Arnold Clark, Europe’s largest independently owned, family-run car company, donated a generous amount of money to Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust Rainbow Ward, as well as repairing an electric toy car.
When Deputy Ward Manager, Nichola Vose told her husband, Andrew, that the much-loved children’s electric Tesla, that was donated early this year to Rainbow Ward, needed a bit of TLC, he jumped at the chance to help.
Andrew, 44, who has been working as a painter at Ashton in-Makerfield Arnold Clark for 14 years, passed on the message to Simon Walsh, Area Body Manager, who was keen to take on the job and had exactly the right people in mind.
“I wanted our youngsters to make a difference for yours,” said Simon.
He tasked three apprentices, who have been working at Arnold Clark for two years and are due to finish their apprenticeship next September, to help.
“We have never done a project like this before,” said Callum Lake, one of the Apprentices for Arnold Clark.
“It was tricky, as we aren’t used to working with small cars however, we all loved this opportunity and we hope the children on the ward enjoy it”
Dom McNeill, General Manager at Ashton in-Makerfield branch was also very keen to get involved as Wigan is a local hospital for some of their staff and customers.
And when the car company took the Tesla to get fixed, they replaced it with a sporty AMG Mercedes to act as a courtesy car and gifted Rainbow Ward £5,000.
The money will go towards building a Teen Zone for older patients that feel they need a bit of space from the ward.
Heather Dineley, Ward Manager said; “I was definitely not expecting such a huge amount of money”.
“I want to thank everyone involved and the three apprentices that have restored our Tesla.
“We are very, very appreciative of Arnold Clark and what they have done for us.”