Worksop speech therapists’ mountain challenge for youngsters with communication difficulties

Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Doncaster and Bassetlaw’s children’s speech and language therapy team is climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours to help youngsters in the region get vital equipment.

About six staff based in Doncaster and Worksop, plus a family member driving, will take on Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden in May – sleeping in their minibus as they drive between the peaks, which have a combined height of nearly 10,000ft.

They are hoping to raise cash to provide valuable resources for children with speech, language and communication difficulties and the challenge follows their 2018 conquering of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, which brought in more than £1,800.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speech and language therapist, Clare Attrill said: “We are a group of speech and language therapists and assistants working in Doncaster and Bassetlaw.

Four of the team - Cheryl Orr, Clare Attrill, Nicky Guttridge and Matt Capps training for the challenge after walking up Scafell PikeFour of the team - Cheryl Orr, Clare Attrill, Nicky Guttridge and Matt Capps training for the challenge after walking up Scafell Pike
Four of the team - Cheryl Orr, Clare Attrill, Nicky Guttridge and Matt Capps training for the challenge after walking up Scafell Pike

“In 2018, we completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks - 25 miles and 5,200ft of ascent completed in 12 hours.

“It was probably the hardest thing most of us have ever done but we stayed positive and supportive to the very end.

“Thank you to everyone that donated. We raised £1,825 and were able to purchase four iPads and cases and multiple speech and language apps.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mrs Attrill said: “Since then, having shared the Ipads across our team of 25 therapists and assistants, we have seen how apps on Ipads can significantly help children with speech, language and communication needs.

Hannah Lane at the top of SnowdoniaHannah Lane at the top of Snowdonia
Hannah Lane at the top of Snowdonia

“Clinicians have found the iPads to be an invaluable tool to engage children and help them to achieve their targets.”

Read More
A Worksop couple who met on a Tinder holiday fling are now engaged, have a child...

The benefits of this equipment include being more environmentally friendly than paper-based resources and they provide a more effective therapy for children with severe speech sound difficulties that would have been difficult and time consuming without them.

Mrs Attrill said: “In the current post-covid NHS climate, in order for us to ensure that each member of our team has an Ipad to work with every child that needs our support, we need to fundraise again.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Zoe Laing hiking in the PeaksZoe Laing hiking in the Peaks
Zoe Laing hiking in the Peaks

The team will be embarking on the national Three Peaks Challenge on May 14 to 15.

Message from editor, Sam Jackson: The Worksop Guardian is full of local news, features and sport plus great columnists, puzzles pages and much more. Save up to 20% off the cover price of the Worksop Guardian by taking out a print subscription by clicking here or calling 0330 123 5950 (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm)