A TEESDALE woman who helped a little boy “find his voice” has received the first free takeaway afternoon tea for two from Clarendon’s.
The cafe and tearoom, in Barnard Castle, teamed up with the Teesdale Mercury to offer a takeaway afternoon tea for two to a deserving person each week. Readers were asked to nominate people and the Mercury chose Cloedie Yeadon, from Startforth, as the first winner.
Mrs Yeadon has been employed by Durham County Council’s portage service for 17 years – she helps pre-school children with special needs. She works closely with specialists to help each child and was nominated by Ashleigh Des-Forges who wrote: “Cloedie was like the glue that held Finley’s support plans together – she could talk on a professional level to the speech and language therapist discussing potential interventions that we could use as a family. She would then move into a supportive role with the teaching assistants and nursery workers. And most importantly she could communicate with the most important person – my little boy
“Explaining a pandemic to a little person who has communication difficulties and misses the routine of nursery and spending time with grandparents was difficult but I referred back to the notes I had made from the sessions with Cloedie and from her sessions with Finley’s nana and I found them to be really helpful. Finley’s language has improved during lockdown, so at least there has been a positive.
“I would love for Cloedie to have a lovely afternoon tea as she has helped so many little people find their voices, so I think the Finleys of the world would like to nominate her.”
Mrs Yeadon said she was honoured and thrilled.
Because of the lockdown, the free afternoon tea offer has now been put on hold for the remainder of the month.
