Children at Ballacottier School’s Rainbow Room now have a new minibus thanks to help from pharmaceuticals company Medis.
The bus will be used by pupils who attend the Rainbow Room which educates youngsters who are either physically disabled or have extra educational needs.
Medis is the principal private sector sponsor of the minibus and donated ?8,000 towards the total cost of ?28,000. Prior to purchasing the minibus, the school had to borrow or hire minibuses to take children on out of school trips.
"We are so grateful to everybody who has generously supported our minibus appeal," said Rainbow Room unit manager Alison Brookes.
"The minibus is invaluable to all the children in the Rainbow Room. We now have instant access to our own transport enabling us to provide wide and varied educational experiences both on and off the Island."
The new minibus, which has wheelchair access, is the result of a fundraising campaign which Rainbow Room staff began two years ago.
At that time, Stuart Colligon, Managing Director of Medis, was also a governor of Ballacottier School.
When he learned of the need for a minibus and the funding gap, Mr Colligon agreed to an ?8,000 donation from Medis.
Staff from the school had already successfully lobbied a number of other companies and organisations, and Medis’ large contribution enabled them to approach the Department of Education, which funded the remaining balance.
"It’s great that the minibus project has been completed and it’s a credit to all of the sponsors who contributed towards it, including the Department of Education," said Mr Colligon.
"The minibus now gives Rainbow Room pupils the opportunity to enrich their broader education, going on more school trips and to join in with other Ballacottier School pupils more often."
Pictured: (back row, l-r) Rainbow Room nursery nurses Sue Howarth and David Reeder, Managing Director of Medis and Ballacottier School Governor Stuart Colligon, Rainbow Room nursery nurse Lisa Barton, unit manager Alison Brookes and nursery nurse Graeme Jolly.
Rainbow Room pupils (l-r) are Max Thomas, Darian Chorley, Thomas Unsworth, Ashley Keig, Mya Fielding, Natasha Moore, Jessica Lyon and Sam Cottier.
