Wokingham

Pupils and staff at Wokingham Borough Council’s vulnerable children’s education service unit in Wokingham said a big thank you to Cable & Wireless for their generous donation of £5,000.

Representatives from the international communications company visited Foxwood in Milton Road in Wokingham on Thursday July 12. The council’s executive member for children’s services Cllr Frank Browne also visited the unit to see Cable & Wireless present the cheque to pupils and staff along with a water cooler and book tokens.

This generous donation follows on from a number of partnership events that have taken place between Cable & Wireless and the unit. Over the past few months members of the company’s transformation team have been visiting the unit to take part in activities with the pupils. At Easter they joined pupils in making Easter cards and also planted some shrubs in large planters.

The education base for individual and small groups of vulnerable Wokingham pupils who are temporarily unable to attend mainstream schools, Foxwood helps children with medical needs, school-age pregnant girls and primary school pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Most of the children are taught at the unit although some receive tuition at home.

Senior teacher at Foxwood Emma O’Brien said: “The developing relationship between Foxwood and Cable & Wireless is very exciting and proving to be mutually rewarding. I am thrilled with this generous donation, which will be put to good use in expanding our resources for our pupils. I would like to thank them wholeheartedly for their continued support.”

Tracy O’Brien from Cable & Wireless said: “The developing relationship with Foxwood is more rewarding than I anticipated. Spending quality time with the children and teachers gives you a difference perspective on life and work. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Emma and the children.”

Andrew Roughan from Cable & Wireless said: “It was so rewarding to get out of the office and get some perspective on life and the challenges we face.”

Cllr Frank Browne, Wokingham council’s executive member for children’s services, said: “The staff at Foxwood provide a great service to some of our most vulnerable children in the borough and I am very impressed with their hard work and dedication. The partnership with Cable & Wireless has really made a positive contribution to the unit and I am delighted with their ongoing support. Their donation will complement council funding of the unit and will help fund extra equipment such as whiteboards. I would like to say a big thank you to the team at Cable & Wireless for their donation but also for the time they have spent at the unit mentoring pupils.”

Wokingham Borough Council