Rose Road has Wheels Appeal

Now Southampton's Rose Road Association is asking for the help of Hampshire residents and businesses after it launched an appeal to replace its ageing minibuses, which are falling to pieces.

Launched in March this year, the Wheels Appeal aims to raise £109,000 for two new minibuses, a wheelchair accessible car and a people mover to help with the transport of disabled youngsters going to the Bradbury Centre, in Aldermoor Road.

So far the appeal has raised more than £30,000 and it is hoped that local businesses will name The Rose Road Association as their nominated charity in order to raise the cash by the end of the summer.

One of only two centres of excellence in the entire country which provides a holistic service of education, health, therapies and respite, it looks after more than 200 youngsters between the ages of two and 25.

Young disabled people are taken to and from the school at the centre as well as taken on outings to places like Paultons Park, the cinema or even down to the pub.

Although the charity is funded by the council there is a shortfall of £250,000 a year, meaning that it has to buy, maintain and run its own minibuses.

Gary Thomasson, fundraising co-ordinator at the Rose Road, a father of three including a 12-year-old daughter with special needs, said: "The minibuses that we currently have are on their last wheels. They have been vitally important to Rose Road and we are desperate to replace them.

"Without our minibuses young people would not be able to take part in activities and outings in the local community.

"Support from the local businesses and the community is vital to our appeal. It's started off really well and we just need to keep the momentum going.

"My daughter Nicole has been coming to respite at Rose Road for ten years and this has really saved our family.

"Without the respite centre the pressure on my wife and family would have been quite extreme. It also gives us the opportunity to give our other daughters some quality time or take them out."

As well as a school the charity also runs a respite centre, a life skills centre, a short break scheme for youngsters and a play scheme to look after the children during school holidays.

Ian and Helen Talbot, from Bartley, have a four-year-old daughter, Lucy, who attends Rosewood School at the Bradbury Centre, and they say that the transport provided has changed their life.

Complex needs Lucy has the condition Aicardi Syndrome, which results in her having complex needs accompanied by severe epilepsy.

She attends the school three days a week.

For her parents Rosewood School has helped keep the family from cracking under the strain of providing constant care for Lucy and enabled them to spend time with their other children.

Ian, 44, an accountant, said: "It's an amazing place and an enormous help to us to find a school like this. Lucy certainly likes it here. She is experiencing so much more than she would be able to without the school. Lucy is totally dependent on us for all of her care. She is registered blind, deaf in one ear and unable to walk or talk.

"Her needs are severe but she is our special little girl. Coming here is a tremendous help. To find a school where she is completely cared for is brilliant."

For the couple the transport that the school provides has taken an enormous pressure off their family life, as Lucy is now cared for during the day, allowing Helen time to drive her eight-year-old son Alex to school.

Helen, 41, said: "For children like Lucy it doesn't just take five minutes putting them in the car because there's always something that will delay you.

"It's really hard to explain the pressure of just getting the kids to school. With the transport it makes our lives so much easier."

Heather Aspinall, chief executive of Rose Road, said: "We can't operate without these buses. It's vital we have transport as it allows us to take them to parks, leisure facilities, swimming, cinema and the pub. We like to take them out to ordinary activities. We take young adults up to the age of 25 so it's very important they get the same experiences as the rest of us. It also allows families a much-needed break from looking after them.

"We need the support of the local and business community to help us achieve our goal and they can help in a number of ways. Businesses could adopt Rose Road as their charity of the year and the local community could hold sponsored events."

If you would like to pledge money or would like your company or trust associated with a particular vehicle, call the pledge line on 023 8072 1203.