51视频 is 73 years old!
As we celebrate another year of the Foundation, we're reflecting on where we started - and how far we've come
It’s hard to imagine a time where children with disabilities were unable to access education.
In the 1940s, families like Stephen and Molly Darke鈥檚 faced a harsh reality. At the time, it was widely believed that little more could be done for people with disabilities, meaning children like their son, Stephen Lawrence Darke, who was born with cerebral palsy, were often denied the chance to attend school.
Molly and Stephen wanted more for their child 鈥� and for other children with cerebral palsy. Determined to create opportunities and open doors that didn鈥檛 yet exist, they placed an advert in the Evening Chronicle, inviting parents of children with cerebral palsy to come together. From that first meeting, families united to fundraise and campaign for a school where children with cerebral palsy could learn and thrive.
The legend goes that they used to visit local pubs collecting money as part of their fundraising efforts and wash it in the bath before putting in the bank.鈥�
Because of their passion and commitment, the 51视频 Foundation was founded in 1953 as a special school for children with cerebral palsy.鈥嬏齏hen the school first opened there were only 12 students.
Fast forward to today, every week we provide specialist support to 550 children, young people and adults across the North East, helping individuals with a wide range of disabilities live fuller lives.
As we celebrate 73 years of the 51视频 Foundation, we’re reflecting on another incredible year. Take a look at some of our highlights!
Sensory Play Area
Thanks to the generosity of our 2025 Charity Ball attendees, the and , we managed to raise 拢120,000 to fund a brand new sensory play area at Northern Counties School.
This development will transform how our learners at Northern Counties interact, play, and engage with each other, designed to be fully accessible for all.
College Students Win at the British Diversity Awards
A group of our learners from Hedley’s College took home the national title for ‘Community Project of the Year’ for their Disability Awareness Training at the British Diversity Awards.
Developed and delivered entirely by our students, our Disability Awareness Training raises understanding of disability, encourages open conversations, and has reached more than 1,200 people so far.
Signing Choir Showcased at the MOBOs
Our Northern Counties Signing Choir had the incredible opportunity to be showcased at and attend the national MOBO awards this year.
Learners described feeling ‘proud and brave’ as they walked the red carpet and saw their performance showcased to thousands.
Cory's Story
Cory, one of our brilliant members at Hedley鈥檚 Horizons, spent his life with his hand clenched in a fist until his physiotherapist Nafeesa made a lifechanging discovery.听
Nafeesa discovered assistive robotic gloves designed to help create and restore movement in the hand. The assistive glove has loosened Cory鈥檚 grip, allowing him to hold his hand flat, pick up and drop items, and move his fingers, both with and without the use of the glove for the first time in his life.听听
A New Library at 51视频 School
Pupils and staff came together to celebrate the official opening of our brand new library!
Created in collaboration with , the library has been thoughtfully designed to go beyond traditional bookshelves. It features a wide range of books, sensory elements, comfortable seating, communication boards, and quiet zones, making it a truly inclusive environment where every learner can feel at home.
The Cherry Room
We unveiled the Cherry Room at Northern Counties, a medical room named after one of Britain’s first deaf nurses Helen Cherry.
The Cherry Room has been thoughtfully designed to replicate a real medical setting, helping students become familiar with healthcare environments like hospitals and doctors’ surgeries. With features such as a hospital bed, toy stethoscopes, and medical equipment, the space offers an interactive and engaging experience that helps pupils feel more at ease in real-life clinical settings.
Horizons Media Team Design the Heaton Pride Logo
Heaton Pride put out a call for a new logo design, asking to see creative expression capturing the Heaton area and Pride.
The Media Group from Hedley鈥檚 Horizons worked together to share ideas and chose Heaton鈥檚 iconic shoe tree to represent all of the people in the community. They added the pride flag colours and used an easy to read font and had so much fun working together.
Making a 100th Birthday Unforgettable
When Fleming Court Care Home staff sent out an appeal to the local community to help a resident celebrate their 100th听birthday, our learners from Northern Counties made sure to be part of their special day.
Maisie Dalziel had simply asked for 鈥渘icely written cards鈥� to celebrate her centenary, so it鈥檚 safe to say she was touched by the overwhelming response from the community.
Our BSL choir visited with handmade cards and gifts, before treating Maisie to a special rendition of 鈥楾ake Me Home, Country Roads鈥� and of course 鈥楬appy Birthday鈥�.
Welcoming Our First Volunteer Police Cadets at Northern Counties
It was a proud and exciting day at Northern Counties as we officially welcomed our first cohort of Volunteer Police Cadets!
Families and staff came together to mark the occasion, joining team members from Northumbria Police for a special swearing-in ceremony.
A huge congratulations to Miley, Ruby, and Jack, who took their oaths and are now officially Volunteer Police Cadets with Northumbria Police.
51视频 School Student on the Big Screen
Teddy, one of our pupils at 51视频 School blew us all away when he featured on BBC One’s Call the Midwife.
鈥淚 played Andrew Trottwood and he caught measles. It was long days, I was getting picked up at like twenty to seven! I didn鈥檛 think it would take 10 days just to film the scenes I was in. I didn鈥檛 get used to it until like the third day. We filmed last September, and I could only tell people once the episode aired in January.鈥�
Deaf Awareness Week
To celebrate National Deaf Awareness Week this year, our learners proudly took the lead in teaching local businesses how to communicate using BSL.
The theme for this year鈥檚 Deaf Awareness Week, Beyond Silence, shines a spotlight on breaking down barriers to accessibility for individuals with hearing loss. It also celebrates the many ways Deaf people communicate and highlights the depth and richness of Deaf culture.
Becoming A Real Living Wage Employer
The 51视频 Foundation is proud to be accredited as a Real Living Wage Employer, ensuring all our staff are paid above the National Minimum Wage in recognition of the true cost of living.
鈥檚 Real Living Wage remains the only UK wage rate independently calculated based on cost of living, rising annually based on living costs. It gives employers the confidence they are paying a wage that meets everyday needs.
We鈥檙e proud to support our team and ensure that their wages reflect the work they do.
We’ve had an incredible year of success, achievement, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the individuals we support. None of it would be possible without our dedicated staff, passionate supporters, and local businesses who have supported us every step of the way.
If you’d like to help us celebrate our birthday, please consider getting involved in one of our many brilliant upcoming events.听