Seabourn’s UK Office Teams with Sports Charity to Present New Minibus to Young People with Disabilities

August 12, 2015 /3BL Media/ - On May 1, representatives of Seabourn’s U.K. office were joined by Judith Chalmers OBE – British broadcast legend and President Emeritus of the Lady Taverners – to officially hand over a new 16-seat wheelchair-accessible minibus to staff and students of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre at Angmering Secondary School in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

The Lady Taverners is part of the Lord’s Taverners, the U.K.’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, whose objective is to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance. The charity has put more than 1,050 minibuses on the road since 1976, enabling more than 20,000 young people with disabilities to enjoy new places and experiences every year.

Seabourn’s U.K. office has been fundraising for a number of years with the goal to raise enough money to provide a Lady Taverners minibus for a school or community project. Funds were raised through a number of charity events in association with the Lady Taverners and TV presenter and travel guru Judith Chalmers. Seabourn’s Managing Director, U.K. & Ireland Lynn Narraway and the other members of the U.K. team have a long association with Judith.

The Lavinia Norfolk Centre at the Angmering Sports and Science Specialist School caters to 95 students aged 11-18, many of whom are wheelchair users. The center enables students with severe or life-altering physical disabilities or medical conditions to be fully included in the school.

Head teacher David Brixey, along with his dedicated teaching team and a group of students, was present to receive the keys to the minibus. Among the students present was Louis Saunders, who gave a very moving speech about how important and enabling a vehicle such as this can be for the school’s sporting activities and events. Louis himself is an aspiring wheelchair boccia player, a sport similar to bocce.

Lynn, who is also a Lady Taverner, said, “As a cruise line visiting hundreds of destinations every year, we know that travel experiences are vital to everyone’s personal development and growth. We are so thrilled to have raised enough funds for a minibus, and we hope that this facility will offer some fantastic travel opportunities for the students at the Angmering School.”

Paul Robin, Chief Executive of the Lord’s Taverners, said, “The Lord’s Taverners believes that sport and recreation are essential for all young people, regardless of ability or background. This minibus will help the Lavinia students to get out and enjoy new places and experiences in West Sussex and beyond. We are proud to support the staff, parents, and young people of the Lavinia Norfolk Centre and thank Seabourn for their continued support.”