The Bude Learning shop have compiled a nice little recipe book with which they’re raising funds for the Little Rays of Sunshine Club. At only £1 apiece, that’s got to be a bargain.

Just a quick note to let everyone know that we’ve moved to the Bude Children’s Centre situated between and behind Bude Junior and Bude Infants schools. Meetings are on Fridays from 3-5pm. Currently we’re concentrating Music Therapy.

Once again time has flown and I’ve failed miserably to keep you up to date.

For some time now our Little Rays have been taking swimming lessons thanks to Horace Parsons who gives his time so generously. Also thanks to the Bude Free Spirits. Their recent donation funded the purchase of swimming equipment and bouyancy aids which will bring our children on. This has meant that the Thursday meetings have been taking part at the Penstowe leisure centre swimming pool.

One wonderful outcome of this is, our older kiddies who have now moved on to Bude Infant School are allowed, with permission, to take time away from school to continue with one of lifes most valuable of skills.

Another huge boon is that the Area Resource Base (ARB) situated behind Bude Infant school has invited us to a drop-in session every Monday from 3pm-5pm. The ARB provides resources for all children in the area with special needs and is loaded to the rafters with special sensory equipment, brilliant for any child, essential for special needs children children. We have of course accepted the offer gratefully.

Our ties with local government and teaching instutions have grown firmer over the last year and continue to do so. After our trip to Euro-Disney with the Cornwall Downs Association Support Group We attended the Family fun day and the Dragon Leisure Centre - Bodmin organised by North Cornwall Family Services in November. Littlerays and the ARB had a Christmas party together. We also had a christmas party with the D.A.S.G. based in Newquay. Also, bearing in mind we are a family oriented group. Mum’s, Dad’s, Carer’s and Helpers got together for a Christmas do of their own.

Into the new year and we were again contacted by the Bude Childrens Centre and invited to join in a fun day on the 19th of January. This was specifically aimed at Dads other Male family members for all families in the area. A very pleasant day, but it has to be said, Dad’s and other male family members already offer their Little Rays a great deal of help and support. I can safely say in this respect we are firmly at the head of the column.

What of the future. Well our ties with the establishment continue to grow especially in respect to the ARB. We will be doing more together. Family services for the area know what we can offer and make us known to people who might find us of help. In March we will be having our second birthday. Then I’m sure there’s going to be one or two visits to the Milky Way and such like.

Already, some of our Little Rays have moved on to Infant School. Thanks to our links the path is smooth and problems are invariably dealt with before they arise. We can see we have helped them in their self confidence and people skills. They are not shy or phased by the prospect of school and thus far (fingers crossed) no reluctance to attend.

Finaly, maybe I should have said this first. Thanks to all the good folk who have raised funds and made donations to the group. Without your help we would not be here.

We’ve been adopted as the Bude and North Cornwall Golf Club’s charity for the year. The 7th of July is captains day and our members have been invited to the club and join in the days acitivities. Tracey and Ashley will be representing us at midday. But it is important other members also try and make an effort to attend because this is a big fund raising event for the group. There is also a meal in the evening costing £10. Group members wishing to attend should call our Chairman Lynne Green.