Planting Seeds for the Future: Vitalograph Celebrates Circle Centre's 25th Anniversary

Set in a quiet, rural hamlet in Buckinghamshire lies Circle Centre, a specialised autism early support charity and Vitalograph’s “Chairman’s Charity”.

2026 marks the charity’s 25th anniversary and to celebrate the occasion, Vitalograph bought a flagstaff cherry tree that was planted in the orchard at the Circle Centre’s premises in Middle Claydon, Bucks, on Friday, May 1, with charity CEO Sarah Sweet-Rowley and patron Elizabeth Curzon (Countess Howe) adding the first spadefuls of soil.

Since we adopted the charity five years ago, Vitalograph staff have repaired fences and outbuildings, added Perspex panels to windows, installed play equipment, adjusted doors, cleaned play areas, put up bird boxes, and supported fundraising events, among many other things, explained Joe Garbe, the Estate Manager in Vitalograph’s Buckingham office.

Each academic year, Circle Centre has places for around 20 preschool children who are offered a highly individualised programme of support.

The charity works on the philosophy that autistic children need to have aspects of the curriculum presented to them in a way that takes account of their unique learning styles. The garden is used to provide children with a calm space that includes access to equipment that can help them settle, calm and get ready for the day.

There are many practical ways that we support Circle Centre and we are proud to continue to do so. As the new cherry tree starts to blossom, we hope that the children and staff can avail of its beauty in their garden, which is a very important aid in providing the children with a calm environment, said Bernard Garbe, Vitalograph’s Chairman.

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations, Circle Centre hosted a fundraising ball in Milton Keynes on June 12 and Vitalograph donated a hamper that was raffled on the night.

For more, see : https://autismearlysupport.org.uk/circle-centre-nursery/.