AN appeal to raise money for new pool facilities at an outstanding special school near Northallerton has entered a new phase.
The Hydro Duck Appeal at the Dales School, Morton on Swale, has successfully raised £60,000 to replace the school’s hydrotherapy pool. The next phase of fundraising, called the Techno Duck Appeal will raise a further £40,000 for new changing faciilities, toilets and technology to enhance the learning environment.
Pupils at the school, who have severe and complex learning needs, use the pool for physiotherapy and building confidence.
A celebration evening to mark the completion of the first phase of the appeal was attended by Rishi Sunak, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Richmond (Yorks).
The evening started with a concert performed by Northallerton Amateur Variety Company before pupils, parents and appeal supporters crowded into the new pool area for official opening which was performed by Mr Sunak.
He said: “This is a superb new facility which will be a tremendous resource for the pupils. Having visited the school previously I know how much they enjoy using it and how valuable it is as a therapeutic tool.
“I congratulate eveyone who has helped or contributed to the appeal, particularly the Friends of the Dales School, and would urge everybody to do what they can to assist with the next phase of the fundraising.”
The school’s assistant head teacher, Anne Baker, said the new pool would be enhanced as a learning environment with the addition of interactive sound and lighting, as well as improved changing facilities.
“The local community has been fantastic in supporting our fundraising efforts so far and we are so grateful for all the money-raising initiatives.
Mrs Baker said the mascot for the appeal, Hydro Duck, had travelled all over the world to raise the cause’s profile, visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Las Vegas, Australia and Egypt. A new mascot for the next phase of the appeal would be called Techo Duck.
The Dales School is co-educational special school for children with severe and complex learning needs and is consistently rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted.