Samarès School benefits from 2014 Swimarathon

Thursday 29 January 2015

The Lions Club of Jersey has donated £8,500 from last year's Swimarathon Samarès School to create a unique learning environment for children facing a variety of challenges.

The new nurture room is a sheltered space for teachers to discuss and support pupils with their development and learning goals, while minimizing the risk of a child withdrawing entirely from the school curriculum.

Andrew Willis, Head Teacher of Samarès School said: "We already have trained professionals working with our challenged pupils on the nurture programme, but we need a dedicated space to provide them with extra support. We want to create a homely and welcoming atmosphere to transform the behaviour of these children so they can grow into happy, confident and well-adjusted young adults."

Under the school’s current programme, the children have a balanced timetable of activities carefully designed to boost their self-esteem while maintaining interest and enthusiasm. The programme has been a success so far, with six pupils enrolled since starting at the beginning of the school year.

The President of the Lions Club of Jersey, John Le Maistre said: "Samarès School submitted a compelling case asking for our support which we were able to meet from the last of the funds raised by last year’s Swimarathon. We believe the nurture room project will make a real and lasting difference to these children’s lives, a fitting legacy from the Island’s longest running charity event."

The 2015 Swimarathon, sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, is to be held at Les Quennevais Sports Centre from 11 to 15 March. Money raised at this year’s event will be divided between specific causes with 25% of the money raised going to 15 charities offering activities for people with disabilities, 50% will provide respite holidays for local people and supporting general community service projects with the remaining 25% donated to Channel Islands Air Search.