A leading housebuilder has presented a brand-new minibus, also known as a Sunshine Coach, to Variety as part of a new partnership with the children’s charity.
The 17-seater vehicle was handed over to Variety CEO Laurence Guinness by Bellway CEO Jason Honeyman at the company’s national headquarters at Woolsington House in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The presentation marked the launch of a new partnership with Variety, a charity which supports disabled and disadvantaged children and young adults across the UK. The organisation provides Sunshine Coaches, specialist equipment, educational support and opportunities for future development and careers, helping young people reach their full potential.
The first Sunshine Coach funded through the partnership has been donated to Hadrian Primary School in South Shields.
The collaboration, which began at the start of this year, is the first additional national charity partnership for Bellway since the launch of its ongoing partnership with Cancer Research UK 10 years ago. Since then, more than £5.1 million has been raised for the charity.
Fundraising efforts began on 2 February with a staff talent event, the Bellway Variety Show. Further activities include 15 employees taking part in the Reading Half Marathon on 22 March, events during National Volunteering Week in June, and a series of charity golf days.
Employees will also have opportunities to fundraise independently or volunteer at Variety Great Day Out events. These experiences help broaden horizons, build social skills and support learning and development by taking children on trips to places such as the seaside, theme parks and other destinations.
Jason Honeyman, CEO at Bellway, said:
“Today marks a proud milestone for Bellway as we celebrate the launch of our new national charity partnership with Variety. The presentation of this first Bellway-funded Sunshine Coach to Hadrian Primary School in South Shields is a wonderful example of what we can achieve together, helping children access opportunities and experiences they might otherwise miss.
“Building and enriching local communities sits at the heart of what we do, and we are delighted to be working alongside Laurence and the Variety team.”
Laurence Guinness, CEO at Variety, said:
“At Variety, our mission is to provide vulnerable children with the support they need to reach their full potential, so partnering with Bellway, which is so deeply rooted in building communities, is a natural and powerful fit.
“Bellway’s support will enable us to build a foundation of independence and opportunity for many more disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK. This partnership will have a profound and lasting impact on thousands of young lives, and we are incredibly grateful for Bellway’s commitment to our mission.”
Scott Brown, headteacher at Hadrian Primary School, said the school would use the coach for a range of trips, including visits to libraries, farms, the seaside and local education programmes. It will also be used to transport pupils to weekly swimming lessons, which is particularly important as many children are unable to swim and do not attend lessons outside of school.
Scott said:
“Our school thrives to empower all pupils with the skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. A Sunshine Coach will allow us to do that by creating an endless list of opportunities through exploration and enriched learning experiences.
“We have a large percentage of pupils that will directly benefit from accessible transport and we feel that providing each of these pupils with the same opportunities as their peers is essential. This would be made possible by a Sunshine Coach and its impact on the daily lives of all pupils cannot be underestimated.”
For more information about Variety, visit https://www.variety.org.uk.
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