Somerset Council donates £50k to those involved in the Minehead coach crash
It's as we mark one week since the tragic incident.
A new appeal has been launched to raise funds for children, families and communities affected by last week’s tragic coach crash.
Minehead Middle School in Somerset closed on Friday (18/07) after a school bus with 60 to 70 of its pupils and staff crashed on last Thursday afternoon (17/07), while returning from a trip to Exmoor Zoo.
10-year-old Oliver Price died and six children and three adults remain in hospital after the vehicle left the A396 at Cutcombe Hill near Minehead, overturned and came to rest about 20ft from the road, down a steep slope.
The Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) has launched the Together for West Somerset Appeal, giving individuals, businesses, charitable trusts and others the opportunity to support those affected.
Their first donation was £50k from Somerset Council.
Leader of the Council, Bill Revans (Lib Dem) tells us the money's to ensure everyone 'gets the support they need to come to terms with this tragic event.'
"No parent sends their kid off to an exciting school trip and expects them not to come home.
"Our hearts go out to that family and all the others that were impacted.
"We're coming up to the summer holidays, when children and the community are going through that grieving process, having their peer and professional support is really important.
"The scars may well heal quickly, but the mental scars will stay with them.
"It's really important that we embrace the community there and put in place everything we can to support all the families- especially the children.
"We're working with the school and town council to make sure they've got the resources over the coming weeks and months to be able to put that support in place.
"Our team are out in Minehead at the moment."
Justin Sargent is CEO of the SCF, who set up the fundraiser, and tells us where the money will go.
He said, "It was very clear that there was a huge public response of people wanting to show their support and donate.
"We provide a central point for people who wish to support those who are affected.
"It's a combination of supporting the families directly and making sure they have what they need right now, but it's also thinking about the long term impact.
"Recovering from a traumatic event is quite complicated.
"We're working with experts from national charities, the council, children's services- just to really understand what good help looks like for the long term.
"We hope to co-ordinate and join up with the other fundraisers that have been set up so that the system of support is made as simple and straightforward as possible."
Meanwhile, MP Rachel Gilmour- Lib Dem MP for Tiverton and Minehead- is lobbying central government for support.
She wrote to government ministers on Sunday (20/07), requesting funding for specialist psychologist support for the children, adults, and families involved in the crash.
In a letter written to both the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, and the Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby MP, Mrs. Gilmour outlined the potential short and long-term impacts of the coach crash last week, and the urgent need for tailored, psychologist support for those involved.
It mentions an anticipation for the need for a “specialist team” to work closely with the “children and their families”, whilst also asking for “urgency” in a response from the Government.
You can find a link to donate to the fundraiser via the link here.