I am delighted to have been recently elected as TOG’s Chair of Trustees. TOG is a service that is vital and invaluable in ensuring that all children, regardless of their disability, have the best possible start to their learning journey.
TOG has been making a difference to the lives of children with additional needs living in Taunton Deane and its surrounding areas for the past fifty years. This is achieved through a multi-sensory unit which can be hired on an hourly basis, a weekly baby group and five morning sessions per week. In May 2023, TOG’s provision was rated as outstanding by Ofsted. The team are very proud of this achievement, and it reflects TOG’s dedication and hard work in delivering an individualised curriculum tailored to each child’s needs.
I have been in contact with TOG since 2019 when my daughter Ava, born with a rare genetic condition, was referred to the setting for weekly sessions in the multi-sensory unit. Following on from this, Ava attended morning sessions for two years with her wonderful key worker Hayley Hooper and the rest of the team.
TOG will always have a special place in my heart as it supported my daughter from an early age. It also provided me with a place to get advice and to ask questions about all things SEND. It is where I had an opportunity to meet fellow parents/carers which proved to be invaluable.
Because I have been through the early years SEND journey with my daughter, I can relate to TOG families and fully sympathise with individual stories, as well as feeling able to help with parent/carer questions or concerns.
My professional background is in the charity sector, specifically the management of individual giving and marketing. I am excited to use my professional skills and experience to Chair TOG and support its management moving forward.
A special thank you goes to Jennifer Bird who has supported TOG as Chair for the past seven years and who has been involved with TOG for the past fourteen years.
If you would like to get in touch, you can do so via email at chair@tauntonopportunitygroup.org.uk