Youngsters at a Leeds special school will be able to make the most of the spring and summer this year, thanks to a grant from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

John Jamieson School in Oakwood caters for more than 230 pupils aged from three to 19, all of who have special needs, including physical disabilities, sensory impairments, autism and degenerative medical conditions.

The grant will go towards providing outdoor trikes, bikes and ride-ons for primary school children.

Assistant Principal Vicky Fisher said: “We passionately believe that play is important for our children to enable them to build social relationships, speech and language and communications skills, motor development and for their social, emotional and mental well-being. We have limited but precious outdoor space and are currently working hard to develop play provision in school.”

The primary pupils spend time on the bikes and trikes throughout playtimes and lunchtimes. Many choose to use them for their “reward” time, and they are also used when children are struggling to focus in lessons and need a break.

The grant from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation will provide 16 bikes or trikes, along with role play road safety accessories to help with work on road safety.
In addition, a series of play panels will be added to Jenny’s Playground, a new play area at the school which opened last year.

The grant was presented by Foundation Vice-Chairman Richard Stroud, who said: “This is a fantastic project. When I was shown round the school I was incredibly impressed by the dedication and commitment of all the staff in very challenging situations and I am delighted we can help them to make a difference for their pupils.”

Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation grants are made to young people aged under 35 across the whole of Yorkshire and anyone who would like to apply can find details here
 
The main fundraiser for the grants is the annual Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards. The 27th Awards take place on Thursday 7 November 2019.

​A promising young snooker player has been given a grant by the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

Fifteen-year-old Aimee Benn, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, began playing thanks to a free ten-week course in the game which was being offered in Menston by the Paul Hunter Foundation. Paul won the Masters Championship three times before losing his battle with cancer in 2006, when he was posthumously awarded the Personality of the Year title at the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards.

Aimee took to the sport immediately and three years on is playing in tournaments across the UK and abroad, as well as helping younger members of her club with their coaching, and is now ranked ninth in the world after just two seasons competing in the ladies’ open age tour.
She recently took part in the Ladies Festival of Snooker in Leeds, improving on her last performance, and in August is hoping to be able to travel to Germany for the Paul Hunter Classic.

She received her grant towards coaching, registration and entry fees from Foundation Vice-chairman Richard Stroud who said: “It is always exciting to meet a young person with the determination and commitment to do well in whatever field they choose and we wish Aimee the best of luck for the future.”
​
The main fundraiser for the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation is the annual Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards, sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors of Harrogate. Anyone who would like to apply for a grant can find full details at www.yorkshireyoungachievers.co.uk.

Foundation Vice Chairman, Richard Stroud, visited the Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College in Bradford last week to present a grant from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.
 
The Foundation are sponsoring Emma Graham as a teacher for 2 years. Emma is teaching a Year 10 class in the 1300 pupil secondary school. During his visit Richard attended a very creative and successful maths lesson. The Foundation would like to wish Emma every success in her role.

A young athlete from Cononley near Skipton has received a grant for coaching from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

Jessica Mayho, 23, competes internationally in the women’s hammer and is aiming to qualify for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

She has gained support from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, L1 Performance, Sutcliffe Construction, Bottega Hairdressing, Mac G Racing and Westfield Health to fund her training but still has a shortfall in funds and the grant from the Foundation will go towards covering her annual coaching costs.

Foundation Vice Chairman Richard Stroud said: “Jessica is dedicated to her sport and also supports her local community. She has made an impressive effort to secure sponsorship already and we are delighted to be able to help. We look forward to hearing about her continued success.”
​
The main fundraiser for the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation is the annual Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards which this year take place on Thursday 23 November, marking their 25th anniversary.

A Wakefield youngster has a new trike to help improve her mobility, thanks to the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.  Nine-year-old Leah Ann Bowie, of Kettlethorpe, was born with Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Her mobility is poor, causing her to fall frequently, and she is deaf and wears two cochlear implants. Her learning is delayed and she has no speech and problems with swallowing.

Her mum, Elaine, contacted the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation for a grant towards a specialised Tomcat Fizz trike for Leah Ann, the family having already raised £250 towards it. The new trike arrived this month and will enable Leah Ann to get about independently, without fear of falling or having to use a wheelchair.  Elaine said: “Leah Ann is delighted with it – it makes her life easier and more fun!”

The Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation distributes funds raised by the annual Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards, sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors.  The Foundation was formed in 2010 to support young people in the region to achieve their potential and makes grants to individuals and projects. Vice-chairman Richard Stroud said: “It is tremendous how something which seems so simple can make such a difference to a young person’s life.”