Little Miracles of Bourne is providing support to more than 400 families across South Kesteven
An old African proverb claims it takes a village to raise a child.
Parenting is a tough journey and most mums and dads would admit to relying on family from time to time, but for one group of friends that external support is more important than ever.
Little Miracles is a national charity which supports children with additional needs and its Bourne branch works with more than 400 families across South Kesteven.
Branch manager Lisa Jackman has taken the charity from strength to strength during her year at the helm but has ambitious plans to expand its reach.
By this time next year she hopes to be running the charity from its own premises, giving the families a safe space to call their own.
Lisa said: “I want people to feel integrated rather than isolated. We want families to be able to spend time all together rather than mum or dad going out separately with the children because it’s easier.”
Lisa knows only too well the struggles families can face when their child has additional needs.
She is a single mum to seven-year-old Savannah whose rare chromosome deletion causes complex disabilities.
Savannah has autism, epilepsy, spina bifida, scoliosis, an underdeveloped brain and speech and development delays. She is deaf in one ear and is fed by a peg in her stomach.
Lisa often relies on her elder daughter Delicia for help.
She said: “For me Little Miracles is about trying to push our boundaries.
"Savannah's autism has got worse as she gets older so she struggles with busy places and lots of noises and has no danger awareness.
"I know everyone in the group so it's a safer environment for her as we all look after each other’s children.
“Savannah struggles with the events, but if we didn’t come to Little Miracles we would just stay at home.
"It pushes me out of the house because I know people relying on me. If you don’t keep trying, you’ll never know what’s possible.”
The group runs a monthly youth club and teatime event at Deepings Caravan Park and weekly coffee mornings for parents and carers.
They also plan special events throughout the year.
Mum-of-two Peggy Kent is among those to benefit.
Her 13-year-old son Aidan has Asperger's and seven-year-old daughter Honey-Bea is visually impaired and has the genetic condition Goltz syndrome which affects her skin.
Peggy said: “Until you’re put into their world, you just couldn’t even imagine that it exists.
“It can feel like an isolation zone but Little Miracles gives you back things you thought you had lost. It makes you want to get up and put your lippy on in the morning.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child which is how this group feels. Everyone is there for support.”
The charity relies on fundraising for most of its work and has attracted huge support from the community.
Bourne mayor Brenda Johnson and The Sugar Mill have both chosen Little Miracles as their charity of the year and Bourne Toys raises money through its recycling schemes.
This fundraising will allow the charity to expand its reach and support more families across Bourne, Stamford and The Deepings.
Next year Lisa and her volunteers will look into organising swimming sessions for the children and training sessions for parents to help them deal with the practicalities of living with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting illnesses.
Volunteer Jayne Tindall is part of the administration team.
Her foster son Adam, 13, has autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep disorders.
Jayne said: “I used to work in special needs but having your own child is very different because it’s a 24/7 job.
"For six months I felt very isolated, but now we’ve made so many friends who just accept Adam for who he is.
“The social side of Little Miracles is the most important thing for me. We support each other and give advice.
"It helped us to realise we’re not alone."
The branch soon be re-branding at Little Miracles South Kesteven to attract more families from across Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings.
Its current children have a range of additional needs including autism, Down's syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, eating disorders and heart conditions.
Lisa said: "As a charity we support the whole family with any additional needs. They do not need to have a diagnosis as we know that this can sometime be a very difficult thing to achieve.
"The list of needs in our group is endless.We support anyone that reaches out to us."
To find out more about the support Little Miracles can offer, call 07984 020640, email lisa.jackman@littlemiraclescharity.org.uk or visit the Little Miracles Bourne branch page on Facebook.
