Hexham’s Calvert Trust Kielder has been presented with a new Lord’s Taverners wheelchair accessible minibus this week (28 November).
Since 1976, the Lord’s Taverners has placed over 1,100 accessible minibuses across schools in the UK. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first minibus giveaway, and to celebrate this, the charity will be giving away a record 40 minibuses in 2016. The iconic Lord’s Taverners minibuses provide disadvantaged and disabled young people with the chance to engage with their local community by getting more access to the facilities on offer and build important life skills in the process.
Located at its award-winning centre within Kielder Water & Forest Park near Hexham, Calvert Trust Kielder is a registered charity which enables guests of all abilities to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure with professional instructor-led activities in stunning surroundings. The new minibus will help staff at Calvert Trust Kielder transport guests to and from water-based activities such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking and motor boating, as well as other day trips further afield.
Calvert Trust Kielder’s CEO Peter Cockerill is very grateful for the donation. He said: “The Lord’s Taverners is a fantastic charity who, just like us, work hard to ensure that everyone is given a ‘sporting chance’ and can enjoy outdoor adventure. The new minibus is a tremendous boost for Calvert Trust Kielder and means we can continue our good work and welcome even more guests to the centre. Everyone at Calvert Trust Kielder is very grateful. Thank you.”
Paul Robin, Chief Executive of the Lord’s Taverners, said: “The Lord’s Taverners is delighted to present Calvert Trust Kielder with a new minibus. We aim to provide as many young people as possible with a sporting chance, and this giveaway is part of what is a very special year, with a record 40 minibuses being donated on the 40th anniversary of when we provided the first one.”
The Lord’s Taverners will donate over £3 million this year to help give disadvantaged and disabled young people a ‘sporting chance’ enabling over 200,000 young people with disabilities to enjoy new places and experiences every year. The minibus scheme is just one of many initiatives the Lord’s Taverners offers. To find out more about the charity, go towww.lordstaverners.org.