The Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP pays a thank you visit to WESC Foundation learner

On Friday 7 February, the Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP visited the WESC Foundation in Exeter to say a special thank you to one of the learners at the Specialist Centre for Visual Impairment. Jacob Towner, aged 14, was the lucky learner whose Christmas card design was chosen by the Member of Parliament for East Devon to send out his Christmas wishes. 

The challenge was presented to the learners just prior to the Christmas period to come up with a suitable card design, and so Hugo was charged with the difficult decision of choosing a winner. Jacob was thrilled and proud to learn that his Christmas card design had been chosen. By way of thanks, Hugo Swire has presented a donation of £250 to support the essential work of WESC Foundation.

Mr Swire, a WESC Foundation Vice President, was greeted by WESC Foundation Chairman of Trustees, Brigadier Robin Rhoderick Jones, Deputy Principal & Director of Service Provision, Haydn Thomas, and Head of Education, Paul Hannan, before taking a tour around the Foundation's facilities and meeting Jacob's art teacher Irena Boobyer, and to thank Jacob in person. 
 
Paul Hannan, Head of Education at WESC Foundation comments: “As a centre of excellence for the education and care of visually impaired young people, the creative arts play a central role in enriching our learners’ educative experience.
 
“We value greatly the annual exhibition with Exeter School, in which we have the opportunity to display the work of our learners and celebrate their achievements alongside their peers in mainstream education.”

Hugo Swire has long been a keen advocate of the exacting needs of the visually impaired, and last summer took to the streets of Exmouth blindfolded and with a four-legged companion to find out more about the challenges faced by those who are blind or visually impaired.

Hugo comments, “I am hugely supportive of WESC and am proud of my association with the school. I was delighted with Jacob’s design and congratulate him and the others who submitted entries on their work.”

For further information on WESC Foundation visit www.wescfoundation.ac.uk.