Mawdesley's Rainbow Hub has welcomed children and their families back for the first time since they had to close their buildings at Mawdesley in March due to pandemic and the vulnerability of the children with disabilities they support.


Weeks of planning and changes to procedures have been put in place with a range of measures designed to keep the children safe whilst they continue the life changing therapies that help them achieve things most of us take for granted.


The new procedures are extensive, following NHS guidance, and include all staff wearing visors in sessions with children; every staff member wearing a new set of scrubs for each session; portable hand sanitisers and indoor shoes which will remain in the Hub; changes to session times to allow for full cleaning between each session.

Areas are marked off which visitors cannot enter, together with social distancing markers and signs and separate toilets for staff and visitors with hand sanitisers in all areas. Certain facilities such as the Sensory Room will only be open for individual use and a log will be kept of all staff and visitors each day with contact details.


Joanne Ashcroft, Head of Conductive Education services, Rainbow Hub, said: “Covid-19 has had a huge impact on us all, especially the children and families who normally come to Rainbow Hub. For most of them their usual care, respite and therapies stopped which wasn’t good for their physical or mental health. We did all we could to support them and their families through virtual sessions but it’s wonderful to see their gorgeous faces back at Rainbow Hub!”


Alice Hunter from Longton, whose daughter Emma (3) attends Rainbow Hub, said, “It is just a relief to be back! It feels like some sort of normality is returning. To have people who are interested in Emma and care about her and to be back where we belong is amazing.”


The family of Scarlett Price from Chorley who also attends Rainbow Hub added: “For the first time in months we felt like we were coming home, we’ve missed the staff and kids so much! Rainbow Hub is such a huge part of our lives as a family. It’s been awful missing out on all the therapy time our daughter would have had, but not only that it’s the social fun we have all throughout the year. The family days mean so much to us! We are so grateful and glad to have our big family back together again. We love you all billions!”


Lyndsay Fahey, Interim CEO at Rainbow Hub, told QLocal: " We are delighted that we are able to open again and welcome the children and their families. Lockdown has been particularly hard for them as they rely, not only for the therapy to improve their child’s physical health, but also for support from a team that understands the
challenges of caring for a child with significant additional needs. It is so important to them that we continue to deliver the services that make such a difference to their lives as their needs don’t go away because there’s a pandemic.”


She continued: “Most of our team had to be furloughed but are now returning and we will be working very hard, not only keep the children safe, but also on our fundraising. We are facing a significant challenge as we have had to cancel all of our summer events and are looking at other ways in which we can raise the vital funds
we need as we have no statutory funding. We are so very grateful to everyone who has helped us so far and if anyone would like to get more information about the work we do or support us, our web site is www.rainbowhubnw.org or we can be found on Facebook, Twitter @rainbowhubnw or www.justgiving.com/rainbowhub.

"And every penny counts.”