Achievements

The charity has awarded grants totalling some £270,000 to over 70 organisations and causes in the last ten years.  Some of the organisations we have assisted have written:

• “I can’t believe that six months have passed since you gave us your amazing donation of £1,400 for our Art Therapy project “Squidgy Fingers”. Art offers our children an opportunity to express thoughts and feelings which may be too painful to talk about in any other way and focuses on what a child can do rather than on their disabilities. We wouldn’t have been able to continue to do this without your fantastic support.” (June 2016: £1,400 for art therapy sessions and equipment at Demelza.)

• “We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and make you aware of the huge difference this will make to our charity and the services, advice and information we can provide to our children, adults and their families and carers.” (February 2016: £1,800 for a manned helpline and advice and information centre at Kent Friendz.)

• 

  “We were delighted to receive a grant from Downlands Educational Trust in February 2015, to enable a one-day, in-house autism training course for education professionals. The valuable insight into the issues that those with ASD experience will be of great use to our education team. We have a better understanding of how ASD children might see the world.

  This will ensure that our teaching sessions are as inclusive as possible, and also enable us to develop programmes aimed at making ASD students feel as comfortable. The training was excellent quality, and all the team found it to be very valuable.” (February 2015: £780 to fund a course to improve ASD provision in Surrey wildlife education at Surrey Wildlife Trust.)

• “During the weekly session, the students participate in a range of activities including carpentry skills, health and safety knowledge, internet research and contributing to their personal work record books. The staff and our tutor reported that the students in the sessions were clearly engaged and motivated in their learning. Staff have reported on the very positive impact these sessions had on the individual students.The funding Clifton Hill received has enabled us to deliver one term of our carpentry and painting course.The students have had a wonderful and very busy term making CD racks, little cars and also Christmas decorations. For these students, the course provides not only practical skills but they also learn how to take turns, listen to our tutor and each other, follow simple and complex instructions, work as a group and individually.

  It provides them with important additional stimulus and encourages greater communication, gross and fine motor skills.Thank you Downlands Educational Trust for making this happen for these special students. It makes an enormous difference to the educational and social experiences these young people receive.” (February 2015: £2,000 towards a mobile construction classroom at Clifton Hill School, Caterham, in partnership with Surrey SATRO.)

• 

  “Downlands Educational Trust provided funding to purchase digital video cameras, professional tripods, boom poles and microphones for Moon Hall College. Students on the BTEC I&CT have been able to experience the process of planning, shooting and editing a film, and have really enjoyed using the equipment independently.

  Drama GCSE students have also been able to film their coursework pieces, and students on the BTEC Sport have used the equipment to capture practical sports performances. We envisage further uses of the equipment as we become more used to have such a dedicated facility. Many thanks from all at Moon Hall.” (February 2014: £1,328 for video and related equipment at Moon Hall College.)

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  “Very many thanks for the continuing support for disability cricket by Downlands Educational Trust. The recent Disability Cricket coaching session was attended by 14 coaches and run by 2 coaches newly trained under the scheme. The Sussex Cricket Board’s Disability Day in May attracted over 500 attendees.

  The course is needed to help meet the ever-increasing demand whilst giving the attendees the confidence to deliver high quality, engaging sessions. The newly qualified coaches will have a significant impact on the development of Disability Cricket across the county.” (June 2013: £1,800 to fund a UK Disability Inclusion Training Course for coaches, teachers and staff for Sussex Cricket in the Community Trust.)

Other grants

Other projects and equipment we have funded in recent years include:

• June 2016: £1,868 for pre-vocational hairdressing courses at Surrey Care Trust, Woking
• February 2016: £1,600 to provide adventure courses for children with learning difficulties through the Panathlon Foundation.
• May 2015: £1,785 to equip an outdoor education days project at Little Gate Farm, nr Rye