Teachers at Baird Nursery in Cumbernauld picked up the keys to a new minibus last week – with support from the fundraising efforts of SSE employees.
A team of colleagues raised £1,000 at a charity football match in March – pushing the nursery over its £16,000 fundraising target.
Members of the customer services team in Cumbernauld rallied behind Andy Dodd’s efforts to raise money for the appeal.
Andy’s daughter Lily, 3, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy two years ago and she relies on the use of a wheelchair to get around.
After her previous nursery closed, Lily was moved into the under-fives centre at Baird Primary, where Andy and his wife Emma became aware of a fundraising campaign to buy a minibus with wheelchair access.
The nursery had been forced to share one with the adjoining primary school, but staff wanted their own to give the youngsters more freedom.
Andy, who works in Final Accounts at SSE’s Cumbernauld office, said: “Lily loves the nursery and she has a special frame there to help her to walk and every day they spend time with her using it and she is able to move about.
“It was nice to be able to do something to repay them and this is something that will also help children like Lily in the future.”
The keys to the bus were handed over last week by ex-Scotland footballer Gordon Smith, on behalf of principal benefactor, the Variety Club.
Elspeth, McCoull, principal teacher said: “Baird Memorial Primary and ASN Nursery are delighted to have taken delivery of their new Sunshine Coach.
“We regularly use the minibus to take part in Forest Kindergarten experiences, visit the local cafe and to visit museums, shops and parks as relevant to the topics that the children are learning. Our new minibus will be a fantastic asset to our service and allow us to provide these broad educational and social experiences for all the children who use our service."