The David Lewis Centre are delighted to have received a new mini bus this week, provided by Wilmslow and Macclesfield Round Tables.
The Round Tables raised £30,000 to fund the specially adapted mini bus which will enable some of the adults from the centre to get out into the community to perform gardening duties.
The money was raised from the Wilmslow Bonfire & Fireworks Display, sleigh collections last year and the Macclesfield Beer Festival, which was organised by Macclesfield Round Table.
Nicky Downs, from David Lewis, explained "Our Garden Maintenance Team minibus had been in constant use for years and desperately needed replacing. The Team have contracts throughout East Cheshire and the bus is essential in transporting them and their equipment. The Team are members of our Footsteps adult employment and vocational training service and provides a range of opportunities for people to experience work and real training.
"It was literally in the nick of time that the new specially adapted bus was delivered as the old one finally gave up the ghost 2 weeks before the new one arrived and Adam and the team were absolutely delighted to receive the keys to the new bus from Stephen Killilea and Nick Thompson from the respective Roundtables.
"Without the generosity of these community spirited supporters like the Roundtables and some exceptionally kind Charitable Trusts Adam and his gardening team would have been left stranded."
Stephen Killilea, of Wilmslow Round Table, said "We chose to support the project following me being approached by them a while ago and they were getting to a position where their old mini bus was not fit for purpose. Having looked round the centre and seeing the work they do, we felt it was such a worthy cause. The new specially adapted mini bus has been fitted with a toilet, providing them with safe and secure storage of their equipment along with facilities to clean and freshen up.
"The new mini bus has the round table branding on it and will be a legacy that will last for many years to come providing a lifeline for some of these children and adults with learning difficulties to get into society."
When leaving on Friday, 13th December, Stephen wished everyone a Merry Christmas, to which one of the pupils replied "We have just received the best possible Christmas present we could ever have expected, thanks to the Round Table."
