Prior's Court's Parallel Windsor team a finalist at awards ceremony

Published by Prior's Court School on Thursday 21st of November 2024

An inspirational team made up of autistic young people with complex needs we support and staff members who took on a fundraising challenge have earned recognition for their exploits.

A team of 14 young people from Prior’s Court and 21 supporting staff members who supported them to attend Parallel Windsor in July 2024 were a finalist in The Fundraiser of the Year prize at the Greenham Trust Charity Awards 2024.

Parallel Windsor is an inspiring annual festival of inclusivity, consisting of a series of challenge events designed for people with a range of disabilities operating alongside a festival of music, performance and more in the historic Windsor Great Park.

The 14 Prior’s Court young people who attended all took part in the 5k walk/ run at the event, some taking part with their families, gathering more than £1,400, including Gift Aid, for our Fun and Recreation appeal.

Our Fundraising team collected the finalist's certificate on behalf of the team at the event on Thursday, 7 November.

The Greenham Trust Charity Awards are designed to acknowledge and reward the great work of charitable organisations, volunteers and fundraisers to improve the lives of others in West Berkshire and north Hampshire.

Natalie Norris, our Fundraising Manager, said: “This was a huge achievement by the young people at Prior’s Court. Other young people supported by other charities can show their support for the help the charity provides them by taking on fundraising challenges. By taking part in an accessible event full of acceptance and awareness of neurodivergence, the autistic young people with complex needs at Prior’s Court had the opportunity to do the same.

“And this was made possible by every staff member who empowered those 14 young people to attend. Not just the 21 staff members on the day, but all those who worked over many months to prepare the young people for the day – the run/ walk itself but also negotiating other issues such an event poses including sensory challenges.

“This was more than just a fundraising challenge - it was a day that many of those parents and family members will never forget and it benefitted all autistic young people with complex needs at Prior’s Court.”

Our Fun and Recreation appeal helps the autistic young people we support to experience the same things that others their age are able to. Their complex needs and sensory challenges can make it more difficult to access and attend seasonal events such as Summer fairgrounds, fireworks displays and Santa’s grottos so the funds raised by the appeal bring these to our site.