Tonbridge pupils make special branch visit

The Tonbridge branch of Robinson Jackson welcomed pupils from The Phoenix Centre for Autism, based at Cage Green Primary School in the town, to its High Street branch.

Group Operations Director Tony Robinson, Branch Partner Spencer Humble and the rest of the Tonbridge team gave the VIP visitors a guided tour of the office, allowing them to experience professional life in their local High Street. The visit even caught the eye of the local media and the story featured on the front cover of the Times of Tonbridge, 11th May issue.

The visit was special for a number of reasons. The autistic students travelled from their school to the office in a Variety Club Sunshine Coach donated last year by the Robinson family. Tony Robinson commented: "Seeing the Sunshine Coach pull up outside our Tonbridge office was a heart warming moment. My father Alan Robinson, our family and the wider Robinson Jackson Group have supported the Variety Club Sunshine Coach initiative for over 25 years - donating at least one coach to a local special needs school during every one of those years - in fact there has been 30. To have a coach in the town in which I both work and live is a real highlight. The students were impeccably behaved and it was a joy to have them in our office."

Unlike other school visits where the process of hopping on a coach is straightforward and taken for granted, the process isn't as simple for the lovely children at the Phoenix Centre. Mrs Beggs, Cage Green's Special Educational Needs and Phoenix Centre Leader, says the staff worked with the pupils to prepare them in advance of their trip: "Our students are autistic, and can be sensitive to a change in routine and environment, so we worked for two days prior to our visit to prepare the group. This involved showing them pictures of the office and explaining what might happen during their time away from the classroom. Thankfully, having the Sunshine Coach means we have a reliable and familiar way of transporting all our students - it was great to meet the Robinson family and staff, who made us feel very welcome."

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the day was a creative session on Robinson Jacksonís supersized whiteboard, which gave the students the chance to express themselves and have fun. "The icing on the cake was a handprint montage created by the students," adds Tony. "It looks so great that we're having it made into a permanent work of art for our office."

As well as receiving kids' goodie bags at the end of their visit, the pupils presented their teaching staff and trip supervisors - Mrs Beggs, Miss Summers, Miss Walton and Mrs Smith - with flowers as a special thank you on behalf of the Robinson Jackson family and the Tonbridge branch. Visit the Cage Green website for more information about this wonderful school.  

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