AFTER a hugely successful skiing trip in the French Alps a Penarth special school has already begun fundraising for next year’s trip.

In January 16 pupils from Ysgol y Deri travelled to Bramans in the French Alps for a week of skiing lessons, as they learnt the ropes climbing further and further up the mountain.

For many pupils it was their first time skiing, so being able to achieve this in a week was beyond all expectations.

Jamie Woodland, a physical curriculum co-ordinator from Ysgol y Deri, helped organise the trip and said it couldn’t have been done without the help of the local community.

“Although the trip itself is not just about the skiing it also encourages independence and lifestyle skills,” he said.

“The trip itself cost £695 per person and included a week’s skiing, equipment hire, travel costs, food, entertainment and ski pass.

“To be able to make the trip accessible financially both staff and pupils worked extremely hard to raise funds to help make it possible with children bag packing at Morrisons in Barry and Asda in Leckwith. Staff also raised £1,500 by putting on a ‘It’s a Knockout’ style event and Fitness First gym on Penarth Road completed the three peaks challenge, also raising £1500 aided by two members of staff who drove them to the peaks spanning about 24hours.

“We also contacted the Penarth Round Table who generously donated £2085, which covered the cost of three people.”

He added that teachers worked around the clock to supervise the children during the trip.

“In most mainstream schools they would only need two members of staff to take part and their costs would be covered by adding a small amount to the children’s total,” he said.

“Due to the nature of our school we had to take 10 members of staff so were unable to pass the cost on.

“We also did not receive any funding from the school itself so the overall the trip was funded purely by the staff’s hard work and generosity of others.

“Finally, I’d like to add that the trip involved a 22 hour bus journey, both ways, and staff were on duty from 6.30am until 10.30pm every day and did not receive any extra payment for this, whereby we also put on nightly entertainment to help keep costs down.”

He added that they had already started planning next year’s trip and were open to donations.

Jamie can be contacted on jwoodland@yyd.org.uk