In one of our biggest CSR investments to date, Winn Group is delighted to support the funding of a transformational sensory playground at Northern Counties School.
Run by the Percy Hedley Foundation, the school offers an engaging curriculum to children with severe disabilities, ensuring access to education that caters to their additional needs.
Winns is donating £30,000 to help fund a new playground area that is accessible to all students, regardless of movement ability.
A large-scale project, this will provide a tangible, durable, and long-lasting improvement to the offering available at Northern Counties.
There will be a range of equipment installed on the site of a previously used car park, including:
- Wheelchair accessible emotion chalkboard panel
- Wheelchair accessible four seat tuff tray picnic table
- Raised wheelchair accessible sandpit
- Steel sphere water feature, including solar panel
- Dual wheelchair accessible planting bed
- Mounted multi music panel
- Wheelchair trampoline
- Wheelchair roundabout
- Wheelchair suspension bridge
- Wheelchair springer
Below are the designs for the play area, which is due to be completed in the early stages of the calendar year:
Martin Lonergan, Northern Counties Principal, said: “The new sensory play area at Northern Counties is a truly exciting development, designed to ensure every child has the chance to play, connect, and make memories with friends.
“With one in five of our students using a wheelchair, and many having complex health needs, accessing community play spaces can be incredibly challenging.
“This inclusive, multisensory environment will bring play into school, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing, encouraging communication, independence, and friendships, and improving quality of life for all our learners.
We are so grateful to the generosity of Winn Group for their donation of £30,000 towards our development. Their support is instrumental in bringing this project to life and ensuring an inclusive space that all our learners can benefit from every day.” - Martin Lonergan, School Principal.
“The development, which will cost £120,000 to create, will include wheelchair accessible roundabouts, swings, sensory tools, and a water feature memorial to honour all our students who have passed away.
“We are so grateful to the generosity of Winn Group for their donation of £30,000 towards our development. Their support is instrumental in bringing this project to life and ensuring an inclusive space that all our learners can benefit from every day.”
Ross Jackson, CSR Deputy Lead, said: “This opportunity to make a massive difference to the children attending the school came about after a long process of engagement and ongoing dialogue with the charity.
“Following on from our music therapy funding, it became apparent that the school were seeking a final amount of money to complete their fundraising for this playground.
“The fact that it will stand the test of time and benefit every single child’s experience at the school were big positives.
“At Winn Group, we will give back to our local communities because we are proud of our heritage and our roots.
“This is the biggest CSR project we’ve taken part in to date and is a testament to the company’s commitment to making a positive difference in the region.
“Percy Hedley does phenomenal work, and we are only too happy to assist their cause.”