Life, as our Chair of Trustees describes it, is like riding a bicycle—you have to keep moving. Meet Paul Lockyer, who’s been at the trustees’ helm since 2022 – and in this recent conversation, he shared what inspired him to get involved with Embrace, what keeps him hooked, and his hopes for the charity’s future. 

After a successful career in the technology sector, collaborating with great teams and developing innovative products for leading companies around the globe, Paul felt it was time for a change. “There are plenty of books about reinvention, embracing change, and being brave,” Paul reflects. “My career gave me an opportunity to be brave and try something completely different.” 

We can’t believe it, but the Embrace Toy Library celebrated its one-year anniversary in December! 

 

We know the Toy Library is a unique, invaluable resource for families in our community, and we’re so proud of it – so this month, we’re celebrating this wonderful facility and how it means so much to the families who belong to it… 

The Toy Library was originally created as North Bedfordshire Toy Library. When it could no longer be run by its founders, it was generously gifted to us in December 2023. It’s now run on behalf of Embrace by the amazing Brittney, who volunteers her time and energy – and we’re proud to say that it continues to be a huge support in the lives of many families. 

 

In exchange for membership of £1 per month, families can choose from a wide range of high-quality toys, games, and sensory items that are available for loan – up to five per family per month. Whether it’s a puzzle, a fidget toy, or a sensory playset, these resources offer not just entertainment, but also crucial developmental support for children with SEN. 

We love to hear about how our services have supported and made a difference to the lives of our young people and their families – and in our 70th anniversary year, we’re celebrating them as well. 

 

We asked one of our families to tell us about their experiences with Embrace, and for any advice they’d give to others at the start of their own journeys. Please meet 11-year-old Anaye and her Mum, Vongai… 

Anaye fell ill soon after her birth, and she was diagnosed with a rare metabolic disorder. She was in Intensive Care for almost a year, which was very hard on the family. Anaye suffered brain damage during the illness, which led to global developmental delay, and she is a wheelchair user. 

 

We first got involved with Embrace when Anaye was about 6 years old - I was refereed by a Community Nurse for the Parent Carer Support. 

2024 is a very special year for us: our charity is turning 70 years old! We’ve got so much to celebrate about our achievements since we were founded in 1954 – including how much we’ve evolved. Our name isn’t the only thing that has changed… 

 

Read on to find out about our history, our big rebrand, and our very big 70th birthday fundraising goal – the past, present and future of Embrace… 

 

 

In 1954 a small group led by Alderman Richard Turner started the charity, known then as “Bedford and District Spastic Society” (a name of the times – and not one that’s in use today!). In just four years they opened Drayton House on Bromham Road in Bedford: a treatment centre for people with cerebral palsy. It provided a nursery, speech therapy, physiotherapy and advice to parents and carers as well as a small workshop for adults who made toys for a local company each afternoon.