The new £25,000 conservatory at The Laurels in Hall Close, Hartford, was made possible by the teamwork of the Rotary Club of Kimbolton and other local rotary clubs in Huntingdon, Hinchingbrooke and St Ives, who helped to raise the funds.

To secure a conservatory for the respite centre, the Rotary Club of Kimbolton worked in conjunction with the Huntingdonshire Children's Charity, which raises funds through its Dreamdrops Appeal for the benefit children in Huntingdonshire - such as the Special Baby Care Unit and Holly Ward at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
Dame Norma, who is vice-president of the charity Mencap, said on Monday (October 6): "Dreamdrops and Kimbolton Rotary Club, with the support of other local Rotary Clubs, are to be congratulated for the all they have done to add a magnificent conservatory to The Laurels Respite Care Home.

"The support provided by The Laurels for the families of children with learning disabilities who also have complex medical needs is greatly valued. I know how much this enhanced facility will be appreciated."
The Laurels, run by the Cambridgeshire Community Services, is a countywide service that provides respite care to children aged between three and 19 years who have a learning disability and/or complex medical health needs.

The day care accommodation is an adapted bungalow with the capacity to accommodate up to four children and young people at any one time, providing their parents or carers with a break.
The Laurels was first launched in Godmanchester in 1985, moving to its present site in Hartford in 1997.

County manager for acute and community paediatric nursing services Sarah Hughes said: "We are delighted with the new conservatory. It has provided us with much needed space for the children to share their mealtimes together instead of 'in shifts' in the current small dining room.

"It is also large enough for children to play in and enjoy the garden from within the warmth and comfort of the new building."
Patrick Curran, for the Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle, said: "Members of the Kimbolton Castle, Huntingdon, Hinchingbrooke and St Ives clubs took part in numerous and very varied activities to raise this magnificent sum.

"This is an excellent example of how, by working together, local rotary clubs could design, fund and help project manage a conservatory that will be of great benefit to children and families in Cambridgeshire."
Cambridgeshire community services communications officer Ann McHugh said the official launch by Dame Norma, who is also vice-president of the charity Mencap, was a great success and enjoyed by everyone who attended.

>> The charitable funds of Huntingdonshire Children's Charity, Dreamdrops Appeal is to provide money to support the extras that will increase comfort and quality of experience of health care for children and families but which are not covered by expenditure of public funds via the NHS.