Buy a brick and help children like Sapphire shine at Grove Cottage in Bishop’s Stortford

Grove Cottage has launched a ‘Buy a Brick’ appeal to help fund its £2.5 million building project in Bishop’s Stortford.

The new headquarters at London Road will help the charity continue its vital work giving children and adults with special needs the chance to realise their full potential.

Sapphire, a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, is just one of the tots whose lives have been transformed by the support of its nursery.

Sapphire faces daily challenges due to global developmental delay, autism and coxa valga (twisted hips). She is unable to roll over, crawl or walk and is awaiting whole genome genetic testing.

Despite these challenges, she has made remarkable progress since joining Grove Cottage’s nursery at 18 months old.

Her mother, Kelly, said: “When Sapphire started at Grove Cottage she was a shy, quiet little girl. Today, she is a bright, bubbly child who lights up the room.

“Thanks to activities such as swimming, park visits and creative play, she has grown stronger, made incredible progress in communication and is now preparing for primary school with confidence and the brightest smile.”

The nursery provides tailored care and support to help children like Sapphire reach developmental milestones and prepare for their next steps.

While Grove’s London Road home is being transformed into state-of-the-art premises, the nursery has found a temporary base at St Elizabeth’s Centre, Perry Green.

Maria Sims, nursery manager, said: “We are committed to providing a well-rounded approach to caring for children in our nursery and supporting their parents and carers.

“We work closely with community nurses and healthcare professionals to deliver tailored care for each child and support the children in their transitions into their next mainstream or specialist settings.”

Kelly added: “Grove Cottage has been a lifeline for our family. This Christmas, your generosity can help others like Sapphire thrive and give families the gift of hope and joy.”

Grove Cottage has supported families for almost 60 years and the Buy a Brick appeal will ensure its work can continue. Bricks can be bought in multiples of £10 at grovecottagebuyabrick.org.uk.