Community fund boost for sensory garden
A recreational charity for people with special and additional needs has received a £1,500 cash boost to improve a sensory garden.
SNAP (Special Needs Adventure Playground) in Cannock was selected as the M6toll’s first Drive for Charity in the Community winner.
The charity fund aims to support community groups and projects across the Midlands as part of a £45,000 initiative.
Samantha Scrimshaw, Life Skills worker at SNAP, said: “We provide indoor and outdoor activity sessions for both adults and children with special needs.
“Our playground has lots of equipment to improv
e gross motor skills, such as climbing frames, but the facilities to stimulate the senses of our visitors need some improvement. We aim to purchase wind chimes, water play and sensory plants to help them to understand their emotions and develop sensory processing, supporting their social interaction and communications skills.
“We are so grateful to M6toll for this fantastic donation, which will make a huge difference to the project.”
The Pye Green Road facility provides a wide range of activities to support people with special needs and their families, from autism-friendly hairdressing and Makaton, to messy play and Lego sessions.
Since the M6toll opened 15
years ago, operators Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) have donated more than £1million to local good causes.
This year, an online scheme will see £20,000 given to one ‘charity of the year’, and dozens of smaller awards made to community projects.
Andy Cliffe, chief executive of M6toll, said: “Our commitment to the welfare of our local community doesn’t end when people drive through the toll booths. We care about the towns and villages surrounding the motorway and our Drive For Charity scheme is designed to support them.
“A monthly cash fund of up to £1,500 is available for charities, schools, sports clubs or voluntary organisations helping to enhance the lives of local people.”
In total, £43,000 will be distributed through the scheme, with a further £2,000 set aside for charity appeals suggested by M6toll staff.
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