For most of our children, many experiences that are taken for granted by others are not always accessible for them. The school minibus is the only way many of our pupils can attend trips, as public transport can pose a significant communication barrier for deaf people. Additionally, the majority of our pupils rely on their Local Authority-provided transport to get home due to the distance they travel to attend our specialist school, so the minibus is essential to ensure they can attend trips further afield without the risk of returning late.

We also use the school minibus for pupils to travel between our primary and secondary sites for special events and celebrations as a school community.

The minibus is used several times each week for a range of trips and visits, including:

Sports events, such as the London Youth Games and other competitions for young deaf people or those with disabilities

Educational visits, including the Science Museum, Kew Gardens, art galleries, the Tower of London, and places of worship

Residential trips, which are an important part of our children developing their independence and exploring new adventures and places away from home and school

Weekly swimming lessons

Experiences such as competitions and visits to meet and mix with other deaf peers and deaf role models, visits to the seaside, bowling, ice-skating, going to the local cinema or theatre trips.

Many of our pupils come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Without a school minibus, we would be unable to offer these enriching experiences as part of our pupils' education and cultural capital.

Any donations you can make to help us reach our £10,000 target will enable us to continue to enrich the lives of our deaf pupils. All donations will go towards the expected cost of £36,000 for our new minibus.

Thank you for your support, it is greatly appreciated!