The new Llewellyn School and Nursery at Quex will open its doors this September after an epic fundraiser lasting more than a year.
The school has been run by Sara and Philip Llewellyn at their home in Westbrook.
Sara set it up to provide education for her son Louie and other children in a similar situation after the closure of the Royal School for the Deaf in December 2015. The John Townsend Trust, which ran it, went into administration.
The closure left scores of young people without suitable schooling. Demand for places at Llewellyn meant the couple had to look for bigger premises. Anthony Curwen the managing director of Quex Park in Birchington, offered Sara a plot of land to build the school and planning permission was granted in February 2018.
Linked to the school is registered charity, Louie’s Helping Hands, which supports the youngsters by providing some of the valuable therapies they require. The charity has been the driving force behind the fundraising to pay for the new build at Quex.
Now the new therapy and education centre for children with complex physical and mental health needs is nearing completion with the windows and doors in place. Pfizer volunteers started to prep the garden area ready for seed last week and CMD Mills has volunteered seven people to start internal plastering.
Massive community support through fundraisers, and the award of grants including £20,000 from National Grid’s community pot has meant the dream of the school is now a reality.
The new school will initially take 20 children and have 15 staff. After a period of 5 years a phase 2 would be considered which would involve the addition of further classrooms.
The last big fundraising push takes place tomorrow (May 17) and is hosted by Westgate and Birchington Golf Club and sponsored by Think Big Tech, Think Big Media and Educational Life CIC.
Seventeen teams will be taking part in a golf event. From 6.30pm the club in Canterbury Road will be open to the public for an evening of live entertainment, food and raffle.
Mark Taylor and The Totsys will be performing.
Tickets are £10 per person.
For details call the club on 01843 831115 or email [email protected]
An entire kitchen is also being raffled in aid of the build. Howdens Margate have donated the prize, which includes everything from the oven and unis to the kitchen sink.
Entry is by £10 donation per ticket. Closing date is June 29 with the winner being drawn on June 30. To enter go to the Louie’s Helping Hands Kitchen Justgiving page here