Charity fundraisers from the country's leading express delivery company tasted the fruits of their labour when they experienced how the funds they generate are used to help disadvantaged youngsters in East Sussex and beyond.
Employees from Crawley-based TNT Express Services had a sweet surprise when they visited the living skills area at Chailey Heritage School, North Chailey, and saw how children and young adults, ranging from 2-19 years, coped with complex physical disabilities and learning difficulties.
Aided by funding from TNT, the children's charity - Wooden Spoon - donated £25,000 to the School to help create a specialised therapy room and common room for young pupils. The company has, to date, donated more than £2.3 million to Wooden Spoon to support its work in helping youngsters who are mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged.
Led by Daryl Farmer, Operations Manager at the TNT Depot, on the Manor Royal Industrial Estate, Crawley, the TNT delegation saw how cookery classes and other everyday skills taught to young adults with visual impairment and cerebral palsy, helps lead to a more independent life.
Daryl said: "We were totally overwhelmed with the dedication of the staff and the impressive facilities. The technology is a fabulous benefit for the children and young adults alike and supports the learning of new skills on a daily basis.
"We all thoroughly enjoyed the day and would like to thank both staff and pupils for the warm hospitality and entertainment."
Sally-Ann Murray, Development Director, explained: "We were delighted to be able to host a visit by members of TNT's Crawley Depot who are huge supporters of Wooden Spoon's charitable work. The group was amazed by the opportunities available to our young people and really enjoyed interacting with them whilst they were learning how to make chutney and jam as part of their independence curriculum."
Don Coldrick, Chairman, Wooden Spoon Sussex Region said: "We were made most welcome by everyone at Chailey and were delighted to see and appreciate the wonderful work undertaken by such a worthy establishment."
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.