Darlington Building Society is helping a special school’s drive to raise funds for much needed school buses.
Oaks Secondary School in Spennymoor made an appeal to local businesses for assistance in raising finance to replace its inherited, old, dilapidated school bus with two new vehicles.
Having access to its own transport is important to school life. A number of pupils use wheelchairs meaning the buses also need to be specially adapted with a tail lift.
The Society’s Bishop Auckland branch approached Sunderland Football Club, which agreed to donate a football shirt, signed by the manager and the team. Staff sold raffle tickets to customers over a number of weeks. The money raised has been donated to the school’s appeal.
Helen Crawford, Deputy Head of Oaks Secondary School, said “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by Darlington Building Society and its customers. We desperately needed two new buses to allow pupils to participate in activities outside of school premises and this donation takes us a step nearer to achieving this.
“The staff and pupils would like to thank everyone involved in raising this money. We already have obtained one bus and are looking forward to being able to purchase the second bus in the near future.”
Jim Morrell, the Society’s Bishop Auckland District Manager, said, “When we were approached by Oaks Secondary School, we knew that we had to do something to assist them with raising funds to purchase new school transport.
“It is important that young people become engaged in as wide a range of activities as possible and that was why we wanted to support the appeal as having access to the buses will allow pupils to get out and about in the community.”
■ Pictured is Helen Crawford, of Oaks Secondary School, and Jim Morrell, of Darlington Building Society, which has made a donation to the school’s mini bus appeal.