Support floods in for fire-hit special school
A special school’s appeal has been answered with offers of help to rebuild a classroom destroyed by fire.
Pens Meadow School made the appeal for help to cover significant rebuild costs at the Dudley school.
The classroom, an outbuilding on the site, was targeted by vandals last month in an arson attack.
Deputy headteacher Jodie Colbourne said: “We are initially fundraising so that we can look at ways to secure our forest school area. We are concerned about ongoing vandalism and this needs to be our first priority.
“We will then be looking to develop the site so that we can continue to offer sessions to all of our pupils including those with complex medical issues and wheelchair users that need shelter from inclement weather or when it is particularly hot.
“Our bird hide has also been damaged and the site needs clearing of litter and broken glass that has been left by vandals. We have also set up a GoFundMe page, we have got a sponsored walk at the end of the month.”
Miss Colbourne added: “We were really devastated, we walked around the corner and it was one of those things when your heart sinks.
“We weren’t sure whether we would be able to rebuild and get that facility back.
“They (students) don’t understand the social connotations, their perception of why someone would want to do this is quite upsetting.
“We have to explain it in simple terms that we think bad people did it but we will work together and we will rebuilt it.
“It’s been a project they developed so for them its that kick in the teeth.”
The school, which houses 100 students, will look to raise £5,000 in a bid to tackle the damage and rebuild the classroom.
Charity Friends of Alfie Johnson, who help disabled children across Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton, have stepped in to offer their support with a financial donation.
Trustee Mark Smith, 50, said: “We’re looking to contribute a significant sum to support and back the rebuild.”
NCB Scaffolding Specialists in Stourbridge has also signed up to help, while Brierley Hill Fire Service plans to run a car wash in order to raise funds.
To help, visit www.gofundme.com/pens-meadow-forest-school
