TNT fundraising seed reaps learning harvest

07-Nov-2005

Record-breaking fundraisers from leading express delivery company TNT will be seeing how their efforts to generate cash for the Wooden Spoon children's charity will help green-fingered youngsters with learning difficulties develop their gardening and science skills.

TNT Express Services employees from the region will be visiting the Philip Green Memorial School, Boveridge House in Cranborne, Wimborne, Dorset tomorrow (Tuesday 8th November) as part of a groundbreaking initiative being championed by TNT and the Wooden Spoon.

The TNT delegation will be meeting staff and youngsters at the school, to see how the money TNT donates will be used to enable the pupils to cultivate their horticultural talents and scientific learning.

TNT Express Services is the biggest single contributor to the Wooden Spoon, raising more than £1.4 million in cash donations since 1997. In turn, Wooden Spoon provides funding for children's projects across the UK and has now contributed £50,000 towards the creation of a bespoke science classroom and greenhouse.

This follows on from an earlier donation - also £50,000 - that enabled the School to build two teaching kitchens, each fully equipped with ovens, hot plates, dishwashers and other domestic appliances to help children learn a range of life skills.

Lesley Walter, Headteacher at the Philip Green Memorial School said: "Our pupils have moderate or severe learning disabilities as well as speech and language disorders. As part of our curriculum we will be teaching the children how to grow plants, cultivate an appreciation of gardening and a wider understanding of the sciences.

"TNT and the Wooden Spoon have - once again - made a vital contribution towards the development of the school. We are eternally grateful for their support, generosity and kindness."

Hundreds of employees from TNT are engaged in a series of visits to see how the funds they have helped generate are being used to benefit tens of thousands of disabled and disadvantaged youngsters around the UK. Entitled 'Seeing is Believing' the programme is designed to help further motivate them and build even stronger ties between TNT and Wooden Spoon.

Mark Roscoe, General Manager at TNT Express Services, said: "On a previous visit to the school we saw how the youngsters were getting to grips with their new cooking skills. This time around we will be interested to hear more about the forthcoming science and horticultural wing that will be opened next February.

"We are once again, looking forward to seeing the staff and youngsters at Philip Green Memorial School and witnessing how our fundraising efforts are making a difference. I've no doubt it will be a tremendously humbling experience.

"The 'Seeing is Believing' programme continues to foster even stronger ties between ourselves and Wooden Spoon and give my employees a real insight into why we support such a worthy charity."

Chief Executive of Wooden Spoon Geoff Morris said: "'Seeing is Believing' is a great idea that continues to motivate all those taking part. However, the real winners are the children at Wooden Spoon supported projects who rely on the endeavours and generosity of the TNT Express Services workforce."

News from 2005