A charity which offers specialist education and day services for young people and adults who have visual and hearing impairments and additional disabilities has received a cash boost from a local author.
John Holmes presented the £500 cheque after reading about the new Sense Resource Centre at Aldeby which featured in the Beccles and Bungay and Lowestoft Journal last month.
The aim of the centre is to provide specialised individual programmes of both education and therapeutic learning pathways.
Mr Holmes, a local author and historian, said he enjoyed reading about the young people who were hoping to start at the centre this autumn.
He said these included 'young Daisy Wright, who in spite of being blind and autistic, was so obviously eager to learn whatever she could to enhance her way of life. Her delightful smile really got to me'.
He added: 'It was as a consequence of all the above that I decided to make a personal visit to the centre where I was greeted by Abigail Chittock, activity coordinator, who gave my wife and I a tour of the centre.
'During this tour I was able to meet Hannah Bessey and another young lady and their tutor/carer.
'I said to the tutor/carer 'you are quite unique' and she simply replied 'I love what I do' and it was very apparent that all those we met exhibited the same loving and tender care for their pupils.
'I learnt that some of the pupils were in need of additional funding by such as Suffolk County Council and hope that this will become a reality as Sense is such a worthy cause.
'I hope any local fundraising groups may be encouraged to visit the centre and this will, I know, encourage donations. The public of course can contribute directly via the Sense site on the internet.'
Mr Holmes is now hoping to raise a further £500 from a slide show that he is co-presenting at Pakefield Church hall next Saturday, October 3.
A Sense Resource Centre has operated in Dereham for a number of years and it was the demand from families for another facility in Suffolk which led to the development of the Aldeby site.
The centre opens to learners this month when highly-trained staff will provide quality education and lifelong learning through a range of courses including arts, crafts and drama and information technology (IT). The programme aims to promote social skills, personal development, self-esteem and health and emotional wellbeing.
Learners are offered bespoke programmes tailored to their specific needs and each learner has an appointed mentor to support them to achieve their goals and enable them to be as independent as possible and play an active role in their local community.
The centre offers a fully-equipped multi-sensory room and sensory garden to aid stimulation, mobility and relaxation.
Learners will also be supported to exercise and try swimming, horse riding, the gym, hydrotherapy pool and walks in the park.
For more details about what Sense has to offer, visit http://www.sense.org.uk/
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