Welcome from Tony Best, Chief Executive
Disabled people and their families can receive specialist services from the Percy Hedley Foundation. Those people and their families are at the heart of everything we do.
On this website, you will find details of our unique range of services, as well as information, written by our specialist staff, on disability and on our teaching and therapeutic approaches. You will also find ideas on how you can support the work of the charity.
A charity providing specialist services for disabled people in the North East of England, The Percy Hedley Foundation promotes the rights, needs and aspirations of disabled children and adults through specialist, high quality services.
Please contact us if you are interested in using any of our services, or if there is any further information you need.
Latest News
The Board of Trustees, Staff, pupils, service users and all supporters of the
Percy Hedley Foundation were delighted to learn of the Award of an OBE to Dr Tony
Best in the New Year's Honours.
Nick Swales, Chairman of the Percy Hedley Trustees said "Whilst Tony has
only been at the Foundation for a short time he has already demonstrated his commitment
to the advancement of the cause of Deafblind and other disabled people which builds
upon the great work he has done during his career in this area".
"We would all like to offer our congratulations to Tony on his award which
is in recognition of all he has achieved."
Tony Best said: "I am absolutely thrilled to receive this honour - although
it feels a little strange to receive this for work which has brought me so much
enjoyment and satisfaction. Like many of my colleagues, I feel privileged to be
able to work both with people with disabilities, and in the charity sector where
values and passion are so important".
More...
Hosted by Wendy Gibson, the Percy Hedley Mistletoe Ball, sponsored by Helen McArdle Care,
at the Hilton Hotel was a glamorous occasion assisted by Butlers in the Buff and stilt walkers
in glistening gold top hat and tails. Willie Thorne conducted the charity auction with
fabulous prizes raising an amazing £56,000 towards a much needed new hydrotherapy
pool for disabled children.
More...
Adults using Percy Hedley services now have a pioneering new facility that
uses sound and light projections. This studio, designed to help people with
complex needs, has been named in memory of Rob Luke, from Crook.
His family have raised money to help fund the studio, which uses sensors to
put disabled users in control of computer imagery and music. Rob's dad, Brian, said it was a fitting tribute
to his son, who loved music.
More...
Other Recent News
Tyne-Tees news interviewed Chief Executive, Tony Best, to explain the problems facing disabled
travellers and comment on what train companies are doing to help.
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Percy Hedley School Head Teacher, Lynn Watson, and the chair of governors,
Peter Wignall, were invited to the Guildhall in London to celebrate the
achievement of schools with the specialist schools context.
Over 500 headteachers and employers attended the reception, which was also attended by the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP,
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.
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Pupils and staff from Percy Hedley Primary School were invited by the Newcastle branch of
The Rotary Club to sing carols and songs outside Eldon Square over a period of four days.
The money raised was donated to the Percy Hedley Foundation.
More...
The Percy Hedley Foundation is proud to announce that the Karten
Multi Media Project has won an award for 'Most Innovative Centre in
the use of Media Technology'. The award was presented to disabled project
workers Juliet Fraser and Richard Hunter.
More...
Disabled models strutted their stuff on the catwalk at DNEX09, the
Disability North Exhibition. The fashion show included models,
aged between 18 and 69, showcased clothes from M&S (Newcastle)
and proved to be a winner with visitors to the event.
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The Percy Hedley Foundation is proud to announce that Angela Gilbert, Principal of
Northern Counties College, is one of only six Specialist College Principals in the UK
to have been awarded the prestigious Principals Qualifying Programme.
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The sun shone, the sea sparkled and 189 Percy Hedley runners put in a simply
brilliant performance on Sunday 20th September 2009 at the Bupa Great North Run!
A heartfelt thank you to you all from everyone at the Percy Hedley Foundation.
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Executives from the North East let their hair down on 18th September 2009
and took to the stage at the Alternative Business Awards whilst raising money
for Percy Hedley Foundation.
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Northumbria Police officers were so impressed with what they saw at Percy Hedley school that
they have donated £1,000 to the schools new Outreach Centre.
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Volunteers braved a zip-slide across the Stadium of Light,
home of Sunderland football club, and the from the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle, raising £7,000
in aid of the Tim Carter Hydrotherapy Pool appeal.
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Three pupils from Percy Hedley School attended The Children's
Foundation Stars Awards to collect awards which recognise the challenges
that children and their families face on a daily basis and reward their accomplishments.
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Students, staff and parents from Percy Hedley School completed the ambitious 150
mile 'Coast to Coast' cycle challenge. The money raised will help to support the
Tim Carter Hydrotherapy Pool Appeal.
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Members of the Percy Hedley Foundation acknowledged their volunteers in their own
special way during National Volunteer Week.
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The Fourth North East Lobster Fest was held at Hardwick Hall Hotel, County Durham on
Friday 8th May 2009 with Percy Hedley Foundation this year's benefiting charity.
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Medical Director receives lifetime achievement award for outstanding and sustained
contribution to the field of childhood disability.
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Nicola Bowler, a physiotherapist working in Percy Hedley School, visited the Petö
Institute in Budapest where she experienced
Conductive Education in its purist form.
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Students from Percy Hedley Secondary School had an amazing opportunity to meet Jonathon Edwards and visit the site of the 2012 Olympic Games.
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On Thursday 12th March 2009, crew members and the new Commanding Officer of HMS Dauntless,
Captain Richard Powell, visited Percy Hedley School to meet the children and tell them the
latest about the Royal Navy's newest ship.
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David Barker, Director of Adult Services at the Foundation recently chaired a high level policy
meeting attended by HRH, The Princess Royal, which aims to promote social and economic inclusion through
learning and skills provision for people who experience mental health difficulties and disability.
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Since being elected by their peers, the 'Better Lives' steering group have given
Percy Hedley Foundation service users a voice within the organisation.
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A new partnership has been formed between Percy Hedley Foundation and the MS Research and
Relief Fund who provided a grant of £10,000 to establish a rehabilitation programme for
people affected by Multiple Sclerosis.
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Edward Common attended the prestigious Womans Own Children of Courage awards ceremony
in Westminster Abbey where he received a Child of Courage Outstanding Achievement award,
presented to him by HRH Prince Harry.
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Coronation Street star, Vicky Binns, officially opened the new
café development, "Café @ the College", at Northern Counties College in Jesmond.
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The Percy Hedley School is the first special school in North
Tyneside to gain the Inclusion Quality Mark.
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Hosted by Wendy Gibson, the
Percy Hedley Mistletoe Ball at the Hilton Hotel was a glamorous
occasion attended by more than 400 guests.
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The Percy Hedley School has been awarded Specialist Schools Status by the Department of
Children, Schools and Families in recognition of its staff expertise and outstanding practice.
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"Even alongside other outstanding schools it stands out as a beacon of excellence".
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A new service innovation in the North East of England
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Education inspectors have praised Northern Counties College for their good quality of their provision.
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Percy Hedley Foundation has been chosen as one of the HMS Dauntless' affiliated charities
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Percy Hedley School to offer Conductive Education sessions on Saturday mornings
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