A charity which supports activities at a school for children with autism is reinventing itself in a bid to raise essential funds.
The Friends of Thomas Bewick School provides supplementary funds to provide holiday schemes for pupils of all ages during the school holidays.
Now the charity is being rebranded in an effort to raise its public profile and generate additional income to secure the future of the schemes, as the economy continues to stutter.
Newcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell officially unveiled their new logo today (27th March), followed by a special assembly with local businesses, parents and other supporters at the school.
Headteacher Diane Scott said:
“Everybody knows that when the economy is struggling, charities will inevitably suffer. We are determined not to let that happen to us, which is why the Friends group and the school have been working together to create a new identity for the charity and raise the profile of the school to keep the money coming in.
“The holiday schemes that we offer give the children such a lot of pleasure – with trips to places such as the beach, lakes, playgrounds and farms – and it would be a shame to have to reduce the service we provide. Hopefully this image makeover will keep the school clearly in the public conscience so we can continue doing what we do best.”
Launched by Newcastle City Council in 1999 as a specialist learning provider in the city, the school has since gone from strength-to-strength and has been able to offer holiday schemes since 2010 thanks to funding from the Friends group.
Catherine McKinnell MP said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to be asked to unveil the Friends of Thomas Bewick’s new logo.
“This school offers an excellent education to children and young people with autism, and the charity backs up this work with invaluable additional activities and fundraising.
“It’s a real honour to have Thomas Bewick School in my constituency, and I’m always pleased to support them, and their fantastic work, in any way I can.”