CMSS - Skills Development Centre For People with Disabilities
History
CMSS is an independent Charity based in Wiltshire Lane, Northwood Hills. It was founded in 1950 for people with cerebral palsy. The Society was founded by the parents of the first clients, who realised that after leaving school their children had nowhere to go.
It started life as a light engineering workshop; for firms within London and surrounding areas. The type of work was packing, making parts for various items including chair legs, car lights and pepper grinders. The councils, who funded the clients over the years, wanted a more academic service in line with the national strategy for people with disability and wanted to integrate clients into the community.
CMSS addressed this by conducting an independent audit of its service. The outcome was that clients wanted to improve their skills and broaden their opportunities. This was first done by finding out what Clients needed. Some needed domestic training because they were having to move into homes of their own as parents were getting older. The other reason was that they wanted independence.
It was found there were still clients that wanted the Centre to stay the same as it had always been and did not want change. The reason the changes were pushed forward was that Councils supported these changes and wished that their clients were working and living in the community.
Social changes in the 1980s and 90s made the government realise that a big minority of five million disabled people was not being catered for in terms of transport and employment.
We now run 4 community based projects in the boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent, which have a very strong emphasis on education, social and employment opportunities, CMSS also runs approx 8 holidays a year both in the UK and abroad. We also provide monthly socials where our clients can get dressed up and go out to places such as disco's, theatre, meals in good restaurants, comedy clubs, the list is endless.
Since the 1990s clients have had the right to be members of the executive committee. This means they can be part of the planning and running of the Centre and help decide the improvements to conditions which could improve the lives of their peers. We currently have two members of the executive comittee who are also clients.
CMSS Latest News
Updated June 2010
Jamboree 2010
Would you like to be involved in a fun packed day for all the family? If your answer is yes then your in luck. CMSS's Jamboree is only three weeks away. On Saturday 3rd July we will be hosting our anual event, with activities ranging from live music, Tombola, horse racing, raffles, food, bbq, Bar and much much more. So come on down and have some fun in the name of a good cause. If you would like to make a contribution or sponsor any part of this event then please contact Naheed on 0208 8663711 or naheedjudge@hotmail.com
CMSS Lease
We are pleased to announce that our CMSS lease has been renewed for another 5 years until September 2014. This will enable us to further develop and utilise our independent living skills area and our computer suite.
PLEASE HELP!
We are currently looking for a community based building in Central Harrow for our Harrow Community Links Project. This will need to be accessible with accessible, disabled toilets, and be available Monday to Friday 9am-3pm. If you know of any building or large hall, which is available, or is likely to become available in the near future, please contact Betty Morris or Naheed Judge on 02088663711 for further details.
Can you help?
Have you been attending CMSS for 50 years? Has your family been involved with CMSS for many years? We are currently in the process of publishing a book about the history of CMSS and we need any old newspaper cuttings, photographs, letters, or anyting related to the history of CMSS. Please could you forward these to Betty Morris and we will photocopy them with your permission, and give the originals back to you.
Northwood Project Piloted Sept 09
We have implemented our 5th Community Based Northwood Service to provide a service to those clients who require a programme of less physically demanding activities.