Supporting New Adventures with Sunshine Coaches

Supporting New Adventures with Sunshine Coaches

In March, The Kentown Wizard Foundation were delighted to fund two new Sunshine Coaches in partnership with Variety, the Children’s Charity.

At Kentown Wizard Foundation, we believe that every child deserves the chance to experience joy, independence and the world beyond their everyday surroundings. This latest funding is helping to open up new opportunities for children with additional needs in Greater Manchester.

The specially adapted minibuses have now been delivered to Hope School and College in Wigan and Cromwell High School in Dukinfield, where they are already beginning to make a difference to pupils’ lives.

For many of the children supported by these schools, travelling outside of their immediate environment can be incredibly challenging. Accessible transport is often one of the biggest barriers to taking part in trips and community activities.

Sunshine Coaches are designed to remove that barrier. With wheelchair access and space for specialist equipment, they give children the opportunity to explore places they might otherwise never visit and to gain valuable life skills outside of the classroom, while supporting their physical, social and language development.

Earlier this month, we were delighted to attend two special presentation events hosted by Variety, the Children’s Charity, to mark the arrival of the coaches. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet pupils and staff, and to see first-hand the difference these vehicles will make.

Ian Jones, CEO of The Kentown Wizard Foundation, said:

“We are incredibly proud to work alongside Variety to support Hope School and College and Cromwell High School with two new Sunshine Coaches. For many children with complex disabilities, opportunities to access their community can be limited, yet these experiences are vital.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and hope these Coaches will open doors to new adventures for these wonderful children for years to come.”

Laurence Guinness, CEO of Variety, added:

“Today, more than half of the 1.1 million children living with a disability (over 600,000 children) also live in poverty. Variety’s support is a beacon of hope for these disabled and disadvantaged children.

The incredible support from The Kentown Wizard Foundation ensures our specially adapted Sunshine Coaches will continue to break down barriers in the Blackpool and North West area. Together, we are opening doors to a world of opportunity, creating a positive and enduring impact on the lives of children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs.

The Kentown Wizard Foundation’s support for Variety directly provides vulnerable children with the educational and recreational activities they would otherwise be excluded from, fostering greater independence, building confidence, and creating lifelong friendships and lasting memories.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank The Kentown Wizard Foundation.”