Marjorie McClure School is celebrating the arrival of a brand-new 17-seater Sunshine Coach with a wheelchair-lift, which will enable over 230 pupils, including more than 20 wheelchair users, to enjoy practical outdoor learning, sports, and recreational activities. 

Variety, the Children’s Charity, is delighted to announce the 55th Sunshine Coach generously donated by the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation. 

This Sunshine Coach was donated to Marjorie McClure School in Bromley, which is an all-age special school that caters for pupils with a wide range of different complex needs including physical, medical, sensory, and learning needs.  

Marjorie McClure serves over 110 children with a range of learning difficulties aged 4-19, with 37 wheelchair users. It was founded as the first provision for the education of children with physical disabilities in Bromley.

For 50 years, Marjorie McClure’s vision has been to drive child-centred creative learning opportunities that inspire learning, as an adventure, through experiences that enable children to grow. Many more pupils entering the school have profound learning, communication, and medical issues.  

The long-term legacy will make sure that the children can access practical outdoor learning activities as well as sports and recreation. For example, trips to the SENSORY Social Club, trips to pupils’ weekly course at Bore Place Farm and horse-riding activities. 

Rebecca Cottage, Head Teacher at Marjorie McClure School, said: 

“It makes a tremendous difference to our pupils to be able to get out of school. It enables them to have many different experiences that they may not be able to get at home and they greatly enjoying sharing these experiences with their friends.

We have noticed that for a number of students who go out on a regular basis, their confidence has grown considerably.

“They are much more confident when driving their wheelchairs, talking to people, asking for help. We will also go out to places that our students would be able to access and enjoy when they leave us – we try to give them ideas of all the many places that they could visit with their friends and family that they might not have considered visiting.

“We believe it is a fundamental part of their learning to go out and experience different life skills.”

A milestone moment

With over 51,800 children supported across 55 towns and cities, support from the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation has enabled over 193,500 trips and days out. 

The Foundation is a valued member of our community of supporters, who have helped us to achieve almost 6,000 Sunshine Coaches over 60 years. 

To celebrate the wonderful occasion, Variety was delighted to welcome the Head of St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, Lisa Cousins, and her fellow representative Martina Nertney, to officially handover the Sunshine Coach with the pupils and faculty.

Lisa Cousins, Head of St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, said: “We are delighted to be working with Variety to support this brilliant school and their inspiring pupils.

“This is the 55th Sunshine Coach that we have supported, and each one makes a real difference enabling children to access learning, explore places they might never otherwise visit and broaden their experiences.

“It is more than just a vehicle — it’s a gateway to opportunity, inclusion, and joy for children who need it most.”

Laurence Guinness, CEO of Variety, the Children’s Charity, said: “Variety’s Sunshine Coach Programme has been a beacon of hope for disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK. With support from St. James’ Place Charitable Foundation, our specially adapted sunshine coaches have been breaking down barriers and opening doors to a world of opportunities for so many children.”

By supporting this programme, you are not just funding vehicles; you are driving change to creating brighter futures. This is vital for the children we support with the St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, given that over 600,000 disabled children live in poverty. 

Our partnership has never been more needed or relevant. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation for everything you do for children.