Family fun day and auction is £1,556 boost for fundraisers

FUNDRAISING PARENTS have received a £1,556 boost thanks to an action-packed auction and family fun day.

The parents of six pupils with autism at Bright Futures School in Grasscroft are aiming to raise £6,000 for the cost of legal advice for upcoming tribunals.

Zoe Thompson, Head of Development at the school and also a parent, set up a crowdfunding page to raise the money so they can make their case at Special Educational Needs tribunals.

The tribunals are seeking to secure home-based social communication provision via the children’s Education Health and Care plans.

After raising an initial £3,200 in a month, the fun day has added more money to the pot and was only the first of a series of exciting events lined up.

The afternoon at Friezland Church Hall involved face painting, hook a duck, a chocolate fountain, chocolate tombola, an auction, a raffle and live entertainment by Gaynor Wilson and Paul McGladdery.

Cllr Nikki Kirkham made a visit, with consort Cllr Katrina Roman, to support the event – her first official engagement in her new role as chairman of the Saddleworth Parish Council for 2017/18.

Clare Gibbins, one of organisers, said: “The caring community came together for a wonderful afternoon of entertainment, fun and banter, and raised a staggering £1556.
“Organisers Zoe, Alison and Clare wish to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make the day possible.

“We have been absolutely overwhelmed by people’s generosity and are so grateful for all the support. Hopefully it will make a huge difference to the quality of our children’s lives, and to others living with autism.”

Claire, along with other organisers Zoe Thompson and Alison Ward, would like to say a special thank you to their volunteers: auctioneer Mark Sharples, assistants Alan and Sebastian Sharples, Saddleworth Folk Duo Gaynor Wilson and Paul McGladdery for the live entertainment, along with their sound engineer Colin Luckman, and photography coverage by Phil Melia of Saddleworth Studios.

A big thank you also to all the local businesses who supported the event (see a full list on www.saddind.co.uk), as well as helpers: Cllr Mavis Bingley, Veronica Butterworth, Marlane Seddon, Anne Parry, Hayley Rigby, Jane Mc Colgan, Ellen Bartonwood, Mavis Ward, Hannah Buckley, Christina Stocks, Ros Hayes and Alex Ludlam.

More money was raised at a fundraising family photoshoot by Mark Gibbins over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Find out more about the campaign and donate online: http://bit.ly/2oQ6IJD