November is the month when a host of celebrities join the BBC to raise millions for disadvantaged youngsters. Tomorrow Magazine has this special report on an Algarve children´s charity who need your support.
For many families, a holiday which most of us take for granted is a huge undertaking when you have a disabled or special needs child. Most families feel they cannot cope with the constant staring and remarks especially when their children may have a meltdown by the pool, spill a drink in the restaurant or just suffer a total sensory overload from everything happening around them.
The Centre Algarve’s benefactor Andy Mahoney operates a transfers business in the UK, helping disabled and special needs children get to and from school. After getting to know the families he saw how much they needed a break and asked his friends Tom & Belinda Willis, to look around for a suitable property to create such a complex.
Tom and Belinda found the ideal premises in a derelict hotel in Moncarapacho and refurbished the property, with the help of over 1300 volunteers, into a homely resort catering for all the needs for disabled or special needs children and their families.
Tom and his wife Belinda became so involved in the project, that along with their two children Sam and Amy, they now run the Centre Algarve. Amy even took a course in Tourism Management at Faro Hotel and Tourism School that included a module on Accessible Tourism. The property is completely secure with alarms to give the parents the peace of mind that their children cannot get out, a particular concern for children with autism. They have created a Discovery Centre, a sensory room with disco lights, a lounge with a Karaoke machine and an accessible jacuzzi with a hoist for their guests to enjoy.
They even have a petting zoo to invigorate the senses and give the children an educational encounter that is unique and fun, to brighten up their holidays.
They decided to approach the BBC about a Pudsey Day in order to raise awareness of the Centre Algarve. The BBC confirmed that Pudsey himself had never been on holiday before so decided he could do with some time-out in the Algarve. After signing Pudsey´s lengthy contract, he travelled in the epitome of style with Algarve Removals!
Pudsey helped out at the fundraising day, pawing in over €5000 for the BBC Children in Need appeal. Along with the 300 people who attended the event Celebrity Big Brother housemates, Kellie Maloney and Dee Kelly were also queuing up to meet Pudsey. Kellie is an ambassador of the Centre Algarve and spoke to her friend Dee about the special needs holiday centre. Dee´s sister has a 2-year old daughter with a disability, so she was keen to come to the day and find out more.
Kellie explained; “It’s an amazing place where you can see families and their children enjoying themselves and relaxing like any other family on holiday. I call it a piece of heaven on earth.”
Also attending was former Paralympian Ann Wafula Strike who earned an MBE for her services to sport and disability. She brought the Olympic torch so people attending on the day could have their photo taken with the iconic Olympic symbol.
Ann said; “The magic unfolded when I spent time at the Centre Algarve with other families. All the facilities are well designed and thought out to ensure disabled and special needs are catered for. The staff bend over backwards to ensure everybody has a great holiday.”
They are in the process of creating a Portuguese charity here in the Algarve: “We have found that many of our Portuguese guests that have applied and come here get minimal funding or help from their government so we would like to help them and give back as much as possible. We will be hosting a Grand Christmas Charity Ball on the 14th of December, tickets are now on sale.”
Pudsey has hopefully ensured that the future families staying at Centre Algarve, will continue to get the Bear Necessities they need to enjoy a well-earned break in the sun!
For Ball tickets please phone Amy on 915488897
Facebook: Centre Algarve
www.centrealgarve.org
