A North East housebuilder has donated a new mini-bus to a primary school as part of a new partnership with a children’s charity.
Bellway presented the 17-seater Sunshine Coach to Variety as part of its national collaboration with the charity, which supports disabled and disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
The first coach funded through the partnership has been donated to Hadrian Primary School in South Shields.
Jason Honeyman, chief executive of Bellway, said: "Today marks a proud milestone for Bellway as we celebrate the launch of our new national charity partnership with Variety.
"The presentation of this first Bellway-funded Sunshine Coach to Hadrian Primary School in South Shields is a wonderful example of what we can achieve together, helping children access opportunities and experiences they might otherwise miss.
"Building and enriching local communities sits at the heart of what we do, and we are delighted to be working alongside Laurence and the Variety team."
Variety provides Sunshine Coaches, specialist equipment, educational support and opportunities for future development and careers, aiming to help young people reach their full potential.
Laurence Guinness, CEO of Variety, said: "At Variety, our mission is to provide vulnerable children with the support they need to reach their full potential, so partnering with Bellway, which is so deeply rooted in building communities, is a natural and powerful fit.
"Bellway’s support will enable us to build a foundation of independence and opportunity for many more disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.
"This partnership will have a profound and lasting impact on thousands of young lives, and we are incredibly grateful for Bellway’s commitment to our mission."
The partnership, which began earlier this year, marks Bellway’s first additional national charity collaboration since the launch of its ongoing partnership with Cancer Research UK 10 years ago, through which it has raised more than £5.1 million.
Fundraising for Variety began on February 2 with the Bellway Variety Show, where staff showcased their talents, followed by 15 employees taking part in the Reading Half Marathon on March 22.
Future events include activities during National Volunteering Week in June and several charity golf days.
Bellway staff are also encouraged to fundraise for or volunteer at a Variety Great Day Out, offering children trips to the seaside, theme parks, or other enriching destinations.
Scott Brown, headteacher at Hadrian Primary School, said the coach would be used for a wide range of outings, including library visits, farm trips, and education programmes, as well as weekly swimming lessons for pupils.
Mr Brown said: "Our school thrives to empower all pupils with the skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
"A Sunshine Coach will allow us to do that by creating an endless list of opportunities through exploration and enriched learning experiences.
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"We have a large percentage of pupils that will directly benefit from accessible transport and we feel that providing each of these pupils with the same opportunities as their peers is essential.
"This would be made possible by a Sunshine Coach and its impact on the daily lives of all pupils cannot be underestimated."
More information about Variety can be found at www.variety.org.uk. Details about Bellway are available at www.bellway.co.uk.
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