MANCHESTER: An emerging friendship between two Bolton schools has provided a major boost for a minibus appeal. Earlier this month supporters of Thomasson Memorial, a deaf school and nursery in Devonshire Road, had launched a £15,000 fundraising drive for new transport.
The minibus would, in the words of an online page, “ensure pupils are accessing all aspects of the extra curriculum activities available”, the Asian Image has reported.
Now the fledgling Azhar Academy, which was established in the same neighbourhood last year, has stepped forward with a £10,000 donation to the cause.
Mohammed Bobat, one of Azhar’s community leaders, told The Bolton News: “We wanted to make a meaningful contribution to the neighbouring school and hoped that this was just the start of a long-term relationship between two important neighbouring community hubs.”
Children and staff at the academy had undertaken a variety of sponsored activities to raise the cash, which was handed over via a cheque to headteacher Lisa Lane at the end of last term.
The school runs educational provisions for deaf youngsters including nursery and primary units at Devonshire Road, and its Lighthouse facility for secondary-age students with additional needs. And their main secondary department is located within Sharples School.
In a post of their Just Giving fundraising page, school supporters have outlined what a new minibus would mean to them: “To enable us to continue fulfilling our promise as educators, we would like to give our children more opportunities to explore our wider environment and ensure they are accessing all aspects of the extra curriculum activities available.
“Having our own school minibus with wheelchair access will benefit the whole school as this will give all children access to a full and inclusive education.
Readers who also want to support the Thomasson minibus appeal can go online to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/thomassonmemorial