Charity fundraisers from the country's leading express delivery company had a sense-ational experience when they saw how the funds they generate are used to help disadvantaged youngsters in Watford and beyond.
Employees from Luton-based TNT Express Services got a sense of the new sensory room within a modern extension to the Colnbrook School, Hayling Road in South Oxhey - which provides education for special needs children aged 4-11 years old.
The new facility was partly funded by a £30,000 donation by Wooden Spoon - a children's charity that focuses on helping youngsters who are disadvantaged mentally, physically and socially. Wooden Spoon is able to support such worthy causes thanks to financial backing of its biggest single benefactor - TNT Express Services - which has generated donations worth more than £2.3million to date.
Led by Ann Stanley, Sales Manager at the TNT Depot at Sundon Park, Luton, the TNT delegation were given a fascinating insight into the sensory stimulation offered to children with autism and significant learning difficulties. Ann and her colleagues were hugely impressed with the facilities and the wonderful work undertaken staff at the School.
Ann said: "The sensory room was amazing. It was fascinating to see how the children went about learning and relaxing in such a special environment. The children were clearly very passionate about the room. It was a humbling and rewarding experience for all of us from TNT and we all thought the staff and the work they undertake was absolutely inspiring."
Richard Hill, Head Teacher, Colnbrook School, said: "We are indebted to both the Wooden Spoon and the staff at TNT for their very generous support. Without their commitment to projects such as this, we could not provide the outstanding education to which these children are entitled."
John Nicholl, Wooden Spoon, Hertfordshire Region, added: "We were delighted to host the visit with TNT, because TNT provide such strong support to the charity. It also gives us, as regional committee members, the opportunity to see how the projects that we have funded are working and how much enjoyment the children are having."
The visit was part of a nationwide initiative being run by Wooden Spoon and TNT entitled 'Seeing Is Believing' - a programme that has so far enabled up to 2,000 TNT employees to take time off during the working day to witness, first hand, how the money they generate is used by Spoon.