Special Birmingham Academy Receives Forest Project Funding

Children at a special academy in Birmingham are getting excited to explore the outdoors following a donation from Selco.

Wilson Stuart School in Perry Common, Erdington, is constructing wheelchair friendly routes in a school project that takes the classroom outside.

The school caters for 229 pupils that have additional needs including sensory impairment, learning and communication difficulties or complex medical conditions.

The scheme was handed a timely boost by winning £500 worth of building materials from Selco through our highly successful Selco Stars competition.

We have awarded £500 worth of building materials to 12 good causes across the UK. Later this year, the dozen finalists will go forward for a public vote for the chance to win £5,000 cash.

A second prize of £1,250 is also available to mark Selco’s 125th anniversary.

Simon Harris, executive headteacher, said: “We’re going to use the £500 from Selco to create a wheelchair access point for the forest.

“This will create pathways where the students can engage in all different aspects of nature and the excitement of just getting away from their normal environment.

“If we were successful in getting the further amount of money, either the £1,250 or £5,000 from Selco, it would make a massive difference.

“It would allow us to put those resources in to the forest and create a curriculum that’s not just special but pretty amazing.

“We’re always talking about our students being children who are special because of their special needs, but actually they’re special children because they’re amazing kids who we just want to give the greatest opportunity to.

“We’d love for you to vote for us to give us some additional money to make this project really work.”

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: "Wilson Stuart School have outstanding purpose-built facilities but this donation will go towards giving their pupils an even better experience.

“The project is a fantastic initiative and it gives us great pleasure to help make it accessible for everyone.”

Voting in the Selco Stars final is scheduled to start in the summer.