CHIPPING Sodbury Golf Club members raised £25,000 to donate a minibus to a college that supports young people in Gloucestershire with special educational needs and disabilities.


The golf club handed over the keys of a mini bus to Ruskin Mill College, Nailsworth, on Friday February, 27, after a year of fund-raising events.


Ex-Gloucestershire captain Alex Gidman presented the keys of the minibus, supplied by Lord's Taverners, the UK's leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, to the principal of Ruskin Mill College, Dan Alipaz.


The charity helps provide minibuses to causes and matched the golf club's £25,000 raised funds to complete the costs.


Chris Smith, 2014 captain of Chipping Sodbury Golf Club, said: “As part of my fund-raising year the members raised £25,000 towards the minibus.


“Last year was labelled 'The Year of the Pirate' and we held a number of events to raise the money, including dinners and golf events.


“All of us involved have a lot of experience raising money for charity but we all agreed that this was a bit different.


“Raising money and handing over cheques is very worthwhile, but having the bus there and seeing the faces of the students was something much more tangible and gave it all a very different perspective.


“The members of Chipping Sodbury Golf Club have worked very hard this year to raise money to get this bus and working with such a tremendous charity as The Lord’s Taverners has been very special indeed.


“Ruskin Mill College is a tremendous place and the work that they do through natural teaching based on the natural surroundings that they have helps them to achieve incredible results and gives that extra bit of help to allow students a chance to take their rightful place in society."


The day and residential college teaches students aged 16 to 25 with complex behaviour and learning difficulties.


Mr Alipaz said: "The donation will significantly help the college, enabling us to pick up students who live not too far away from the college in the morning and then take them home.


"We expect it will transport 14 students, from our current 75 at the college, to and from their homes each day, which is greatly beneficial as otherwise local authorities would have to pay for alternatives, such as taxis, which can add up to be incredibly expensive.


"We are incredibly grateful for this donation and it is great to see people are aware of how Ruskin Mill is benefitting the area."