A pathway learning mentor at Communication Specialist College Doncaster (CSCD) is set to tackle the 215 mile coast to coast challenge this summer to raise funds to help students at his college to develop a new café learning area.
Kieran James, aged 46 from Rotherham, has been working at CSCD for two years, he will be joined on his trip by friends Tina and John Musgrove who both work for the NHS.
Kieran said: “We’ll be setting off from Southport on July 26 and we are hoping to complete the 215 miles to Hornsea in four days.
“We wanted to do this challenge to raise money to help the students in their bid to turn a building at Doncaster Deaf Trust into a café and enterprise shop.
“Our students all have communication difficulties and thrive from the hands-on learning experience of being in an environment where they learn to interact with more people. They have successfully run a popular enterprise shop, selling items that they have made from a hut for a number of years. They are now working on plans to make a more permanent base and add a café at the Trust to help those students learning barista skills to flourish.
“Cycling is a real passion of mine; I have suffered with my mental health in the past and I am doing this ride to give something back as I feel that cycling sort of saved my life.
“This is the first time I’ve taken on a challenge like this, and I hope that people will sponsor the three of us and help the students to develop this project that will make a difference to our students lives for many years to come.
CSCD offers tailored education and support for students varying in need from those with severe learning disabilities, who need one to one support at all times through to those students who are working towards level 3 vocational qualifications.
The college has all the vocational facilities of a mainstream college including hair salon, garage, sports centre, joinery workshops, with the benefit of small class sizes and communication, pastoral and therapeutic support providing young people, who can’t access a mainstream college, an opportunity to access the courses they want to.
Alexis Johnson, executive principal of Doncaster Deaf Trust said: “We are really pleased to hear that Kieran and his friends are taking on this challenge to raise funds for the student project.
“It is fabulous when members of staff feel so passionate about their place of work that they want to take action personally to help.
“As a charity every penny makes a difference to our pupils and students experience of learning and we all work hard to make sure that what they experience is life changing.”
To sponsor Kieran visit : https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kieran-james74?utm_source=Sharethis&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=kieran-james74&utm_campaign=pfp-email&utm_term=f09cd852c4d34675b5f6538eba45fae1.