THE Loyal Monmouth Lodge members were welcome guests at Overmonnow School yesterday (Tuesday 13th February) when they handed over some iPads and a cheque for £1,200 to the Special Needs Resource Base (SNRB), known as Class 9.

The money was raised through charity functions arranged by the lodge, topped up from their funds and will go towards updating the ICT equipment at the special needs school. The iPads were donated by the lodge and some parents at the Haberdashers’ Prep School and were handed over to the pupils by Worshipful Master Gabriel Hilu and chief steward of the lodge, Colin Groves.

The iPads will be a helpful addition to the SNRB classroom according to treasurer of meeting the needs, Deb Beech. The touch screen allows the pupils to learn in ways which they can’t with books, pen and paper and even regular computers.

She said: “We are very grateful of the continued support of the Loyal Monmouth Lodge, we will be putting their generous donation towards updating our ICT resources.

“The children use the iPad for all different kinds of learning, it’s not just for fun. They use it for literacy, numeracy, music and as a communication aid.”

In September the lodge raised £245 from a fundraising cream tea and trains event which went towards an iPad for the centre.

The SNRB was opened in 1991 and caters for children who have a wide range of disabilities. Some of the children have profound and multiple problems, genetic conditions, congenital disorders, autism and severe learning difficulties. The SNRB provides a sensitive environment with excellent care for those children who have the greatest needs. Some of the children have life limiting conditions.