Watford playgroup raises almost £1,000 packing Christmas shopping (From Watford Observer)

Watford playgroup, Playskill, raises almost £1,000 packing Christmas shopping bags

12:00pm Monday 24th December 2012 in News By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter

A Watford playgroup for children with physical disabilities raised nearly £1,000 packing Christmas shopping bags.

Playskill was launched in 2006 to provide specialist care for children aged one to five with physical difficulties or delays.

Led by Andrea Clarke, the group's staff and volunteers provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy at sessions held in Watford and Hemel Hempstead.

On Friday the group visited Sainsbury's in Apsley to pack bags and sing carols.

Ms Clarke said: "We are so grateful to members of Gill Backhouse’s choir in Chorleywood who turned up to sing, and to all the volunteers who turned out to help from all walks of life.

"Dennis, our chairman, arrived to sing and never left - he remarked on how moving it was to see so many people club together to help and raise awareness of Playskill.

"We loaded his car up with cash at the end and he then counted it till 1 am, there was £400 in one pound coins, with an amazing total of £920 raised."