A group for children with special needs is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. Bolton Children's Opportunity Group (COG) was founded in 1979, providing a stepping stone between home and nursery for young children with disabilities and special needs. The group was formed in an era when special educational needs were not as well-catered for in mainstream nurseries, so was aimed at children with those needs.
Annette Dodd has been involved with the group since she took her daughter there in the early 1980s. Annette's daughter, Victoria, playing at COG in 1984 (Image: Bolton COG) Now the business manager and administrator, she is one of the longest-serving members of COG. Annette said: "I started attending COG when my daughter was 18 months old.
I started taking her in 1983 and have been involved ever since. "It was wanting to meet other parents in a similar situation which is one of the big things, we started out with it being a place for parents to come together and meet. "It is a shame that isn't as much of a thing these days.
It is a shame we've lost that, I feel that is a big loss, but it is just one of those things. Children playing at COG (Image: Bolton COG) "When we first started we always used to say it is a stepping stone between home and playgroups/nurseries." Read more: 'Always the first to roll up her sleeves': Farewell to children's champion, Elizabeth Read more: Tributes paid to "amazing" Bolton woman who spent her life helping others She added: "There weren.