Page 21 - Real Rochdale Issue 14 Summer 2022

Jolly Josh charity opens fully-inclusive

centre for disabled children

The Jolly Josh charity has opened the doors to its Alison, and Peter’s wife, Sharon, said: “Pete would
inclusive centre in Castleton, having been officially have been really proud to see Jolly Josh completed.
opened by the Mayor of Rochdale, Aasim Rashid in
April. “He would have been very grateful for the support
from everyone.”
The children’s charity hosts stay-and-play sessions
for children with disabilities and special needs. Named after their son, Jolly Josh was started
in September 2017 by Carole and James Kelly,
The premises at Ensor Mill are fully accessible for after discovering there were no groups for young
a range of needs and disabilities with specialist disabled children in Rochdale.
interactive sensory equipment for the children
and their families to enjoy together - with many of Josh was diagnosed with the genetic condition
the children’s faces lighting up at having their own Mitochondrial Disease at the age of six months.
space, specifically for them. After his condition deteriorated, Josh was taken to
Derian House children’s hospice, where he died on
The venue has a multi-functional room for various 27 August 2017, just one month before Jolly Josh
sessions, including the stay-and-play baby and was due to begin.
toddler sessions, complete with a range of activities:
there’s an interactive ‘magic carpet’ (purchased with The stay-and-play sessions were set up with the
a donation from the East Lancashire Freemasons), hope to bring families together, provide peer-to- Zack Kerr (centre) opened the Changing Places toilet at Jolly Josh with James & Carole Kelly
a ceiling hoist to aid moving which spans the entire peer support, share experiences, and eliminate
length and breadth of the room, plus various toys isolation, especially for children with disabilities
and even equipment donated by bereaved parents. and special needs throughout the borough.

A specially built hydrotherapy pool is already The group continues in his legacy, with the opening
proving popular, with one parent describing how of such a needed place proving emotional for many.
being in the water is freeing for her wheelchair-
bound daughter, and how it’s the only time they can Mother of two Jaime Foster, 32, who has cerebral
share a hug, something so many take for granted. palsy, said that she didn’t realise she would
be emotional. She said: “My school did build a
There are two disabled toilets on site, plus the hydrotherapy pool and it helped so much. It helped
second ‘Changing Places’ toilet in the borough, ease pain I didn’t even know I had, and seeing this
which was proudly opened by Zack Kerr, 26, a one, it hit me that I never had facilities like this, not
Changing Places campaigner and winner of the here in Castleton.
National Diversity Awards 2021.
“When you’re a child, you don’t know any different,
Jolly Josh was given 10 years’ worth of free rent but mum felt like there was nothing there, nothing
at Ensor Mill by local businessman, the late Peter available or that I didn’t fit the criteria. I was very
Cordwell in 2019. lucky to be treated like everyone else and accepted,
but I had to realise my limits and overcome them.
A ball held in April to commemorate Peter’s 50th
birthday helped raise a staggering £164,000 whilst “There’s so many things here that will make things
Alison McGuigan, Peter’s sister and a trustee of easier for people that able-bodied people take for
Jolly Josh, helped raise over £60,000 last year. granted. Sometimes people are surprised I have
work and have children, but it shows that children
A special blue plaque, modelled after heritage can become something, and I like the idea that
plaques, has been installed outside the venue in someone like me [with their own needs] could be
Peter’s memory. that role model for them.” Carole and James Kelly with their children Sophie and Oliver at the opening of Jolly Josh

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