Cycling Inclusion for Special Schools

One of the many things Variety Ireland and Minster Anne Rabbitte love to see, is when children, regardless of their ability, get to experience cycling! Whether it’s children cycling independently or those who can’t for various reasons and need assistance. One thing is for sure, all of the children we help through our Recycle Mobility Programme are presented with the opportunity to know what it feels like to have the wind blowing through their hair and the feel of movement that comes through cycling.

To us and Minister Rabbitte, cycling for children with disabilities should be a fundamental right of children regardless of their ability. Take for example the children of St Francis Special School in Co Kerry, where Variety Ireland’s National Recycle Mobility Programme were able to put the smile on lots of children’s faces by helping to provide this wonderful wheelchair bike. Now teachers and children can enjoy the experience of cycling together!

Here is another heartwarming testimonial we have received from their dedicated staff at St Francis Special School acknowledging and thanking us for help in allowing them to get this wonderful bike for their students. We at Variety Ireland and Minister Rabbitte wish all the students and team at St Francis Special School, many many happy years of cycling!

“Dear Variety Ireland

St. Francis Special School here in Kerry would like to sincerely thanks to Minister Anne Rabbitte and Variety Ireland for your support. St. Francis Special School is dedicated to providing the highest quality, care and education of pupils under our instruction. We seek to promote individual intellectual, emotional, social, physical and spiritual development. We believe that each child is entitled to an appropriate educational provision, regardless of individual levels of attainment and functioning. The addition of this bike means that children who have never been on a bike before or will never get a chance to cycle for themselves, get to experience what should be a rite of passage for every child. The joy it has brought to them is something to behold and should be celebrated.

While enabling each Pupil to develop his/her potential to the full, we also want our pupils to be happy in school and to enjoy their time in our care. The addition of the bike has brought enjoyment that would not be possible without the financial support from the Minister Anne Rabbitte and all at The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Bernard and Maeve at the HSE and of course Variety Ireland.

Our sincere thanks,”

All in the St. Francis Special Community