Special day out thanks to '˜unexpected gift'

Adur Special Needs Project took a group of children to the Sealife Centre in Brighton for a fun day out.
Children from Adur Special Needs Project at the Sealife Centre in BrightonChildren from Adur Special Needs Project at the Sealife Centre in Brighton
Children from Adur Special Needs Project at the Sealife Centre in Brighton

The trip on Saturday had been months in the planning as the money had been raised in January at a Burns Night Celebration by a group of friends from Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Adur Valley, along with other churches in Shoreham and Steyning and members of the community.

Organiser Elizabeth Reeves said: “One of our group has a son – now grown up – who benefited greatly from ASNP and their weekend play schemes when he was a youngster.

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“We were looking for a local charity or group to donate our Burns Night money to and when Linda Aitken suggested Adur Special Needs Project, we all agreed that they would be worthy recipients because of the help and support they give to local families with youngsters who have disabilities and special needs.”

When Elizabeth and Linda presented the group’s donation of £750 in February, Yvonne McKeown, the charity’s administrator, promised that the money would in part be used to fund a special outing for the children.

Fulfilling her pledge, she said the children were thrilled to travel by coach to Brighton and to be able to see and learn about the huge variety of fish and fauna at the Centre.

Valerie Trevor, chairman of the charity, which is based in The Old School House, Ham Road, Shoreham, expressed her gratitude for the generous donation.

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She added: “Unexpected gifts like this make a huge difference to our important work. The support of the local community means a lot to us.

“Accompanying the children to the Sealife Centre, I was able to witness first hand the joy that this trip brought to each of the children’s lives.”

Supervisor Ricky Dagnell and deputy supervisor Zoe Ridpath added: “While it’s a lot of work laying on a trip like this, it’s worth all the time and effort just to see the smiles on the children’s faces and hearing their families saying ‘thank you’.”

For information on the work of Adur Special Needs Project, or about the weekend play schemes, contact Yvonne McKeown by email at [email protected] or telephone 07788 239634.

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