Coastlink classes held at South Woy Woy

Coastlink Respite Care is preparing to celebrate its 25th birthday with a Concert Spectacular later this year.

Members of the group have been attending drama and singing classes fortnightly at the Woy Woy South Progress Hall in preparation for the show at Laycock St Theatre on October 1, according to Coastlink chief executive officer Ms Lynne Rainford.

"People who come to our services have been attending drama and singing classes so they are ready for the show which is going to be a wonderful showcase of their talents," Ms Rainford said.

"There will be singing, dancing and acting and everybody is looking forward to it very much indeed.

"The theatre will be full of families and friends of Coastlink coming together to celebrate our 25th birthday as well as to enjoy the special talents of our clients as they put on a great show for us all to enjoy."

Ms Rainford said Coastlink Respite Care was one of the first organisations to provide respite to people caring at home for a person with a disability for people living on the Woy Woy Peninsula.

"Coastlink is a not-for-profit organisation which started providing support to families in October 1985 through host family and other respite services at a time when there were very few such services on the Coast," Ms Rainford said.

"Over the past quarter century, we have grown from two support workers and a part-time coordinator to currently having 63 employees providing a range of services all aimed at assisting people with disabilities to live with their families and providing regular breaks from caring responsibilities for their carers.

"For 25 years Coastlink has provided quality services to people with disabilities and their families and as we have grown over the years we have been able to expand our services to include 24/7 service, day programs, holidays, specialist children's programs including after school and vacation care, peer support and social support, programs for people who are 60 and over and caring for a son or daughter at home and services for people who are frail aged.

"Having a disability or being frail aged no longer means that people can't access their community.

"Our fleet of 13 buses is used 24/7 to help people get out to enjoy community facilities like gyms, pools, movies, clubs, dancing, shows, sporting events and so on.

"The world for people with disabilities and older people is very different now than it was 25 years ago and we want to celebrate that with our Concert Spectacular in October this year."

Press release, 9 Jun 2010 Lynne Rainford, Coastlink Respite Care