Blaize take 60 children to Kids Out at Lightwater Valley

Having found some extra funding from sponsorship by a local company Blaize were able to organise at the last minute a trip for 60 disadvantaged children from Lister Primary School year 5 (aged 10) to go to the Kids Out day at Lightwater Valley near Ripon. The children were accompanied on the coach by Rotarian John Waterhouse (and 6 teachers) and were met at the theme park by Rotarians Tim Ratcliffe and Tony Gill.

Every June, the Rotary Organisation throughout Britain and Ireland together with the KidsOut charity take over 25,000 disadvantaged children on a great big day out. The children visit the seaside, theme parks, adventure playgrounds & zoos giving them all wonderful memories to cherish for a lifetime. The sponsoring Rotary Club pay for transport to the local event together with entrance for the children and their support workers or teachers.

The North and West Yorkshire event (known in Rotary as District 1040) takes place each year at Lightwater Valley near Ripon where a marquee is erected to shelter the children as they are having lunch whilst being entertained by a magician after which the children are free to enjoy the thrills of the theme park. This year there were over 500 children from all over the District in attendance.

Before setting off John addressed the children in the school hall telling them that: -

"We visited your school and were so impressed with all the good work being done by children, teachers and parents. We were told that you had worked hard and behaved very well and so we are very happy to help pay for this trip as a reward to you all."

After the day the Head Teacher (Moira Hunt) wrote to John saying: -

"The children have had a lovely experience and we all want to thank Bradford Blaize Rotary for making it possible."

To which John responded: -

"It was a pleasure to spend a day with such polite, funny and bright Bradford children."