Thatcham charity Swings & Smiles to join Greenham Trust’s fundraising scheme

A Thatcham disability charity has been selected to take part in the Escalator Project.

Children’s disability charity Swings & Smiles, based on Lower Way, has been chosen to take part in the Greenham Trust’s Escalator Project in a bid to quadruple any funding it can raise in four weeks.

If the charity can raise £10,000 between August 19 and September 13, then the Greenham Trust will donate a further £30,000 to ‘supercharge’ its funds.

And so, the charity is encouraging its supporters to get involved by hosting their own fundraising events throughout August and September.

Swings & Smiles’ corporate fundraising lead Richard Falkus-Holder said: “Whatever you want to do to fundraise, it will make a big impact.

“You might want to do something Olympics-themed, take on a challenge, run a pub quiz, a raffle or bake sale.”

He added: “The money raised will go towards the charity’s teenage programme, which will give young people with special needs a meaningful place to socialise and gain independence.

“We would like to use the money to design and build an outdoor space with a firepit where young people can bond with others and build their confidence during their formative years.”

Head of grants at the Greenham Trust Rob Daniels said: “We designed the Escalator Challenge for initiatives exactly like this.

“The aims are to supercharge a project, bring a community together and make a real difference.

“This project ticks all those boxes and more.

"We wish the Swings & Smiles team the very best of luck as it takes on this exciting challenge.”

Swings & Smiles provides accessible play spaces for local disabled children, as well as respite care and support for their families.