A SPECIAL needs school in Chelmsford has been awarded £1,000 by Persimmon Homes to go towards speech therapy classes.

Columbus School and College, Partridge Avenue and Oliver Way, Chelmsford is one of the largest special educational needs schools in the country and cares for young people aged between three and 19 years of age.

The school is looking to fund speech therapy sessions to aid their children many of which have life limiting conditions as well as complex needs such as autism.

The school and college applied for funding via Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions initiative.

The scheme began last year allowing charities and groups to apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves.

Nationally Persimmon Homes donated a total of £750,000 across the UK in the initiative’s first 12 months.

Claire Rayner, of Columbus School and College, said: “We have been working incredibly hard raising funds to provide therapies for our students.

“A key focus has been on speech therapy as we believe the ability to communicate should not be a luxury. We would also love to continue music therapy, to enable our children that cannot speak, to communicate through the power of music.

“It is our belief if young people are able to express themselves, this leads to improved behaviour, focus, confidence and self esteem.

“The donation from Persimmon Homes Essex is a huge boost to us and helps us continue this vital service.”

Philip Standen, managing director for Persimmon Homes Essex, added: “To nurture young people in their care to live and express themselves independently is so important and we wanted to help in any way that we could.

“We are privileged to do contribute in some way.

“We still have money to give away in our Community Champions pot. We’d urge charities, groups and good causes to get in touch, via www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.”