Variety, the Children’s Charity, is delighted to announce the Sunshine Coach was generously donated by Jess Rider, of Stanford Coachworks, and The Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust.

Sidestrand Hall School, based in Cromer, Norfolk, is a special school for children and young people aged 7 to 19. It supports 193 pupils, including at their residential facility, with almost half eligible for free school meals. 

Sidestrand Hall aims to raise the achievement of all pupils within the school and to guide and support them through a range of learning experiences.

The Sunshine Coach will help provide pupils with the skills, qualifications and independence they need to leave school and prepare them for adulthood.

This generous support from Jess Rider follows his target-smashing fundraising earlier this year, when he ran his third London Marathon in support of Variety.

Jess was joined by representatives from the Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust, Alastair Drew and Gavin Dearsley. We express our heartfelt thanks to the Trustees and Alan Boswell Group for kindly enabling us to provide this Sunshine Coach.

Alastair Drew, Trustee of the Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust, said:

“The Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust were delighted to attend the handover of the new school Sunshine Coach to Sidestrand Hall School on 15 October.

We were particularly pleased to see the impact the new Sunshine Coach will have at a very well-respected school in North Norfolk. ”

“The time Shelley Taylor and her team gave us to talk through the benefit of the Sunshine Coach and to give us a school tour was most appreciated. We wish Sidestrand Hall School all the best, as they use their new Sunshine Coach.”

Jess Rider commented:

“Handing over the keys to Sidestrand Hall School’s new Sunshine Coach was such a proud moment. Watching the students’ excitement made every mile of marathon training worthwhile — for both me and my daughter, Alice.

“I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our fundraiser for Variety — this coach is a direct result of your incredible generosity.”