Parents prepare for Dame Vera Lynn Trust School to reopen after funding problems
Former staff members of the Dame Vera Lynn Trust school in Sproughton held a public meeting with parents to work out a plan to keep the school open
Campaigners are “confident” they will soon reopen a school for children with learning difficulties after it closed because of a lack of funding.
The Dame Vera Lynn Trust School in Sproughton - Credit: Archant
The team working behind the scenes at what was called The Dame Vera Lynn Trust School for Parents in Sproughton, near Ipswich, is expecting their bid for charity status to be accepted in the next few weeks.
John Aiton, one of the team’s leaders, said he was hopeful the school would reopen soon.
“We are in position now where we are more or less ready to reopen the school.
“However, we are still waiting on getting the school registered as a charity by the charity commission,” he said.
“We cannot give a date when we will reopen but we will be reopening once we have got established and registered. We do not see any reason why they should not confirm us as a charity. I am confident.”
Since the school, which was run by the Dame Vera Lynn Trust, closed in February people have been raising money towards the required £80,000 needed to maintain it annually.
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If the school does reopen it will also have a new name which has yet to be announced.
So far around £14,000 has been pledged on the school’s fundraising website: www.gofundme.com/sproughtonschool
Mr Aiton said: “It is a big challenge to raise the money; in addition to the funds pledged on the website we know we have got a commitment from quite a number of other sources – we have got sizeable donations that give us confidence.
“It will never be easy, we do not want to give that impression. We will have to continue raising that amount of money each year.”
The Dame Vera Lynn Trust said in February the closure had been because of “financial difficulties”.
Steven Lane, chief executive of the trust, said at the time: “Unfortunately the location of the charity, which is quite remote, hampers us fundraising.
“Despite out best efforts we have been unable to raise the money that is required to continue the service.
“The closure goes against the principles of the charity. We do not want to close the school but our hands are tied.”
