SENSORY PLAYGROUND LAUNCH AT HILLPARK SCHOOL, FOREDOWN ROAD, PORTSLADE – A DREAM COME TRUE FOR 207 PUPILS WITH MODERATES, SEVERE OR PROFOUND LEARNING DISABILTIES, AUTISM OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

What: A playground party to celebrate the sensory swings, trikes and scooters that have been provided thanks to charity Dreams Come True launching its inaugural dream in Sussex

Where: Hill Park School, Foredown Way, Portslade, BN41 2FU

When: 18 April 2023, 1pm

Opportunity: To take part in a moment of local celebration and see the playground in action, meet and speak /interact with pupils, staff and the dream makers from Dreams Come True

Dreams Come True is a national charity supporting children with serious illnesses, life-limiting conditions and serious illnesses who live in the most deprived areas of the UK.

In 2022 the charity impacted over 3,200 children thanks to delivering its dreams with purpose. This month is the first time the charity will have delivered a dream in Sussex – which it hopes will be the first of many as the charity works to grow links and support in the county throughout this year.

Rachel Burstow, Head Teacher at Hill Park says: ‘We have 207 pupils who attend Hill Park. We work hard to ensure we provide all our children with a rich and diverse educational and life experience, but that is hard to do when funds are so stretched and budgets so tight.

‘We are delighted that Dreams Come True has awarded us the funding to make use of our great outdoor space, which up until now, has been underused due to lack of funds to maximise the space. Most important, all of our new playground caters to the vast array of needs of our children – our basket swing gives so many more children the opportunity to enjoy the experience, manage their sensory needs, and be included in playtime experiences with their peers.

‘This dream will not only bring hours of joy to the children in school today – but hundreds more into the future. The children are delighted to have this new opportunity – break time has never been so much fun!’

Lisa King, OBE, CEO of Dreams Come True says: ‘I am delighted that Dreams Come True has begun vital work to reach the children in Sussex who need us. There are eight special educational needs schools in areas of deprivation within Sussex – seven of them are in East Sussex alone. The Dreams Come True team and I are working hard to build our connections and support base in Sussex to ensure we can reach the children who, in today’s economic climate, need us and our support more than ever.’

Thanks are also due to Legal & General, Hove branch, for its donation and support of this project.

Notes to editors

For an interview or to speak to the dream team please call Lisa King, 07799 712293 or email lisa@dreamscometrue.uk.com

Photography – if you are unable to attend but would like to receive photographs from the day please email lisa@dreamscometrue.uk.com

Details of the dream:

• 1 new inclusive basket swing and 2 new standard swings on a special grass tiled flooring
• New playground markings
• 39 scooters/trikes