From left to right: Laura Simms, Rachael Penn and Lucinda Duffy from Fantastic Fox Wood School with Selco Builders Warehouse’s David Lennon and Paul Asquith and some of the school’s pupils.
A SCHOOL in Warrington is set to buy specialist wheelchair-friendly play equipment for its disabled pupils after winning top prize in a national competition.
Fox Wood Special School successfully scooped the jackpot after securing the most votes from the public in Selco Builders Warehouse’s Community Heroes competition.
There was more good news for the school, based on Holes Lane in Woolston, when Selco surprisingly announced the prize money had been doubled from £5,000 to £10,000.
Fox Wood Special School caters for children with complex learning needs, giving them meaningful and exciting opportunities to improve their day-to-day lives and their mental health.
“We just couldn’t believe it when Selco turned up at the school and told us we had won £10,000,” said Rachael Penn, PTA chair at Fox Wood. “To come first up against some other fantastic good causes was exciting enough, but now we are ecstatic.
“This money will make such a big difference to our pupils who use wheelchairs. They will get so much enjoyment from the new equipment, including a wheelchair swing and a wheelchair trampoline.
“We will also be able to make the whole play area wheelchair accessible. School budgets just don’t stretch to things like that so it means a lot to us and Selco’s donation is helping make the dream become reality.”
Selco invited organisations, schools and charities to enter its Community Heroes initiative, which had a total prize pot worth £21,000.
More than 2,000 groups put themselves forward, with 12 finalists selected over the course of six months, each winning £500 of building materials from their nearest Selco. The dozen finalists went before a public vote to decide the winners. Fox Wood Special School secured more than a quarter of the 9,000 plus votes.
Rachael added: “The whole Community Heroes experience has been an incredible journey. We will be eternally grateful to Selco for what they have done for our community and to all the people who voted for us to win.”
St Christopher’s Hospice in London finished a close second — and its prize was also boosted from £1,000 to £5,000.
David Lennon, Commercial Director at Selco which has a branch on Milner Street in Warrington, said: “It was fantastic to visit Fox Wood School and announce we were going to significantly increase their prize money.
“It was a brilliant moment and it was great to hear what a huge difference the donation will make to the school and its pupils.
“Community Heroes is our flagship initiative for charities and community groups or organisations that always captures the imagination.
“We are proud to be able to demonstrate our commitment to supporting good causes right across the country at a time when, for many, the need is so great.
“We look forward to launching Community Heroes 2025 shortly.”
With hundreds of trade brands always in stock, Selco’s 75 branches are firmly focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible.
As well as offering trade services, Selco also has a strong digital presence including Click & Deliver and Click & Collect services and an app — as well as a ‘Dial & Deliver’ telephone service — to make life as convenient as possible for tradespeople.
See page 19 of our February/March 2025 issue on our Back Issues page.
