A SPECIALIST Shropshire College has received more than £1,500 in charity donations to help fund its new therapy and fitness facility for students.

The new hydrotherapy pool for use by students at Derwen College, near Oswestry, has been given a financial boost from Borderland Rotary Club and local Rotary International.

Together, the two groups have donated a total of £1,520 to go towards a specialist shower trolley, to move the process a step closer to completion.

Representatives of Borderland Rotary Club and the local Rotary International visited the college for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities to see how the build was coming along. They also presented the college with a cheque for £1,520 towards a vital specialist shower trolley.

Geoff Barre, president of Borderland Rotary, and assistant district governor Sherie Soper examined plans for the build and presented the cheque for £1,520 to principal Meryl Green and student Thomas Alexander.

Fundraising co-ordinator Paul Crosby spoke of how delighted he is with the progress made with the project.

He said: “In the past, we’ve had one pool which has been heated to 6°C when its needed at hydrotherapy temperatures – so the first phase of the project has been to upgrade the swimming pool and put in a new boiler.

“The second phase is to then build a smaller hydrotherapy pool which will mean we no longer have to use the swimming pool for both purposes – instead we will have one swimming pool and one hydrotherapy pool.

“The third phase of the complex is to produce a new gym. The whole idea behind this is to offer a holistic approach for students who needs hydrotherapy or physiotherapy for stiff joints, or whatever it might be.

“It will also be of assistance to students with behavioural needs as it will be set in a calming atmosphere with new lighting and sound effects in there.

“The essence of the project is to improve the wellbeing of the students, but to also encourage them to continue doing this after college and to get them in the mindset which allows them to do this after college.

“We’d like to offer a big thanks to those who donated money towards the project.”

Principal Green was pleased to accept the cheque and to show the visitors around the new site.

She said: “Derwen College has been raising money for the bespoke hydrotherapy building with pool and specialist changing and therapy areas over the past year.

“We are delighted to receive this generous donation that will allow us to purchase a specialist shower trolley which will help make the pool and changing area accessible to all of our students.”

For more information on supporting Derwen College Charity visit www.supportderwen.org.uk