TT2 Limited, the operator of the Tyne Tunnels, has made a donation to Stephenson Memorial Primary School in Howdon, Wallsend to help fund its trip to China in November.
The Tyne Tunnels Community Fund, founded by TT2 in November 2016, donated £600 to the North Tyneside school, to support students who will be visiting their sister school in Shenzhen. The school approached businesses to sponsor the trip to help more children participate in this once in a lifetime experience.
Stephenson Memorial Primary School has built a relationship with Yiqiang Primary in China over the past three years, and hosted the Chinese students on a visit to Howdon last November. The 15 year six students from Howdon will visit Hong Kong, before reuniting with their friends in Shenzhen.
The students will also spend time at Yiqiang Primary School, as well as visiting the open-air museum of Chinese culture and an adventure camp for international students during their eight day trip.
The Tyne Tunnels Community Fund helps TT2 Limited achieve its aim to be a good neighbour to communities on both sides of the Tyne, as well as to those in their wider customer base. The fund was established to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the second road tunnel and strives to support local charitable and educational programmes across the region.
Ron Henderson, Tunnel Manager at TT2, said: “TT2 is delighted to be able to support our local children. This trip will be a brilliant experience for all the pupils who are able to go, and we are glad that we can help to make that happen. We commend Stephenson Memorial for the hard work arranging this trip, and we are excited to see the children’s reports when they come back.”Tunnel Manager at TT2, said: “TT2 is delighted to be able to support our local children. This trip will be a brilliant experience for all the pupils who are able to go, and we are glad that we can help to make that happen. We commend Stephenson Memorial for the hard work arranging this trip, and we are excited to see the children’s reports when they come back.”
Emma Overton, Headteacher at Stephenson Memorial Primary School, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to TT2 for its generous donation towards our visit to China. The school wants to invest in the aspirations of the children of Howdon, and this trip will stay with them for a lifetime. We last visited Shenzhen in 2014, and the former pupils who went still talk about their experiences and how much it meant to them. We are thrilled to be able to give another group of children this opportunity, thanks to the help of businesses like TT2.”