AUTISM INITIATIVES, SOUTHPORT (MARCH 2007)

The Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation has donated £2,438 to Autism Initiatives UK, to fund the purchase of a smart board for Peterhouse School in Southport . The new board will enable the teachers to project computer programmes onto the walls of the classroom, so that the children can actively participate in the lesson by taking it in turns to mark things on the board. The information can then be transferred to their own computer and saved.

Autism Initiatives UK provides a wide range of services across the country which are centred on the specific needs of each individual autism sufferer. The dedicated staff also provide a vital source of information, advocacy and support to sufferers and their families. The school in Southport is specifically designed for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and offers a variety of facilities to support and cater for children of all abilities.

Graham Burtwell, principle of Peterhouse School, commented, "The new smart board has made a huge difference to everyone at the school. It is an amazing piece of equipment and without the generous donation from the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation it would not have been possible for us to purchase such a costly piece of equipment."

Carol Galvin, branch manager of Skipton's Southport branch, on behalf of the Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation, added, "We are delighted to have been able to donate to such a worthy cause and I hope that the smart board will really benefit everyone at the school. Our Charitable Foundation aims to make a real difference to people's lives and any registered charities that are looking for help can pick up an application form from their nearest Skipton branch."