Mission Statement
The Paige Project is a charity organisation whose main objectives are to raise funds to benefit disadvantaged children with physical and mental disabilities (primarily caused by cerebral palsy), by supplying their family, care facilities or social workers with equipment or training courses to assist in the child’s development.
History
Paige Morgan Barson was born with Cerebral Palsy on the 9th of November 2006. Further complications have left her with moderate to severe brain damage and blindness. In August 2007 David, Paige’s uncle, arranged an event to raise funds to purchase an orthopedic chair to assist with support of her spinal structure.
Based on the success of the event and the progress of Paige, it was decided to create a permanent project through which funds could be raised to benefit other children with similar conditions but more importantly to educate caregivers and equip them with the necessary tools to effectively look after these children.
Founding Members
Each member of The Paige Project has a direct or close affiliation to children who have unfortunately been born with Cerebral Palsy. More importantly though, each of the members are close friends with one another and their families. Having spent so much time together through school and through life thereafter, an extremely close bond has thus been created through which all members wish to dedicate a great deal of their time to making a difference in the world.
David Barson (Chairman) and James Barson, (Director) are brothers and have both been blessed with the beauty that is Paige. Paige, who is James’s daughter, is the inspiration that gave birth to The Paige Project, and together with their families, they have dedicated themselves to Paige and furthermore to the cause that is Cerebral Palsy.
Grant Nock, (Director/Treasurer) and Theo Bierman (Director) are both friends of David.
Grant and David met in school and have since then stuck together. Due to Grant being such a big part in the Barson family, has also dedicated himself to The Paige Project not only for Paige herself but for others in similar need and more.
Theo Bierman also has a close affiliation to Cerebral Palsy. Theo’s niece, who attends The New Hope School, was also born with Cerebral Palsy. Although not as severe as Paige, her Cerebral Palsy has limited her throughout life and without associations such as The Paige Project, children such as Paige, Theo’s niece Sian and many others might not have lived the life they could.
About Ruth Stubbs
Over eighteen years’ experience working with children with varying disabilities and in so doing working alongside their families ensuring that all the aspects needed for supporting the family are met. Aspects such as education, individual educational plans, inclusive education integration, stimulation at home including play/communication as well as feeding, dressing, seating and positioning and awareness raising pertaining disability within families and communities. Where a physical disability is present assessing and prescribing appropriate wheelchairs and relevant therapeutic equipment for holistic development.
Extensive work with regard to all aspects of disability training – both practical hands on training as well as awareness raising for therapists, social workers, health practioners, care workers, Parents and Guardians.
Assessing children for wheelchairs, prescribing wheelchairs based on their specific needs and then fitting the wheelchair and making the necessary adaptations to ensure that their bodies are well aligned and correctly supported within the wheelchair in order to promote inclusion and function. Assessing children for disability equipment and alternative devices which would further assist their holistic development and inclusion into society.
Work at local government hospitals in an advisory capacity supporting physiotherapists and occupational therapists with prescription and fitting of various wheelchairs and therapeutic equipment for their patients. Training at local government hospitals with regard to seating and positioning principles as well as product choice in order to ensure that government therapists make the correct prescription and seat the children accordingly.
Work with various NGO’s advising with regard to appropriate distribution of funding with regard to specific individual cases or funding for schools or care centres.
Extensive work in more rural areas and in informal settlements assisting and advising Families, caregivers and health workers with regard to care of children with disabilities.
Experienced in; development issues and strategies within communities, care centres and schools. Human rights, especially pertaining the rights of children and adults with disabilities. Child protection, specifically children with disabilities.