About Us

Our Centre

Our Centre is more than just a building - it’s a vibrant, welcoming space where disabled children can play, learn and grow

Welcome to Our Centre

The Trust converted a Victorian former print-works into a respite facility in 2017 and it is now full of fun, colour and care for disabled children. The Centre is the real hub of everything we do at the Trust. It’s a space for the community to come together and share their similar experiences while the children have the best time possible. It’s the home of our Little Stars Nursery, the base for holiday respite and a sanctuary for siblings. Our office is found upstairs where all the busy planning occurs.

Our History
A two-story white building with colorful planters outside, under a clear blue sky.
A person in a jacket smiles while holding a spoon, next to a hot chocolate with marshmallows.

In the Heart of the Community

Based just off of Uckfield High Street, the Centre is central to a lot of the families we support. With a thriving local community, we are able to take our young people out to work on life skills and give them as many great opportunities as possible.

The Centre is fitted out to meet the needs of every individual and character that visits us. Careful consideration has been taken to ensure that every part of it is accessible and it is a fun, immersive experience.

Our Centre's Spaces

The main day care room is the real heart of our Centre and it is filled to the brim with the fantastic toys many of which have been kindly donated. The soft play is an incredible place to captivate the imagination of the children that we welcome through our doors. The care team have worked incredibly hard to create a space that fosters education and promotes play amongst the children.

Allocated sensory areas in the main room ensure that children are getting the all-important sensory input they need to stimulate and regulate their complex needs and emotions.

A colorful children's playroom with a slide, toys, and tables arranged around the room.

A lift takes children to the first floor of the Centre, where we have our quiet lounge with a big TV and interactive games, a little library, comfy sofas and bean bags. This is a great space for parents to meet, siblings to chat and children to relax.

Upstairs, we also have a room which is our dedicated sensory room which is full of controllable lights, colours and textures. The walls are filled with a beautiful under the sea mural courtesy of our volunteer Anne-Marie.

Our outside space is an ever growing stage for the imagination. Children of all ages are invited to explore their senses, challenge their limits, and revel in the sheer joy of play.

Support & Future Needs

We are so pleased with how our Centre has evolved with the support of our community. We have received some incredibly generous donations from Trusts & Foundations, local companies, Rotary Clubs and Masonic lodges around the south coast since 2017 to secure the capital side of our project of opening up our Centre.

These wonderful donations have enabled us to move forward in a big way, but now we have to work really hard in securing the care costs. We have a beautiful and developed Centre, but we need to secure the costs that go along with providing support to families, such as salaries, rent, utilities and staff training.

To support our project and join us on this incredible journey, visit our 'Support Us' tab and find out how you can help children with disabilities and their families.

Volunteer

Become a Volunteer

Volunteers are at the heart of the Children’s Respite Trust, and we’d love for you to join us in making a difference.

Join Us
Donate

Make a Donation

No family should be left to care for a disabled child alone. Help us to continue providing support for families that need it most.

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