Children’s centre threatened with closure

The Camelia Botnar Children’s Centre in Goring requires £250,000 a year to stay open and faces an uncertain future if financial assistance is not secured by the end of April.

It provides pre-school development support for around 70 children up to five years old with a range of special needs, and attracts families from all over West Sussex.

Families from across West Sussex use the centre and have praised the work it does in supporting children and babies with additional needs.

David and Kerry Tizzard, from Littlehampton, say their son Davis, four, has thrived since he started attending the centre.

Mr Tizzard said: “Davis is low-functioning autistic and non-verbal and this place is very important for him and for help with his additional needs that he would not get in a mainstream nursery.

“He gets help with communication and speech and the sensory play here that they do is absolutely amazing.”

His wife added: “Here, Davis will stand next to the other kids and share the toys with them rather than standing on his own at mainstream nursery. “It is more relaxing for him here as the kids are on a similar level.”

The centre’s future will be decided next month.

For more information about the charity, go to www.camelia-botnar-childrens-centre.org