Raising vital funds for new wheelchair accessible bus

Woodlands School is a primary special school in Harrow which caters for 135 pupils aged 3-11 years with a wide range of complex and profound learning difficulties. These include severe autism, complex medical conditions, physical and mobility difficulties, as well as severe developmental delay.

The vision is to be an inspirational school of excellence, where pupils and the community grow, achieve and flourish and our values which underpin everything we do are Safety, Happiness, Respect, Achievement, Aspiration, Communication, Engagement and Support.

The Friends of Woodlands is the registered charity that helps Woodland’s finance some of the additional costs that being an inspirational school requires.

One of those major costs are minibuses that allow the children the access enriching activities such as supported horse riding, Forest School and trips to the community to support independence and learning programmes.

Unfortunately, due to ULEZ restrictions and compliance, two of our current fleet of three busses will no longer be in use from 2027. The current cost of replacing each bus is £25,000. As we continue to support this essential daily need of the school and children, this is an enormous cost within a short period of time, sadly the cost to the children will be greater if we do not manage to reach our target.

Without these buses the impact on the children will be immediate as not all children will be able to be involved in activities, we must continue to ensure that all the children have equal opportunities to access the wider community.

We would very much appreciate any contribution small or large to this huge undertaking ahead of us.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.