Work has started to restore a Somerset charity’s therapy pool which has helped hundreds of brain-damaged children lead richer lives.
All who know the vital support offered by the British Institute for Brain Injured Children at Puriton, near Bridgwater, were devastated when fire wrecked its sensory pool on November 4 last year, leaving the charity with a repair bill of around £100,000. There was an instant response from the community in general, and an appeal launched by the Western Daily Press raised a fantastic £25,000. Yesterday chief executive officer John Bennett welcomed contractors onto the site to begin early renovations. The charity hopes the pool will be ready to welcome youngsters again in July. But as he celebrated the hard work of the many who have held fundraising events to boost the charity’s coffers, Mr Bennett revealed an outrage by heartless vandals. He said louts had attacked signs for the regular Saturday car boot sales which the charity has been relying on in recent months, in conjunction with the nearby Puriton Horse and Animal Rescue charity. The thieves also took an electric fence, leaving two rescued horses, including a former Derby runner, in danger of straying onto the busy A39.
Mr Bennett said: “Times are hard enough for charities at present so we have collaborated with Puriton Horse and Animal Rescue to hold these car boot sales at Bibic to raise funds together.