Bus boost for disabled youngsters

A CONVERSATION over Christmas dinner has led to a generous gift to disabled youngsters.

Young members of the Phab club living down south now have their own minibus to ferry them to and from weekly sessions at Cronk-y-Berry School’s youth wing.

The gift has come from Steve George, a businessman and newly elected Port Erin Commissioner, whose son, Tim, was 2011/12 chairman of Rushen Round Table.

The Round Table has been associated with the Phab club for 26 years and, every week during term time, two of its members drive young people from the south to and from the club, borrowing minibuses owned by the Department of Education and Children.

Tim said:

‘I was talking to my father over Christmas dinner about how great the Phab club is. My father said he would like to present us and Phab with our own minibus to be used to take the young people from the south of the Island to the club. Obviously, I was over the moon.

‘We searched up and down the country for a suitable vehicle and finally purchased a bright red 2007 Nissan Primastar, which we found in Norfolk. The bus was delivered by its owner in April, was put through the Manx vehicle test and then had the Phab and Round Table logos added by Edwin Dennis, which very kindly donated its time.’

Mr George senior, boss of EMCS Ltd International and Port Erin Pets, tonight handed over the minibus to his son and to Ken Callister, the DEC’s Principal Youth Officer, Sarah Strickett and Debbie Findlay, Youth Workers for Phab, Rushen Round Table’s President, Alex Thomson, Vice-President, Iain Wrigley, and current chairman, Mike Flowers.

Phab, run by the DEC’s Youth Service, meets on Tuesday evenings and encourages young people of all abilities between the ages of 10 and 21 to come together on equal terms to socialise, take part in activities and enjoy outings.

Voirrey Kennaugh, Youth Officer for the DEC, said:

‘The members and staff of Phab greatly value the support given to them over many years by Rushen Round Table and this offer to fund a minibus was a lovely surprise as it will maintain access to what is, for some members, the only independent social experience that they have.’

For more information about the club, contact Voirrey on 686057 or email v.kennaugh@doe.sch.im Charities/organisations interested in using the bus in return for a donation towards its running/upkeep should call Tim on 462882.

Photo: The young people of Phab test out the new minibus with, from left, Debbie Findlay and Sarah Strickett, Youth Workers; Ken Callister, DEC Principal Youth Officer; Steve George, generous donor of the bus; Alex Thomson, Rushen Round Table President; Iain Wrigley, Vice-President; Tim George, Chairman 2011/12 and Steve’s son; Mike Flowers, current chairman: Voirrey Kennaugh, DEC Youth Officer