Funding Lights Up Local School
26th February 2007
It has been announced that funding from local Charity the ‘Phoenix Energy for Children Charitable Trust’ has recently provided Fleming Fulton School with a new interactive sensory classroom.
A comprehensive range of special sensory equipment has been tailor made to meet the needs of some of the school’s multiply disabled pupils and is a major boost for the school.
Last year a father of one of the young girls who attends the school approached his work colleagues within the local natural gas industry with a proposal for funding for the project to come from the gas charity. The successful application resulted in the school being granted a substantial four-figure sum to furnish the room with specialist equipment such as sensory remote controls, talking photograph albums, a massage mattress and host of other illuminating communication aids.
These interactive items enable severely disabled youngsters, who often cannot speak or communicate, to have some control over their daily environment. They are now able to perform tasks that most people take for granted, like dimming lights, opening doors, using a food mixer, transferring phone calls and much more.
Dr David Mehaffey, Headmaster of Fleming Fulton, expressed his delight at the award:
“This equipment will enable us to add another dimension for the younger children attending our school. They will get so much enjoyment from the room and it should be perfect for mixing both therapy and education.”
Since 1957, Fleming Fulton School on the Upper Malone Road has offered a comprehensive package of education, care, therapy and medical attention to children and young people with physical disabilities who come from all over Belfast and beyond.
The Phoenix Energy for Children Charity has recently celebrated surpassing its first milestone of raising over £100,000 for local disadvantaged children.
Pictured (L-R): Dr David Mehaffey (Headmaster of Fleming Fulton School), happy pupil Mackenzie Twamley and her father Gavin Twamley (Phoenix Natural Gas).