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Rainbow Rogues' need community support to launch library


By Kirsty Brown

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Rainbow Rogues - a group for pre-school children with a disability and/or additional support needs - is calling on the public to help them get their latest project off the ground.

The group has identified a recurring issue where families invest in expensive pieces of equipment and sensory toys only to discover that they are not right for their child's needs.

This is why they are keen to set up an Additional Support Needs Equipment Library, which would allow a family to test equipment at home before purchasing it themselves and reduce the amount of money spent unneccesarily.

While they already have a small number of items available for families to hire, they are now looking for the public's support to extend the number of items available.

To work out what they wanted in their library, the group held research into which items were most commonly bought and then found to be unsuitable and which items the members of their group thought they would benefit from being able to 'try before they buy' most.

Every single person who completed their survey said that they would benefit from a trial period before making the decision to purchase, proving that there is a real need for the equipment library.

Some of the items which have already been donated from their wishlist.
Some of the items which have already been donated from their wishlist.

The coronavirus pandemic has limited the availability of funding opportunities at present, and so Rainbow Rogues have now launched a public wishlist featuring a number of items which they would like to add to their library, including toys, equipment, communication aids and safety items.

They are also in the process of contacting businesses and manufacturers in their search for support.

Speaking about the project online, a group spokesperson wrote: "Currently we have a small number of items available to hire, all of which have been donated, and this has so far been successful.

"We plan to charge a nominal fee for this service which will be invested back into the scheme to maintain the equipment and buy new items.

"We are confident that this scheme will be a success and hope that the kindness of strangers will help us achieve our goal.

"Any donation made either now or when life gets back to normal would be very much appreciated."

If you would like to support Rainbow Rogues in setting up their ASN Equipment Library, you can purchase an item directly from their Amazon wishlist (www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/5W7YD78O67VD), or alternatively you can contact them through their Facebook page or by e-mailing: hello@rainbowrogues.org.uk.

Thanks to the funding which Rainbow Rogues received from the STV Children's Appeal, they were able to provide their families with wellbeing boxes during lockdown to bring some light to a dark time.

The boxes included crafts and fun toys for children as well as sweet treats for the adults.


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