The Prime Minister Theresa May has written to congratulate the much-loved Brighton charity Rockinghorse on its golden jubilee.
Mrs May, who was born in Eastbourne, said that 50 years of supporting the children of Sussex was a superb achievement.
Rockinghorse was set up in 1967 by the late Trevor Mann, a children’s doctor in Brighton and is celebrating its jubilee throughout 2017.
The Prime Minister wrote: “I am always impressed by the amazing work of local charities and community groups who work tirelessly to support the needs of local people.
“Responding to the challenges of supporting some of the most vulnerable children and adults in our society is not something that the government can do alone.
“For a charity to have been supporting the children of Sussex for 50 years is a superb achievement and something of which the entire community should be incredibly proud.
“I would like to congratulate the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity on reaching its Golden Jubilee and I send my best wishes for the next 50 years.”
Rockinghorse chief executive Ryan Heal said: “We are overwhelmed to receive such a wonderful letter of support from the Prime Minister herself, Theresa May.
“It is such an honour for the charity to be recognised in this way at such a prominent time in its history.
“I speak on behalf of the whole team at Rockinghorse when I say how excited we are to have launched our 50th year fundraising appeal – a time for celebration and continuing to make a real impact on the lives of local children right here in Sussex.”
The charity is running a 50th year fundraising appeal, Sussex Giving for Sussex Children, with the aim of providing £500,000.
The money will be split between 10 children’s centres and paediatric services in Sussex to help them improve, refurbish and develop their environment for the young people benefiting from their work.
Those benefiting from the appeal are the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital – “the Alex” – in Brighton, the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, which is at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, the Special Care Baby Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital, in Haywards Heath, Bluefin Ward at Worthing Hospital, Chailey Heritage Foundation, near Lewes, Chalkhill Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit, in Haywards Heath, Finches Short Breaks Centre, in Burgess Hill, The Bungalow, in Eastbourne, Tudor House, in Brighton, and the Connor Saunders Foundation, in Brighton.
The charity said: “By supporting Rockinghorse, you can help continue to ensure children’s services across Sussex are the best they possibly can be for our children now and in the future.”
To find out more about the charity’s 50th year projects and how you can get involved, visit rockinghorse.org.uk.
