With Allsorts turning 15-years-old this year, we’re celebrating the remarkable progress that’s been made from our humble beginnings, to becoming a vital community resource in Gloucestershire.
One individual who has been instrumental in the Allsorts journey is Clare Garratt, one of the founding members of the charity back in 2009.
While Allsorts was officially formed 15 years ago, Clare explains that the initial idea was born a long time before then:
“In 1995, a group of professionals working with children with learning disabilities identified the need for this in the area, and received some funding from Stroud Rotary.
“We set about establishing Meadows Toy & Leisure Library and asked various families for their thoughts on how it would be useful and what toys would appeal to their children.
“Allsorts came about in 2009 when the Meadows Toy & Leisure Library merged with a parent and carer group called SNAP. There was quite a bit of overlap, and it made sense for the two groups to come together.”
The Allsorts ethos has always been to keep member families at our core and that’s exactly how the charity began, with Clare and other parents seeking better opportunities for their children with additional needs.
“I have a daughter who has a learning disability and is now 31. There wasn’t much in the way of support back then, so I think I’ve always been so keen to help and provide an increased level of support and opportunities for families who have children with additional needs.
“Once Allsorts came into being there were youth and sports clubs, with the number of activities expanding as the team has grown.”
Now Toy Library Coordinator, Allsorts remains vital to Clare, who believes its success is testament to the hard work put in by Allsorts’ staff and families.
“It’s really important to me. I only work for a few hours a week now, but it’s really good to have that flexibility and still be able to contribute in some way.
“A lot of credit goes to that original group who had the idea. Without their decision, who knows if we would be here now? The Allsorts team has continued to grow and it’s a combination of the amazing people along the way who have been involved.”
