Record-breaking fundraisers from leading Swadlincote express delivery company TNT have been seeing first hand how their efforts to generate cash for children's charity Wooden Spoon are helping youngsters with communications and associated learning and behavioural difficulties.
TNT Express Services employees from the company's Archive Centre in Swadlincote visited The Parks School in Oakham, Rutland as part of a groundbreaking initiative being championed by TNT and the Wooden Spoon called 'Seeing is Believing'. They witnessed how the money the company generates is being used to help support children aged 2-6 with a wide range of learning difficulties.
TNT Express Services is the biggest single contributor to the Wooden Spoon, raising over £2.3 million in cash donations in the past eleven years. In turn, the Wooden Spoon provides funding for children's projects across the UK to support youngsters who are disadvantaged physically, mentally or socially. Spoon - with the help of TNT - contributed £33,000 to buy a new mini bus for school trips, riding lessons and to be used for community activities.
Dorothy Spence, Head Teacher said: "TNT and the Wooden Spoon have made a significant contribution to the wellbeing of students at The Parks School, for which we are very grateful."
Over 2,000 TNT employees have so far participated in a series of visits to see how the funds they help generate are used to benefit tens of thousands of disabled and disadvantaged youngsters around the UK. The 'Seeing is Believing' programme is designed to help further motivate them and build even stronger ties between TNT and Wooden Spoon.
Melanie Noble, Customer Services Manager at TNT Archive Centre in Swadlincote said: "To be involved in the main fundraising for our site is fantastic fun and to see the benefits of the money that has helped these children was an absolute honour. Our money really does make a difference to their lives and learning abilities. We all heard about the purchase of the mini bus and were told about the new activities the children can experience now. The mini bus has made a dramatic difference to the school."
Chairman of the Wooden Spoon Steuart Howie said: "'Seeing is Believing' is a fantastic initiative that motivates all those taking part, but of course the real winners are the children who rely on the endeavours and generosity of the TNT Express Services workforce."