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Kids Out Day - 13th June 2007
Every year Rotary in Britain and Ireland organises a day out for disadvantaged and special needs children and young people throughout the country called ‘Rotary Kids Out Day’. This year the day chosen was Wednesday, 13th June.
Although the Rotary Club of Abingdon Vesper has been very active in giving disadvantaged children days out on our annual barge trip, we have not participated in the national Kids Out Day as a club. Abingdon Vesper chose transport as its theme organising a river trip in the morning and a visit to Didcot Steam Railway in the afternoon.
For further information on ‘Kids Out’ see http://www.kidsout.org.uk
Kids Out 'On the Water'
The river trip was a round trip between Oxford and Abingdon. Our first pick-up point saw 5 Rotarians and volunteers joined by 3 children (all wheel chair bound) and 5 adults from Helen & Douglas House, a hospice for children and young adults in Oxford. For one of the children this was his first experience on a boat. His parents were thrilled to be able to come along as well and ended the trip determined to take him on a boat again.
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Also joining us were 7 mothers and 8 toddlers from the South Abingdon Children's Centre. The toddlers had a great time using the boat as a large playground challenging those supervising to be more alert than ever!!
At our second pick-up-point we were joined by 20 youngsters (3 in wheelchairs) from Fitzwaryn School, a school for children with special needs in Wantage, 13 carers and 7 Rotarians with partners. Excitement was an understatement on this occasion! The children were thrilled to be on a boat and were prolific in their thanks throughout the trip. A balloon and disposable camera were given to each child.
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The children had a wonderful time taking pictures of their friends, teachers and the wildlife along the river, of which there was much to see. The boat was a mass of colour with all the balloons tied to seats and wheel chairs - not one blew away - a miracle!! Our very patient skipper allowed several of the older children to ‘drive’ the boat which, for those who did, made the day even more special.
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After turning around in Abingdon, we headed back to Oxford. Those regularly scheduled passengers whom we picked up in addition to our children thoroughly enjoyed the unusual jolly atmosphere - not the quiet river trip they expected!! Some of the passengers joining us in Abingdon were wheel chair bound youngsters from Croydon who had missed their ‘Kids Out’. We welcomed them to ours and gave each a camera and a balloon so that they could join in on our fun.
After seeing our charges safely on their way home, The Rotarians, partners and volunteers all adjourned for a pub lunch at Sandford Lock - a great way to end a great day.
The weather was perfect and we all had a super time. We certainly look forward to next year.
Kids Out 'Under Steam'
36 children plus teachers and parents from three different organisations (two local schools and Sutton Courtenay Family Centre) enjoyed a fascinating afternoon at the Great Western Society's Railway Centre at Didcot. The Centre boasts a unique collection of Great Western Railway steam engines, coaches, wagons, buildings and small relics and the children were clearly captivated by the sights and sounds before them.
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The highlight was a train ride in beautifully restored coaches pulled by steam loco "Bonnie Prince Charlie". The journey took the children "back in time" to deposit them at a re-creation of Brunel's broad gauge railway complete with a faithful replica of the original 'Fire Fly' locomotive designed by Daniel Gooch in 1840.
The visit also gave some of the children the opportunity to walk around the original engine shed and visit the new learning centre. The Railway Centre's resident experts provided a wealth of information as well as answering a host of questions from their eager visitors. Our grateful thanks to them and to the Great Western Society for making it such a memorable day for everyone."
"Thank you so much for our sensational afternoon at Didcot Steam Centre. I am hoping that the children will produce some art work and we are waiting with baited breath to see the photos from the cameras you so kindly gave them - for some it was their first ever trip on a train. Do thank all your volunteers for their efforts to make this a good day for everyone."