SLM Toyota Uckfield Donates Grant To Children's Respite Trust

SLM Toyota Uckfield have been able to donate a grant of £1,800 to the Children's Respite Trust.

• Here at SLM Toyota Uckfield we are very pleased to announce that we have been able to donate a grant of £1,800 to the Children's Respite Trust.

  The grant is thanks to Toyota GB's Fund For A Better Tomorrow scheme, which gives dealerships the opportunity to support worthy local charities. Earlier this year we appealed for suggestions for Uckfield-based charities we could help with the grant. With over 20 ideas put forward the choice was difficult, however after visiting the Children's Respite Trust we were very happy with our final decision.

  The charity's main aim is to help families with disabled children get a much-needed break from the strain of caring for a disabled child 24 hours a day. Much of their current work is carried out in homes but this July they are planning to open a day centre in town. The £1,800 grant will be used to help them complete the project, in particular to help upgrade the kitchen area which is currently being renovated.

  Pictured above is SLM Group Director Jason Barlow and Marketing Manager Mel Ball handing over the cheque to Trust Chief Executive Gavin Fisher. Whilst at the centre, they were shown around the open plan ground floor, which will accomodate a soft play area with sensory section, quiet lounge, messy play corner for arts and crafts as well as the dining area and kitchen. Upstairs there will be an office, an area for parents and a games room.

  The centre will allow the charity to hold drop-in sessions for parents to bring their children to enjoy the play area whilst they take a break upstairs, providing them with some much needed free time. There are plans for the centre to be able to host up to six children at a time and up to 54 in total will be able to attend sessions a couple of times a week on a regular basis.

  Mel Ball commented that “the trust does such important work for disabled children and their families across Sussex and beyond that we felt only too happy to contribute to the new centre, which will be a fantastic facility when it is finished.”

  Gavin Fisher also added: "It will be somewhere that disabled children will have a great time first and foremost, getting plenty of stimulation, while their families get that all-important break, knowing that their children are receiving the best possible care. We simply can’t do that without support from the local community and so for this wonderful donation from SLM Toyota, we’re truly grateful.”

  Here at SLM Toyota we are extremely pleased to be able to help such a worthy local charity and we are looking forward to keeping up to date with their future developments.

  Find out more about the Children's Respite Trust here.