Charity

Some recipients of donations from PAT (Education & Learning)

Karen Crichton and Lucia Couper

Karen and Lucia were two third year primary education students at Dundee University intending to embark on a voluntary teaching programme in Mombasa, Kenya, in the summer of 2006.  They wrote to the Charity to ask for a financial donation towards their forthcoming project. 

The Charity Trustees were able to support this project and Interactive Voluntary Development Network: www.intvolnetorg.org

The Trustees received a request for funding from Voice Care Network towards their 2006 conference.  The aim of the conference was to promote the importance of voice training for teachers.  The Trustees felt able to support this request and a donation was made. 

Global Teachers Programme 

The charity made a donation to a PAT member who applied for funding to spend five weeks in Africa with a programme administered by Link Community Development.  The purpose of the trip was to share leadership and management skills with either Ugandan or South African teachers.  The member also has an interest in African musical culture and intended to lead African drumming classes for pupils and adults. 

It is hoped that the work will be continued by British schools linking with African schools. www.lcd.org.uk

Suzannne Bradshaw

We received a letter from the mother of one of our members, Suzanne Bradshaw. Suzanne’s mother, an ex PAT member, very kindly wrote to tell us about her daughter and of the very severe health difficulties Suzanne has faced.    Suzanne was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis in 2006 but, despite a harrowing year for Suzanne, and all her family, she remains a brave and cheerful woman and it goes without saying that Suzanne’s mother is immensely proud of her.

We decided to send Suzanne a small gift and, being a keen painter, Suzanne chose to put this towards some watercolour paints. We then asked Suzanne if she would consider writing to us about her illness. Prior to her illness Suzanne was a nursery nurse.

"Eleven months ago I collapsed and was diagnosed with an illness called Transverse Myelitis, which is caused by a virus. I am now paralyzed from the chest down and confined to a wheelchair. My only movement is in my arms, shoulders and head.

"After ten months in hospital I have at least returned home to my family. I have a caring husband, a son aged eighteen, and a daughter aged seventeen. It is so good to be home.

"We have bought a vehicle which accommodates my wheelchair so that I can still travel a little, with limitations, as I have a time schedule to be back for my carers who come five times a day. As we live in a beautiful area I can still appreciate my local environment.

"I am still trying to pursue a former hobby, which is watercolour painting, and I have taken up cross-stitch embroidery, which exercise my fingers. Sadly, I am not able to resume a previous hobby, which was playing in a local brass band.

"I miss my work with the primary school children at the village school but several of them still push notes (sometimes decorated creatively or illustrated) through my letter box which always make me smile."

Suzanne’s mother told us of Suzanne’s love of painting with watercolours and she sent us a lovely Christmas card

Suzanne had painted. We have asked Suzanne to paint some cards for the Charity to sell on her behalf.

If you are interested in purchasing any of Suzanne’s cards, please contact Helen Clarke at Voice (supporting education and learning) (helenclarke@voicetheunion.org.uk). Helen will be very pleased to send them to you on Suzanne’s behalf.

We send our very best wishes to Suzanne and we will certainly be keeping in contact with her. Good luck Suzanne, we send you our very best wishes!

Nick Griffin, Chairman, Voice (supporting education and learning)