April 2021 – Parkside, Aldershot & District Learning Disabilities

Parkside is our chosen charity for April and here’s a bit about them!

History of Parkside

Parkside is a registered charity based in Aldershot and Farnborough that provides support services for some 200 children and adults with learning disabilities living in the local area, covering both Hampshire and Surrey.  It was founded in 1963 by a group of parents who realised that the support for families who had children with special needs was limited.  The premises next to the park on Guildford Road were built and the first playgroup was started (affectionately known as the Peter Pan Club).  Since then, Parkside has strived to fulfil the need for more services and has gone from strength to strength.

Parkside’s Aim

Parkside’s aim as a charity is to give both children and adults the opportunity to develop their individual skills and take part in activities within the local community. Needs can vary from requiring support to socialise with friends, to participating in leisure activities, meeting new people, developing life skills, work experience opportunities and providing respite for other family members. We embrace our community links with our Gardening in the community and our FAB Café situated within Farnborough Library both are work experience projects.

By reaching out into the community, Parkside aims to develop and strengthen its links with local people and organisations, creating opportunities for everyone to be involved and included.

What Princes Mead means to us

Princes Mead is a central point for us, we see the mall as a safe place to bring clients who enjoy to shop there. The Princes Mead Team have always been community spirited and we have enjoyed engaging with a variety of initiatives that they have created to help charities over the years. It’s important to us as a local charity to have this support as it also gives us the opportunity to highlight what we do; we have through a presence in the Mall been able to support families who were unaware that there was local respite and social activities for children and adults with a learning disability – just brilliant!

 

For more information please click here