Community Link Foundation
AGROUP of pupils from Presfield High School has just returned from a trip to London, part-funded by Community Link Foundation.
The school, on Preston New Road, is for pupils with autism spectrum condition (ASC) and associated communication difficulties.
The school strives to challenge and increase the current statistic that only 15% of people diagnosed with ASC are in sustained employment and have developed a sixth form curriculum to support employability, and enable bespoke work placements throughout the year.
Pupils from the sixth form had a conversation with their teacher about where they’d like to go for an end-of-year merit trip.
They jokingly said “London” and the teacher said that if they could raise the money, then they would take them.
The children spent the next nine months tirelessly fundraising, using their own initiative and enterprise.
This included a sponsored bike ride, bingo night, cake sales, car washes, and running a school cafe.
Despite all their fundraising they were still in a slight deficit to cover the trip but, after a successful application to Community Link Foundation, they were able to take the three-day residential trip earlier this month.
Sue Gerrard, a teaching assistant at the school, said: “The grant from Community Link Foundation paid for a threeday group travel card which enabled our students to access the tube system to travel around London and see all the sights they had personally earmarked during their trip.
“All of our students have a diagnosis of ASC and associated communication difficulties, which as you can imagine, means dealing with the hustle and bustle of the London Underground extremely challenging, however, all coped amazingly well.
“I was fortunate to have been one of the staff members accompanying them and was immensely proud of each and every one of them and know that they will take essential life skills as well as fantastic memories from their time in the capital.
“Can we once again thank Community Link for the grant that aided our trip. The pupils are now fundraising for their next trip... abroad!”
Community Link Foundation is a local charity with a difference.
It assists people in Southport and the surrounding areas who need financial support in a variety of ways.
It helps a wide range of people and organisations in the area including sports teams in need of new equipment, groups looking for funding for supplies or materials, and individuals requiring assistance to help their day-to-day lives.
For more information about CLF or if you would like to fundraise for them, go to www. clfoundation.co.uk.