The staff, children and families supported by Y Bont are so pleased with the new sensory room created by a large number of employees from Ford Motor Company, Bridgend Engine Plant that they would like to say a public ‘Thank you’ for all the help and support given by the company.
The new sensory room within Y Bont seems a world away from the sensory room that the team from Ford saw when they first visited the Family Centre at Ewenny Rd in Bridgend – it has been totally transformed!
The relationship between Y Bont and Ford first started when Y Bont applied to be Ford’s Charity of the Year. When the Ford Management arrived at Y Bont to deliver a runner’s-up cheque for the charity they were surprised to learn that the Playroom team and children were regularly utilising a 1.9m x 2.9m (6’6”x9’6”) space and limited specialist sensory equipment so the team were determined to change things!
Ian Pearson, Plant Manager at Ford said: “When I visited Y Bont the first time I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, dedication and caring nature of the staff and of the wonderful work they are doing with the children. I knew immediately that there was more that we could do to help. The sensory room provided a perfect opportunity for our talented Ford staff to work alongside the Y Bont team to create something wonderful for the children. I am delighted that the completed room is bringing a smile to both the children and the staff, it certainly brought a smile to the Ford people who worked on the project.”
Marged Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer for Y Bont said, “I am delighted to have forged such a wonderful working relationship with the team at Ford Bridgend Engine Plant. Not only have they worked tirelessly to create a wonderfully spacious and comfortable sensory room that all the children attending Y Bont’s facilities can benefit from, but they have been so enthusiastic and responsive to our specific needs. Nothing has been too much trouble and the commitment shown by Anna Stevens, Neil O’Connor, Clive Williams, Shay Taylor and Greg Phillips has been invaluable. The team have even exceeded their original goal and have helped to create a more professional and user-friendly kitchen – we are so grateful to everyone concerned. Without the help from Ford, Y Bont’s dream of having such a wonderful room would have remained just that. Y Bont would not have the resources in the pot to have done this without Ford and we are incredibly grateful to them.”
Marged continued, “We also had some other contributors we would like to thank namely Carpet Right from the Waterton Industrial Estate for the donation of the thick pile carpet and also to Rebecca Bland – a parent and fantastic fundraiser who has raised funds to purchase several new items of equipment for the room. We are incredibly thankful to those who have supported Y Bont in the past and continue to support us with donations and fundraising activities.”
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For more information about Y Bont and its Family Centre in Bridgend, please visit www.ybont.com or telephone 01656 646013.