Virtual College's Safeguarding e-Academy funds sensory garden for Autistic Children - opened by Coronation Street Star
Virtual College’s Safeguarding Children e-Academy Account Manager John Bradbury attended the opening of the Together Trusts Woodlands School new sensory garden for children with autism. The garden was officially opened by Sue Nichols of Coronation Street fame and was made possible by a £2000 donation from Safeguarding Children e-Academy’s charitable fund.
The new garden will include sensory items and a sheltered area to provide shade, including a water feature, pagoda and planting. It will enable the young people to spend more time outside, in an environment with enhanced sensory opportunities.
Woodlands is one of The Together Trust's services; the short breaks they deliver provide families and carers with an invaluable respite and an opportunity to focus on any other children living at home.
Helena Brailsford, Fundraising Manager with the Together Trust was enthusiastic about the sensory garden, "This project will make a huge difference to the outdoor environment for the children and young people at Woodlands, providing sensory stimulation and enabling them to benefit from shade and shelter." .
The Together Trust was originally founded in 1870 as a night refuge for homeless boys on Quay Street in Manchester. Now based in nearby Cheadle, the charity has developed its services to meet changing needs for the past 140 years and now provides a range of social care, special education and community support services to over 1000 vulnerable children, young people and adults every year.
About Safeguarding Children e-Academy
The Safeguarding Children e-Academy is a member led community enhancing the learning process for those individuals and organisations who work with children. The Academy donates a % of its turnover to children's charities and since 2006, the fund has so far donated over £135,000. With over 330,000 learners it is part of Virtual College Group, one of the UK's leading training provider with over 900,000 learners. Information about the Safeguarding Children's e-Academy is available at www.safeguardingchildrenea.co.uk.