ARRCC celebrated in full style for its Open Day and Creative Arts Exhibition last Friday, August 7, featuring the work of its members. The charity works in particular with those suffering from physical and sensory impairments and is beginning to work with people in early or moderate stages of dementia.
The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field (pictured below) opened the exhibition and was joined by the Chairman of East Sussex County Council, and mayoral representatives from Lydd, Rye (Councillor Bernardine Fiddemore), Tenterden, Winchelsea, and New Romney who were welcomed to the Creative Centre by ARRCC chairman Tony Moore.
When the exhibition of paintings was formally opened by the Lord Lieutenant, he said : “I can really say on behalf of the Queen, congratulations to ARRCC (Activities, Respite, Rehabilitation and Care Centres) on 15 years of caring work in the community. Here is some fantastic artwork created by the members themselves”.
As always with ARRCC, the focus of the day was on its members, many of whom attended and joined in the barbecue in the garden, listened to entertainment including Holly Holt from Rye College (pictured) and took part in other activities – all in glorious sunshine.
And what ARRCC means for them was summed up in the charity’s latest newsletter: Previous centres “were very good at telling me what I could NOT do” ..but “from the first day at ARRCC it was like the whole world was out there for my new taking a CAN do experience” said George Watson from Rye while Cassie Young (also from Rye) said “I most enjoy fishing, carriage driving, cooking …things which I couldn’t be able to do if I didn’t come to ARRCC as there isn’t anywhere else like it”.
Photos: Kenneth Bird