School hits top gear with SwansAid

It's full speed ahead for Ysgol Heol Goffa special needs school after they received a £2,000 grant from SwansAid.

The Llanelli-based school for children with special needs became the latest community group to benefit from the Swansea City Community Trust fund, following an application for the grant in November.

The school is putting the donated money towards buying extra mobility bikes for the children to enjoy outdoors.

SwansAid was set up in August by Swansea City's Community Trust in order to help fund special projects within the communities of West Wales.

Community Trust Manager Linden Jones, Swans winger Nathan Dyer and Club Ambassador Lee Trundle went along to Ysgol Heol Goffa to hand over the sizeable cheque and give young Swansea fans at the school a chance to meet a couple of their heroes.

"The children have been so looking forward to this afternoon's visit - the staff as well," explained head teacher Nikki Symmons.

"We applied to SwansAid in November and were delighted to find out they had decided to grant us money towards buying an extra mobility bike. We are thrilled and very grateful to the Swans for that.

"The disability bikes are so good for the children, but unfortunately they are terribly, terribly expensive.

"Without the money from SwansAid, we wouldn't have been able to get the extra bike.

"In the past we've been able to borrow bikes, but that's obviously not an ideal situation because, with something like this, we haven't got anywhere indoors where the children can use them.

"We also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award, where we can take some of our pupils down to Pembrey with the bikes, which they can then use in Pembrey Country Park.

"They camp out overnight in tents and it's a wonderful experience for them. It helps them with their communication skills, team building, working together and exercise for their core muscles - the experience comes with all sorts of benefits."

Meanwhile, Nathan Dyer was delighted to be able to spend some time signing autophraphs, posing for photos and chatting with the school children.

"I think it's brilliant," said Dyer. "We are so privileged ourselves, so giving something back is one of the few things that we can do in the community.

"Seeing their faces and chatting with them today was brilliant. They're so full of life - it makes me happy to see that they're happy."