We announced in September that we will be reopening our Daleside Centre in Ashbourne for Day Breaks! And the day is finally here! Children and young people across Derbyshire, who are facing serious challenges in their lives, have been welcomed back for fun, friends, and new activities.
In March 2020, the pandemic forced us to close our Centres in Derbyshire and Cornwall and we have been eager to reopen both centres to provide children who have been bereaved, abused or bullied, who are living in poverty or caring for loved ones the chance to escape their worries and pressures. Under the wide-open skies of our centre in Derbyshire, and the soothing waves near our centre in Cornwall, children arrive on a Go Beyond Break with the weight of the world on their shoulders and leave knowing that there is more in their future than their day-to-day struggles.
Michele Farmer was announced as our new CEO in August and has led the charity from one success to another after a difficult year. She joined Go Beyond from her role as Director of the Local Enterprise Partnership (D2N2) for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and is proud to be re-opening Go Beyond’s Daleside Centre in an area close to her heart.
Michele Farmer, CEO, said: “The last 18 months have been a challenge to us all but it’s fantastic that we are open and now offering local children the opportunity to experience a Day Break with us too. Its testimony to the amazing work of our Breaks Team that the Centre is ready to reopen and that the team has come back together to support us.”
The Daleside Centre previously ran five-day long Residential Breaks that catered to children across the UK. However, in the wake of COVID-19 it has become clear that there is an urgent need for children who live close to Go Beyond’s Centres to have a break from their circumstances. We created a Day Break offer where local children who have been referred to the charity can experience the same break, but without the overnight stay.
Will Sinclair, Centre Manager for Daleside, shares: “It is a hugely exciting time for us to finally be able to re-open Daleside to both our Day Breaks and in the not-too-distant future, our Residential Breaks. I previously spent four years as a Break Leader, and I now feel very lucky to be back as Centre Manager. I’m thrilled to be re-joining Go beyond at this exciting time and I’m looking forward to what the future brings for Daleside”.
As a charity, who are celebrating their 30th birthday next year, we aim to give children the chance to make memories that last a lifetime. Children are supported and encouraged to make friends and to try new activities that help build their confidence. Throughout their time on a break, the children are surrounded by caring, fun, and skilled staff who help inspire their self-belief, so they can go back home with new energy and resilience.
Michele Farmer, CEO, continues: “Our Day Breaks have proved a lifeline for local children during the Pandemic at our Coastal Centre in Cornwall and we are thrilled to now be providing this opportunity to children and young people in the East Midlands, alongside our Residential Breaks offer.”
“It’s been a difficult time financially throughout COVID-19, so as we rebuild our offer at Daleside we need support more than ever. We are always looking for volunteers to assists our breaks at both centres, and we are keen to support fundraisers who choose to take on new challenges, put on a local community event, or simply wish to make a donation.”
