Our son Jake, who is nearly 7, has autism. He's pre-verbal, he's likely to stay in nappies for the forseeable future, and he has sensory processing disorder which makes his life very chaotic. Jake attends a wonderful new, purpose-built school for children with autism spectrum disorders and speech, language and communication needs. He will probably be there until he is 19.

Children like Jake benefit hugely from swimming. Jake is in his element in the water, he never seems happier or calmer, his sensory problems seem to melt away. Jake has even found a way to swim and has passed his Ducklings Level 4. Many typical children of his age haven't managed
that. His school, more than most, needs to have its own swimming pool,
but at the moment it relies on hiring external swimming pools and
transporting the children to them. Jake is only getting to go every other term. On one occasion last year, a group of the kids arrived at the arranged swimming pool only to discover it had
been double-booked.

It will take a lot of fundraising to raise the full sum needed for the swimming pool. The sister school managed to raise the money needed for theirs. We will manage it too, but in the unlikely event we don't, your donations will be used for other priorities at the Mendip School. Thanks for supporting our special boy and his schoolmates.