Samantha Cameron visits new children’s care centre in Horsham

Samantha Cameron has given the thumbs up to a new creche for disabled children in Horsham on a visit to the town this morning (Tuesday July 28).
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jul 2015, 13:35 BST

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Samantha Cameron pictured in 2010. Photo:Fiona Hanson/PA Wire ENGPPP00120110518152843Samantha Cameron pictured in 2010. Photo:Fiona Hanson/PA Wire ENGPPP00120110518152843
Samantha Cameron pictured in 2010. Photo:Fiona Hanson/PA Wire ENGPPP00120110518152843

The wife of Prime Minister David Cameron chatted to fellow mothers and played with youngsters while giving the seal of approval to Hop Skip and Jump.

Beaming Horsham mums Samantha Buck and Natalie Gazey, who met Mrs Cameron while visiting 10 Downing Street last year, were delighted to see her again.

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Mrs Buck said: “It was basically Samantha saying that when she had her son Ivan, she did what we do.

Hop Skip Jump disabled children's creche opening. Pic Steve Robards. SR1517484 SUS-150722-084834001Hop Skip Jump disabled children's creche opening. Pic Steve Robards. SR1517484 SUS-150722-084834001
Hop Skip Jump disabled children's creche opening. Pic Steve Robards. SR1517484 SUS-150722-084834001

“She kneeled on a toilet floor changing his continence pad. She said she would have loved to have used a facility like this as a short respite.

“When we went to Downing Street it was still very much at an early stage of discussion to make it a reality, with quite a hard slog ahead of us.”

The Camerons’ son, who was severely disabled, died in 2009.

Hop Skip and Jump, which opened in Swan Walk Shopping Centre this month, offers short respite to parents by caring for and entertaining their children.

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A hygienic facility in the town centre has been a long-term ambition for Mrs Buck and Ms Gazey, whose sons Alfie Buck and Laurence Biegstraaten are both severely disabled.

Mrs Buck said: “It is an amazing feeling. It is what we wanted it and we got it.

Ms Gazey added: “It gives you a breathing space. This is for when you have a night when you have one and a half hours’ sleep because your child has been screaming and crying.

“You know they are going to have loads of fun, and you can sit and have a coffee and give yourself some head space.

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“It is treating us like we don’t have that disability to think about.”

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Related topics:David Cameron