Благотворительность Smile организовала незабываемые приключения для сотен детей с ограниченными возможностями в Ланаркшире

Lanarkshire children's charity raises smiles at adventure days Hundreds of children with disabilities and serious illnesses were treated to safari park and circus experiences by volunteers from Smile. Hundreds of Lanarkshire families enjoyed two special adventure days thanks to the efforts of children’s charity Smile. The local good cause took a total of 180 children, families and carers to Blair Drummond Safari Park for their much-enjoyed annual outing – and ran a unique inclusive circus fun day in Paisley for young people with disabilities. Charity founder Wendy Meek called both events “incredible” and told how generous funding support helped volunteers from the good cause to provide memorable experiences for the children with disabilities and serious illnesses who they support. The group’s visit to the safari park saw 50 families from across Lanarkshire provided with funding to travel to the Stirling venue to enjoy a busy day of seeing animals and enjoying the host of attractions on offer. It was funded by the National Lottery and meant family groups were also provided with spending money, snacks and treats throughout their “fantastic” visit. Wendy told the Hamilton Advertiser: “It was a brilliant day – the sun was splitting the trees and we had fantastic feedback from everyone who came along; we did this event last year and hope it will grow to include even more people year on year. “Families are given funding to arrange the transport they need to get to Blair Drummond and everything is covered when they get there; for a lot of families a trip like this would be out of reach, especially where carers aren’t earning. “The children loved the animals and the swing park; it was lovely to see families having great fun together and making memories, and we’re really grateful to all our volunteers and everyone who supported the day.” Smile arranged another memorable day out with its inclusive circus day, allowing young wheelchair users to experience all the fun of plate spinning, parachute games and the feeling of flying through the air on the trapeze. The charity took eight youngsters and their families to Paisley community circus for the event, which was funded by a grant from the Corra Foundation’s boost fund and filmed by STV to showcase the work of its children’s appeal. Wendy said: “We were talking about different things we could do; we discussed taking children to the circus or trying trapeze and wondered if we could do it with wheelchairs. “Paisley was totally inclusive – we went to visit and they said they said they could do what we were asking. The workers were brilliant with the children and it was incredible to see them trying everything out. “The laughter and fun on the day was wonderful and it was something really different for the children to experience – it was a great success and we’ve already arranged that we’ll be doing another two sessions, thanks to support from Allied Vehicles.” Smile, which stands for Special Memories In Lanarkshire Everyday, was founded by Wendy and husband Stephen in honour of their late son Justin, who had a life-limiting genetic condition and who died in 2014 aged just 10. Its work includes operating fundraising shops in Hamilton and Larkhall in support of its £1.5 million project to redevelop the former Canderavon care home in Stonehouse into a respite home and sensory and wellbeing centre – and they have received a recent boost by gaining a distinctive van to help with their work. Smile told the Hamilton Advertiser last year how having a vehicle would help with their various projects – and having saved to be able to get on the road, their new van has been specially wrapped in distinctive livery designed and expertly applied by Uddingston firm Keysigns. It shows Smile’s logo and a QR code alongside a picture of Justin, and the charity shared on social media how his parents found collecting the finished vehicle “quite emotional seeing Justin in such large print, with that smile and those beautiful blue eyes”. They called the finished van “stunning” and said: “We are over the moon with the professionalism and the van looks stunning; not sure we will ever able to thank Ross and his team enough for the incredible support they have given to Smile.” Wendy added: “The van has been a godsend – volunteers are using it every day for things like collecting donations for the shops and running up and down between them. “It’s also used for all our events, like taking boxes and boxes of snacks and treats to the Blair Drummond day, and we’ll used it to taking equipment like sensory packs to our adapted panto for the whole family, so it’s a great boost and will be really helpful.” *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.