On Friday morning I arranged to meet with Juliette Francis at the White Lodge. The White Lodge, based in Chertsey, supports disabled children, adults and their families or carers in Surrey and the surrounding area. They provide a specialist children's centre offering daily therapy services, nursery education for young children with Cerebral Palsy and they have youth schemes providing overnight activity breaks at their Tree Tops accommodation or in the family home.

The White Lodge also support physically disabled adults in developing interests and achieving individual goals by offering services within a variety of locations. These include therapy services, creative arts, leisure and life skills, information technology in the Karten Computer Suite, supported volunteering, support in finding employment and in accessing other local facilities.

I met with Juliette and Jacqui Bremner and started by talking to them about the wheel life. They loved the idea and are looking forward to telling their members about the site. I then got a tour of the complex and it was amazing to see all the facilities they have for working with disabled people. They have a great outdoor adventure playground for children and are currently building a new £2 million pound complex where they will have health suites, computer and IT rooms, therapy rooms and a café and recreation area where people can meet and socialise. It should be ready in June 2008

I first heard about the White Lodge through my dad who had supported and raised money for them through his company almost 20 years ago so they have been around for a long time. 45 years to be exact and they are totally funded by donations, so if you can help then get in touch with them. Go to  http://www.whitelodgecentre.co.uk/.