Bethesda's Legacy

 I've recently been exploring some of the Trust's records relating to Bethesda, a home for children with disabilities and long-term health conditions which was opened in 1890 and closed in 1999. The Bethesda service demonstrates how the Charity adapted to changing times and the work carried out at Bethesda had a long-term impact, influencing subsequent services provided by the Charity.

The Bethesda service existed in a number of different locations throughout its history. Between 1890 and 1958 it was located in George Street, Cheetham Hill providing a home for orphaned children with disabilities or those whose health conditions meant their parents could not care for them. The terminology used to describe the service at this time, 'Bethesda Home for Crippled and Incurable Children' would certainly not be used today but was reflective of attitudes of the time. Emotive language was used to encourage donations as seen in the 1891 Annual Report's description of Bethesda as providing, 'comfort, relief and restoration of its suffering family within...' Bethesda expanded in 1904 bringing the total number of beds to 70.

At first Bethesda provided a home for these children alongside professional care, but education was included by 1919 after being certified by the Board of Education. The Annual Report of 1919 recorded how the children now received, 'special education and training from experienced and certified teachers.' 

A further extension to the property in 1928 included a sun parlour and sun-ray treatment room to help treat vitamin D deficiencies.

The Charity's magazine 'The Children's Haven' Christmas 1928 edition records the good news stories of those children helped by the treatment at Bethesda:

The removal of the word 'incurable' from the title of the home in 1930 was a sign of progress in medical advancements and perhaps a step forward in attitudes towards disability. The records show the activities the children took part in around this period including trips to Old Colwyn and an annual entertainment provided by Salford City Police during the 1920s and 1930s which involved the Police dressing up as clowns. Fundraising events such as Garden Parties were an annual fixture at Bethesda.

During the second world war Bethesda moved from Cheetham Hill to Tanllwyfan, Old Colwyn and stayed there until 1949. An ex- resident of Bethesda joined the staff at Old Colwyn at this time. He was a talented artist born without arms who painted by foot; he taught a young resident to do the same. On this resident leaving Bethesda after nine years the Charity's magazine of 1942 records the parent's pride:

Bethesda moved to the Belmont Estate in Cheadle in 1959 alongside other services of the Charity which had moved to the Estate from 1920 onwards. Residential accommodation was provided which included two bungalows alongside schoolrooms, a physiotherapy department, a speech department and kitchencraft room. While children came from all over the country to Bethesda, specialist provision was increasingly being provided by local authorities and so the need for residential provision decreased as the years went by. In 1978 Bethesda changed it's admission policies to reflect the changing times. Admissions were taken from ages 8 to 11, with primary education now being provided elsewhere in the local area. School buildings were adapted in order 80 days pupils could be accomodated with only 12 residential places.

The School Sister had a crucial role in liaising with the pupil's external medical professionals along with parents and guardians to ensure all appropriate care was being provided at school. The student's needs differed widely and while some would have been educated at Bethesda for a relatively short amount of time before transferring to a comprehensive school, others spent almost their whole school life at Bethesda. Alongside education, therapy services continued to be provided, with a hydrotherapy pool officially opened in 1992 to aid physiotherapy. 

Bethesda staff tried to ensure pupils were as independent as possible and two-week residential placements were provided to teach independence skills. The need to continue education provision for pupils post 16 led to the opening of the Extended Education Unit (EEU) in 1982 where students could continue their education and also undertake work experience.

By the later 1990s the emphasis on mainstream education meant pupil number were reducing and the school closed in 1999. The legacy of Bethesda is however still seen in the services provided by the Trust, with the success of the EEU leading to the opening of Bridge College in 1993 to provide education provision for students with complex health needs over the age of 16. It was also in a Bethesda classroom where specialised resources for young people with autism were established leading to the emergence of Inscape House School in 1993. Therapy services are still provided by the Trust in education settings as well as in the home.

In its 109 year history Bethesda saw not just a change in language used for children using its services but also a change in ambition for those children. Bethesda began to fulfill a need to provide a home with professional care for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions but it's legacy encouraging education and independence skills continues.