The Children's Trust, Tadworth
Encyclopedia
The Children's Trust, Tadworth is a national charity that provides care, education and therapy to children and young people with multiple disabilities and complex health needs. The Trust runs the UK's largest rehabilitation centre for children with acquired brain injuries (ABI).
In 2009 the Trust celebrated its 25th anniversary with a number of projects, including the opening of its brand new, state of the art rehabilitation centre for children with brain injuries. This £7.2 million building has been funded entirely by voluntary donations and was opened in July 2009 by TV presenter Richard Hammond
, who is also a Vice President of the Trust.
At the 2010 Virgin London Marathon
, The Children's Trust was one of the 26 charities chosen to take part in Phil Packer
's "26 Miles for 26 Charities" challenge. In April 2009, the Trust was the official charity of the 2009 Flora London Marathon. The Trust runs a range of fund-raising events, including the annual Dad's Day Out, an action-packed family event with rides in supercars and helicopters at Dunsfold Aerodrome
.
Recent awards won by The Children's Trust include: Top 100 UK Best Workplaces (May 2010), Effectiveness Awards at The Charity Awards 2010 (June 2010) and Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year - Provider at the Rehab First Awards (July 2009).
The Children's Trust's celebrity Vice-Presidents include Hammond, Phil Tufnell
, Michael Aspel
, Amanda Burton
, Joan Collins
, Elaine Paige
and Gail Porter
.
. In 1984, the Department of Health transferred management control to the newly created charity The Children’s Trust.
Tadworth Court is the Manor House of the Manor of Tadworth
which lies within the parish of Banstead, by Banstead Downs, a famous racecourse for London in the 17th century. Banstead was well known as an Airing Place at this period, where Londoners sought fresh air, being 600 feet above sea level. The attractions of Epsom Spa also encouraged the citizens of London to settle in the area.
Tadworth Court is a remarkable building, a forgotten country house of the 17th century, yet perhaps the most perfect example of its type that still survives today. Pevsner described it as a ’splendid house’ and ’one of the most elegant in the whole country’. He was amazed that such a house so close to London was virtually unknown. Amazingly no pictures of the house are known before the 20th century.
The owners of the house: The first owner, Leonard Wessel, a merchant purchased the estate in 1694. He was Sheriff of the County in 1700 and a Member of Parliament in 1701. Whilst of a Dutch family, his great grandfather was born in England in 1557. Recent work to the house revealed that it does not incorporate an earlier building, but in common with all buildings of this period contains some reused beams due to the growing shortage of timber. 1694 is the likely construction date of the house and by 1698 the Banstead Court Rolls record that Wessel applied for leave ’to plant rows of trees on the Heath, fronting his dwelling house and leading towards the Warren.’ One of these, a large Poplar survived until the 19th century.
Wessel died in 1708. The house appears on contemporary maps and Celia Fiennes in 1712 describes it as one of ’several good houses in or about Epsham’, though by then in the possession of Sir Thomas Scawen, Alderman of London, his brother-in-law.
In 2009 the Trust celebrated its 25th anniversary with a number of projects, including the opening of its brand new, state of the art rehabilitation centre for children with brain injuries. This £7.2 million building has been funded entirely by voluntary donations and was opened in July 2009 by TV presenter Richard Hammond
Richard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
, who is also a Vice President of the Trust.
At the 2010 Virgin London Marathon
London Marathon
The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...
, The Children's Trust was one of the 26 charities chosen to take part in Phil Packer
Phil Packer
Phil Packer, MBE is a former British Provost Officer who suffered severe spinal cord injuries whilst on active service in February 2008. Despite being told at the time that he would never walk again, he has since undertaken a number of physical challenges for charity, including walking the London...
's "26 Miles for 26 Charities" challenge. In April 2009, the Trust was the official charity of the 2009 Flora London Marathon. The Trust runs a range of fund-raising events, including the annual Dad's Day Out, an action-packed family event with rides in supercars and helicopters at Dunsfold Aerodrome
Dunsfold Aerodrome
Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, England, near the village of Cranleigh, was built by the Canadian Army and civilian contractors as a Class A Bomber Airfield for Army Co-operation Command...
.
Recent awards won by The Children's Trust include: Top 100 UK Best Workplaces (May 2010), Effectiveness Awards at The Charity Awards 2010 (June 2010) and Rehabilitation Initiative of the Year - Provider at the Rehab First Awards (July 2009).
The Children's Trust's celebrity Vice-Presidents include Hammond, Phil Tufnell
Phil Tufnell
Philip Clive Roderick Tufnell is a former English cricketer turned television personality. A slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler, "Tuffers" as he was known played 42 Tests and 20 One Day International matches for England, as well as playing for Middlesex from 1986 to 2002...
, Michael Aspel
Michael Aspel
Michael Terence Aspel, OBE is an English television presenter, known for his reserved demeanour and rich speaking voice. He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life, Strange But...
, Amanda Burton
Amanda Burton
Amanda Burton is an award-winning actress from Northern Ireland. Burton is best known for her high-profile television roles as Karen Fisher in Waterloo Road , Sam Ryan in the BBC crime drama series Silent Witness, Clare Blake in The Commander, Beth Glover in Peak Practice, and Heather Black in the...
, Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
, Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
and Gail Porter
Gail Porter
Gail Porter is a Scottish television presenter.- Life and career :Porter attended Portobello High School. She studied a BTEC HND in Media Production at West Herts College...
.
Services
The Children's Trust's services include:- Residential rehabilitation for children with an acquired brain injuryAcquired brain injuryAn acquired brain injury is brain damage caused by events after birth, rather than as part of a genetic or congenital disorder such as fetal alcohol syndrome, perinatal illness or perinatal hypoxia. ABI can result in cognitive, physical, emotional, or behavioural impairments that lead to permanent...
- Therapy-led support in the community for children with an acquired brain injury
- Special education for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) at St Margaret's School, Tadworth
- Short breaks, both residential and in the family home (outreach)
- Transitional care for children who are technology dependent (eg on a ventilator or complex tracheostomy)
- Long-term residential care
- Palliative care.
History
From 1927 until 1983, Tadworth Court was the country branch of Great Ormond Street HospitalGreat Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
. In 1984, the Department of Health transferred management control to the newly created charity The Children’s Trust.
Tadworth Court is the Manor House of the Manor of Tadworth
Tadworth
Tadworth is a large suburban village in Surrey, on the south-east slope of Epsom Downs. It forms part of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The census area Tadworth and Walton has a population of 7,016. Neighbouring settlements include Walton-on-the-Hill, Kingswood, Epsom, Burgh Heath, Banstead,...
which lies within the parish of Banstead, by Banstead Downs, a famous racecourse for London in the 17th century. Banstead was well known as an Airing Place at this period, where Londoners sought fresh air, being 600 feet above sea level. The attractions of Epsom Spa also encouraged the citizens of London to settle in the area.
Tadworth Court is a remarkable building, a forgotten country house of the 17th century, yet perhaps the most perfect example of its type that still survives today. Pevsner described it as a ’splendid house’ and ’one of the most elegant in the whole country’. He was amazed that such a house so close to London was virtually unknown. Amazingly no pictures of the house are known before the 20th century.
The owners of the house: The first owner, Leonard Wessel, a merchant purchased the estate in 1694. He was Sheriff of the County in 1700 and a Member of Parliament in 1701. Whilst of a Dutch family, his great grandfather was born in England in 1557. Recent work to the house revealed that it does not incorporate an earlier building, but in common with all buildings of this period contains some reused beams due to the growing shortage of timber. 1694 is the likely construction date of the house and by 1698 the Banstead Court Rolls record that Wessel applied for leave ’to plant rows of trees on the Heath, fronting his dwelling house and leading towards the Warren.’ One of these, a large Poplar survived until the 19th century.
Wessel died in 1708. The house appears on contemporary maps and Celia Fiennes in 1712 describes it as one of ’several good houses in or about Epsham’, though by then in the possession of Sir Thomas Scawen, Alderman of London, his brother-in-law.
External links
- Official website
- BBC TV news story about a girl who has received residential rehabilitation at The Children's Trust following a stroke aged six
- Article from The Guardian newspaper about the highly specialised education offered by St Margaret's School at The Children's Trust
- Article from The Sunday Times Magazine about The Children's Trust's services
- Daily Mail story about a young man who came to The Children's Trust following a traumatic brain injury