would inform the local media of any kind grant or donation, naturally seeking your permission first. Also, we would be pleased to host a visit to enable you or your organisation to see at first hand our facilities and the indispensable service that we offer.

 

REFERENCES FOR TRUST APPLICATIONS

 

            Marilyn Barton – Principal Manager – Early Childhood – WSCC

             2nd Floor, 62 South Street, Chichester, West Sussex – PO19 1EE

            Tel – 01243 382 450 – marilyn.barton@westsussex.gov.uk

 

            Dr Pauline Stute – Consultant Paediatrician

            Child Development Centre, Worthing Hospital, Lyndhurst Road

            Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 2DH

            Tel – 01903 286 702 – gill.collis@wsht.nhs.uk

 

REFERRAL OF CHILDREN                   Local agencies can refer children to our care. If any parent is in consultation with any of the following agencies then the agency can refer or the parent can ask for their child to be referred to our Children’s Centre. Agencies:-

             National Health Service

Worthing Hospital – Child Development Centre

                        Occupational Therapists

Language/Speech Therapists

Physiotherapy Therapists

                        GP Surgeries – Doctor or Nursery Nurses

                        Community Nurses

                        Specialist Children’s Nurses

Health Visitors

West Sussex County Council

Social Services Workers

Educational Psychologists

Sight and Hearing Therapists

CHILDREN’S CENTRE HISTORY                 The Centre was opened during the International Year of the Child in 1979. The Children’s Centre is a registered charity which was founded by Octav and Marcela Botnar in memory of their daughter Camelia, who tragically died in an accident at the age of 20. Octav Botnar was a highly successful entrepreneur who introduced Nissan (then known as Datsun) cars to the UK market. He arrived in Britain in 1966 speaking no English. Within five years he had set up his fledgling company, Nissan UK Limited, which was to become one of the most successful private companies in the UK in the late 20th Century. He was a great, although discreet, philanthropist. Through Nissan UK and the Camelia Botnar Foundation, he made donations to charity of in excess of £100 million during his lifetime. Octav Botnar died in 1998 at the age of 84, leaving the Camelia Botnar Children’s Centre and the Camelia Botnar Foundation, both now independent of each other, as his enduring legacy to helping children and young people in need.

 

OFSTED REPORT              At the end of March 2011 we were inspected by Ofsted and of the 17 key inspection judgement areas we received 2 Grade 1 and 15 Grade 2 judgements.  http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/oxcare_providers/full/(urn)/113412

Grade 1 – Outstanding – criteria – this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality.

·        The effectiveness of partnerships

·        The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

Grade 2 – Good – Criteria – this aspect of the provision is strong.

An overview of the 15 Grade 2 judgements show excellent in the following areas;-

·        The overall effectiveness of the early year provision

·        The effectiveness of leadership and management of the early year’s provision

·        The quality of the provision in the early year’s foundation stage

·        Outcomes for children in the early year’s foundation stage

Taking just one comment from the report to validate its findings;-

“Children are provided with a lovely and vibrant environment that promotes free flow, indoor and outdoor play. Resources are of high quality and are organised so that the children can make their own choices in order to express their ideas”.

 

 

For further information contact

Michael Kay – Director of Partnerships & Fundraising

www.camelia-botnar-childrens-centre.org

Tel – 01903 504 077   Mob – 07711 432 491   E-mail – michael.kay.cbcc@btconnect.com