From F. C. Price
ANEW 1.eonard Cheshire home for mentally handicapped children is to open this month in Christleton, a village about four miles from Chester.
The last owner of the house, Miss Irene Roberts. who died last year, bequeathed it in her will to the Cheshire Foundation. Since -then about £10,000 has been spent on renovations and alteretions.
"The Green". as the house is called. will he the second Leonard Cheshire Home in Cheshire and only the second in the country to cater especially for handicapped children. Although it will cater primarily for children in the county. it is anticipated that they will come from many parts of the country and from North Wales.
FIRST MATRON
First matron is Mrs. Mary Allcroft. who has been in charge of the Cheshire Home for Handicapped Children at Dorchester since 1960.
She told me: "It must he remembered that this is not a hospital. Our aim is to make a home for these children." One of the main tasks, she said, will be "to teach the children how to dress and feed themselves and to give them toilet training. Those who are already attending special training centres run by the local authority will continue to do so where this is possible".
When fully operational the new home will have six resident st!tff and eight nursery assistants. Mrs. Allcroft is anxious to gear from anyone interested in such work.
There has been a good response to a local appeal for financial help. but more money is needed for running the home, providing equipment, and extending facilities. Where a child is sent to the home by a local authority it will pay the fee of 10 gns. a week.