A new Variety Sunshine Coach was presented at Cineworld’s new cinema in Yate, Bristol, to the staff and students of Three Ways School. Cineworld raises money for Variety by staff initiatives, the sales of Gold Hearts and donations from their customers. Three Ways School is an Academy Trust, operating as a generic Community Special School. The school provides for 190 children with a wide range of Special Educational Needs.

Cineworld’s Head of Operations, Shaun Jones, Three Ways School’s Business Manager, Amelia Hartley, Cineworld’s Chief Operating Officer Matt Eyre and Cineworld Yate’s General Manager, Steve Plank, handing over the keys to the newly funded Variety Sunshine Coach.

Cineworld Staff and Variety representatives present a Variety Sunshine Coach to staff and children of Three Ways School.

The school is a Specialist School for Physical and Sensory. It is also a School of Creativity. The new Variety Sunshine Coach will offer the children the opportunity to experience the outside world in a safe and secure way through a number of trips and activities. The coach will be used every school day and during after-school and holiday clubs.

The children and staff of Three Ways School were warmly greeted at the opening of Cineworld’s new cinema in Yate, where they were given a guided tour of the new Cineworld Cinema, lunch and a mini film screening.

Children of Three Ways School on board their new Variety Sunshine Coach.

Julie Dyer, Head Teacher, commented:

“We are truly thankful for the donation of the specialised Sunshine Coach from Variety and Cineworld Cinemas. This donation means a great deal to the children of the school. The Coach will enable them to live an enriched life, with opportunities to join in and experience activities which were previously inaccessible.”

Matt Eyre, Chief Operating Officer, commented:

”Cineworld Cinemas are very proud to support the work of Variety and we are delighted to present a new coach to Three Ways School at our brand new cinema in Yate. It is fantastic to know that all of the kind donations made by our customers and all of the great fundraising work that our staff have done for Variety will enable the children from Three Ways School to gain access to new activities and enjoy experiences that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

It is inspiring and a real privilege to meet the pupils from the schools that we have helped and see first-hand the difference the coaches make to the children’s lives. We are fortunate to be able to do this again today at Cineworld Yate and we hope that the children and everyone locally will enjoy visiting our new cinema.”

Pamela Sinclair, Variety’s Chief Barker said:

“Since 1962, we have donated over 5,400 Sunshine Coaches – that’s more than 100 a year. Variety’s specialist minibuses ensure that children can interact with the world around them and experience a fun, entertaining and educational environment, whilst ensuring they are transported as safely as possible. With the support of organisations like Cineworld, Variety can continue to highlight that being disabled or disadvantaged need not be a barrier to getting the most out of life.”