Record-breaking fundraisers from leading 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 Wellingborough Depot visited Friars School for children with moderate learning difficulties as part of a groundbreaking initiative being championed by TNT and the Wooden Spoon. They witnessed how the money the company generates is being used to enable the children to learn and relax.
TNT Express Services is the biggest single contributor to the Wooden Spoon, raising well over £2 million in cash donations in the past ten 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 £20,000 towards the refurbishment of a music room into a sensorty theatre providing a range ov visuakl, climatic and audible stimuli which can be incorporated into the teaching of many subjects. The room can also be used to provide therapy and a relaxing environment for the youngsters.
Graham Baker, Deputy Head Teacher said: "TNT and the Wooden Spoon have made a significant contribution to the well being of students at Friars School for which we are very grateful."
More than 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. Entitled 'Seeing is Believing' the programme is designed to help further motivate them and build even stronger ties between TNT and Wooden Spoon.
Steve Gordon, Regional Director at TNT Express in Wellingborough said: "Meeting the staff and youngsters at Friars School and seeing how our fundraising efforts are making a difference was a tremendously humbling experience."
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."