Young people at Woodlands special School in Currie, Edinburgh, are today celebrating winning £50,000 which will go towards making their dreams of an all-weather, multi sports pitch a reality.
The SOS! Support Our Sport Campaign by the Friends of Woodlands School won the most telephone votes yesterday in The People’s Millions – a contest run by ITV and the Big Lottery Fund where the public decide which charity will win up to £50,000.
Now youngsters at the school, who have moderate to complex learning disabilities and conditions such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Down’s Syndrome, can look forward to being able to play games and sports during breaks and lunchtime on an all- weather surface, which will also have an access ramp.
Currently some learners with mobility difficulties are unable to get up the grassy hill at the back of the school. There will also be higher fencing so that balls and other games equipment doesn’t end up in neighbours’ back gardens.
Woodlands Head Teacher, Aisling Boyle said, “This will make such a difference to the health and well-being of our learners. They will finally have a safe place to play and every child will be included as it will enable us to build an access ramp for those with mobility issues. Thank you to all those who voted, and to The People’s Millions for allowing our dreams to become a reality.”
Liz Power, Chair of the Friends of Woodlands School said “We are absolutely thrilled to have won this competition and would like to thank all those people who voted for us. We have been overwhelmed by the support given to our project by the people of Edinburgh, local business and companies, who have really backed us all the way in this.”
The £50,000 win is a huge boost to the £80,000 project Learners, staff, parents and carers at the school had already raised £30,000 by holding sponsored events, community tombolas, Christmas fairs and a joint fashion show with Currie Community High School. ASDA Chesser has supported the project and Selex ES Charity Golf Committee donated £5,000 from their fundraising golf day. Selex ES is based at Crewe Toll in Edinburgh and makes electronic systems.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
