There will be a Quiz Night at the rugby club on Friday 24th February 2012. The night is an opportunity to raise funds for local charity The Taunton Opportunity Group (see below).
Cost will be £5 per team of 4.
Meet at the club at 19:30 for a 20:00 start.
Please contact Chris Hancock to book your table
TAUNTON OPPORTUNITY GROUP
Taunton Opportunity Group, better known as TOG, is a specialist Pre-School which helps children 0-5 years who have special needs. These needs might be Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, genetic disorders, medical needs and many undiagnosed conditions.
We are one of only two Opportunity groups left in Somerset and so although a lot of children come from Taunton others come from Bridgwater, Williton, Wellington and all the surrounding villages including North Petherton.
TOG is different to other Pre-Schools in that it has built up expertise over the years in how to support children's communication needs, physical needs and how to make sure children with gastrostomies can join in Lunch Club successfully.
We aim to enable every child to succeed and our sensory room is often the starting point for many children. It's here that children learn to look and enjoy playing with light effects such as the bubble tube, learning to turn it on and off by pressing a switch. We are lucky enough to have equipment like this out in our main playrooms as well so that all the children can play together in the same environment.
TOG supports parents and their families through the often very difficult times of going through a diagnosis. We help them find their way through the different services and getting what they need for their child.
We try and be as flexible as possible when supporting families and for one family whose little girl had a life limiting condition, took TOG sessions home to her so that she could enjoy some play at home when she was too ill to come to us.
TOG endeavours to meet the needs of all the children who attend and will fundraise for special equipment such as specialist chairs if that is what a child needs. This is on top of our continual need to raise over £20,000 a year to keep running and so we are grateful for the support given to us by others through their fundraising activities.
TOG runs:
* A baby group for parents with babies who have special needs and are diagnosed very early on.
* Individual sessions in the sensory rooms with a specialist play leader.
* Pre-School sessions for children aged 2-5 years.
* STC (Somerset Total Communication) Courses for parents.
EVIE DOYLE
Evie Doyle is the daughter of Mykala Doyle and Granddaughter of Jim & Nicky Doyle. She was born with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and has been attending TOG for the last 3 years. TOG has been very beneficial for Evie, for example, allowing her to experience the light and dark rooms (special sensory rooms that help Evie improve her senses). She would not have received these benefits if it had not been for this charity.
Anyone that knows Evie will agree that she is a happy, smiling young little girl and we believe that TOG has a lot to do with this by giving her the opportunity to work with other disabled toddlers, excellent staff and brilliant facilities.
On behalf of TOG we would like to thank North Petherton RFC for this opportunity to help raise funds for a worthwhile cause.
The Doyle Family
