THE Lord’s Taverners Wales has presented Llanelli school Ysgol Heol Goffa with a specially adapted minibus to enable pupils to engage in more community activities.

The special school, which caters for pupils aged three to nineteen with a range of additional learning needs, is looking forward to welcoming its students back as soon as restrictions allow so they can enjoy the opportunities that the minibus now offers.

Alongside out of school activities such as attending leisure facilities, therapies and work experience, the minibus will allow the school to continue to provide their pupils with the opportunity to attain their Duke of Edinburgh awards, with many students striving for the Gold award.

Ceri Hopkins, Head Teacher at Ysgol Heol Goffa, said: “Both the pupils and staff are over the moon to be in receipt of the new minibus as it will enable us to transport our pupils and therefore access essential parts of their school and life skills curriculum.

“We are looking forward to providing pupils with the opportunities to get out into the community and develop more social aspects of life skills, which unfortunately the past year has deprived them of.

“We can’t thank our amazing PTA enough for all of their fundraising efforts, and of course the Lord’s Taverners Wales for their incredible donation.”

Andrew Gibson, Chairman of Lord’s Taverners Wales, said: “Transport is a very important lifeline for all special educational needs schools and organisations; the opportunities it helps provide are unquestionable. At Lord’s Taverners we believe it is vital that everyone should be able to enjoy sports and recreations, and the new minibus will help the pupils do just this.”

With COVID-19 restrictions forcing the school’s closure, the minibus could not be presented by The Lord’s Taverners in person, however, an official presentation to staff and pupils is planned as soon as restrictions allow.

The Lord’s Taverners charity was set up in 1950 by a group of friends and cricket enthusiasts. They aim to give children, particularly those with special needs, a ‘sporting chance’, by providing sporting equipment including sensory equipment, specially adapted wheelchairs, minibuses, grants and donations.

To find out more about the Lord’s Taverners please visit www.lordstaverners.org/members/wales