Scopes4SEN TestimonialsWow! Thank you so much. The telescope is fantastic, we have already watched heron with it & the fact that it is portable makes it even more brilliant! We can't thank you enough.
Best wishes - Caroline, Toby & Silva - March 2024 Just a quick note to send our gratitude. If only I could have photographed my daughters face of delight when we opened this! They've loved looking at the stars and moon and we are taking it away with us next weekend when we go to the cotswolds 😊 Rachel Jan 2024 Good morning. I just wanted to say a huge and sincere thank you. I passed your details to my neighbour Alison and her son Jack last week. Within days of their application a beautiful telescope was delivered! Jack has severe special needs both learning and physical. He has been home educated as there was no local school that could meet his needs. Now a young man, he is unlikely to ever work. I didn’t know but he absolutely loves the night sky and spends many hours looking at the stars. I have never seen him so excited! He came to my door specially to say thank you. Your work is amazing. Thank you again. Warm regards Zena Forbes Good evening Patrick, Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you. Life has been a little challenging. But as promised some feedback and pictures. I want to firstly thank you so much for this opportunity for my son Tyler. The telescope is absolutely amazing, and it's made his love for science and space even more prominent. We took the telescope with us recently on a camping trip. And the views we got of the moon were spectacular. I've attached some pictures of this. Unfortunately I can't share any of my son due to safeguarding reasons but the pictures he has got of the moon are amazing. - August 2023 If you would like any more please don't hesitate to contact me. This was a fabulous opportunity you gave us to own a telescope and we are forever grateful. Hello, and many thanks for the wonderful gift of the telescope. We are a home educating family with two autistic children. Rufus is 10 and “high functioning” and Tilly is 8 and non-verbal. Rufus has always loved science. We first took the telescope with us camping a few weeks ago and when we were setting it up we noticed the couple in the next tent had a large telescope set up (they were obviously very into it and knowledgeable). So after we had set ours up, Rufus went over and asked them “this is my first telescope, can you help me learn what to look for?” Which is amazing for him as he struggles to speak to strangers! The man came over and explained there were a few things to see that night and also how to focus on something to get the hang of it, etc. We all had fun looking and whenever the couple walked past Rufus said “thank you, enjoy your looking tonight!” He loved it. Unfortunately we haven’t had much more time to use it as we’ve had a busy few weeks but we will do soon. Thank you again, Charlene, Rufus and Tilly - July 2023 Dear Patrick We just wanted to thank you again and to confirm that we have the telescope. We have been busy building a cardboard boat for a fun boat race we are entering next weekend so have been a bit busy with that and haven't used the telescope yet. Planning to set it up the following week and start using it during the daytime over the rest of the summer. Hopefully then we'll be ready for when the nights start to get a bit darker earlier! We've got a lovely book called "A Walk through the Heavens, A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends" to help us on our stargazing journey and we're very much looking forward to exploring the night sky. We'll send some photos once we're up and running. Best wishes Lucy and Murdy Bennett - July 2023 Dear Scopes 4 SEN Just to say we received our wonderful telescope from yourselves yesterday. Thank you so much , we are looking forward to setting it up in the next few days and I will send you some photos and share on some of my Facebook groups. This really is fantastic what you are doing. Thanks again David and the Thomas family - June 2023 Hi just received the scope , its amazing thankyou have just set it up and had a quick look at the trees. Weve been under clouds for about a week but its supposed to be lovely the weekend so it will get lots of use then and hopefully we can get to see the moon. Wonderful charity keep up the fantastic work. We shall keep your emails and once we have finished with the scope we will arrange to send back so someone else can explore the skies. Regards Beki and Dominic - June 2023 My sons telescope arrived today- I cannot thank you enough. We are going to Wales next week and will be taking it with us. Here is a picture of him and he is beyond thrilled. We would like to do some fundraising for you if this is OK too. Warmest wishes Rebecca - June 2023 Thank you so much for the free telescope! It is providing hours of fun for these budding astronomers. Thank you! Deb, Charlie, Ben, Thomas and Max Dear Patrick, I hope you had a lovely Easter. Thank you so much, we assembled the telescope yesterday and are all excited to get using it. It is a wonderful scheme that you are running. I will update you further when we have some photos or news. Many thanks, Caroline - April 2023 I just wanted to say a massive thank you for the incredible opportunity, we have now received the telescope and are completely overwhelmed. My son will get a lot of benefits from using this once we have mastered it! Did you say you would like photos sending? Is that to this email address? Thanks so much once again! Felicity - April 2023 Thank you so so much it arrived and my sons were blown away they are so excited to learn to use it but got it out straight away and we found the moon in the late afternoon sun!!! They were so excited. It's so much better than the binoculars they have been using and they could see so much more detail due to not having to try and hold them still. Happy faces and whooping all round. - April 2023 Hi, i just wanted to assure you that we have recieved our wonderful telescope, we are so very grateful to you, ive been sharing with other sen home educators and so many sen groups im a part of, your the talk of my town, thank you again so much Patrick, its the little acts of kindness that change lives. Laura and Leah - April 2023 A huge thank you for Victoria's telescope. It arrived this afternoon and has made her day/week/year! I've tagged you on a twitter post with some photos and a video of her reaction. I'll get some more photos once it's all set up and send them over. Victoria says "Thank you, thank you, thank you" with a huge grin on her face. But thank you so much, this means so much to us both, she's been desperate for a telescope to support her GCSE Astronomy and as a single parent it's been out of my budget. Now the nights she can't sleep will be spent looking at the stars! Thank you, Kind regards, Sarah Afternoon Patrick, we received the telescope today, thank you so so much Rosie is very excited, we just need it to stop raining now. Rosie is 14 and has a duel diagnosis of asd and adhd as well as aniexty she is home educated as school couldn't meet her needs. We cannot thank you enough for this learning opportunity and I have attached a photo, Do you have a Facebook page or something so we can update our journey? From the Clarke family (Bourne) - March 2023 Good afternoon Patrick, I just wanted to let you know that Kiera received the telescope today. She was shocked and excited. She has been busy watching videos and setting it up and we will be visiting the local nature reserve in the Easter holidays. Thankyou so much - Kylie March 2023 Good evening, A huge thank you to you and Scopes4SEN for our children's telescope. They were so excited when it arrived last week, we couldn't believe it appears brand new too. It's taken until this evening to have a clear enough night to try it out. We've headed up to a viewpoint on our local hills this evening and all three of our children have been amazed at what they can see. It's still been a cloudy evening so not ideal for seeing everything there is to see, we definitely need to practice focussing it, but the children were amazed to see the moon coming out from between the clouds. We hung around to see if the sky would clear enough to spot any stars but sadly not today! Definitely something to look forward to though for coming evenings, and this has cheered everyone up hugely. I am attaching a few photos for you. Declan and Mikayla are our 2 children with additional needs who are home educating; they will no doubt be writing to you in person to tell you of their excitement and thanks. Best wishes, Ruth Thank you so much for our wonderful telescope, which my son was absolutely delighted to receive. We were lucky enough to have a lovely clear night on the day it arrived and so got it set up straight away to be able to look at Venus and Jupiter, and also the Moon. A huge thank you for all the amazing work you do in making it possible for children to develop a love of astronomy - it is very much appreciated. Tracey T - March 2023 Thank you so much the telescope arrived today. My daughter didn't waste any time and was so excited to put it together and use it. Sttaight out to look atvyhe moon this eve. Such a lovely idea and we are very grateful. A few pics attached. Kind regards, Amelia Hi Patrick, We received our telescope today. Just wanted to say the biggest thank you. We can’t wait to start using it! Kindest regards - Zoe Card (March 2023) We received our telescope! We took it down to the seafront (Ryde IOW) and looked out at Portsmouth. We had great fun. Thank you so much. Kind regards, Chloe Thank you so much for our telescope. We are incredibly grateful and it has already been such a wonderful resource. My daughter very much enjoys using the telescope to look out at the sea, which we are fortunate to see from our house. She particularly enjoyed looking at the container ships which were visible last week. Yesterday evening we enjoyed some night time viewing. Are we correct in thinking that we spotted Jupiter and Venus? My astronomy knowledge is poor, but we are enjoying learning and discussing together. Thank you for this opportunity. Kind regards - The Shaw family, Paignton. Dear Patrick, Our daughter Megan would like to thank you so very much for sending her the telescope which she received. She says she will enjoy looking through it and discovering the stars and planets and wildlife too. When she does a project we will send you some feedback on it. Thank you once again. Martin, Cami and Megan Rolf Hello Patrick, Just to say, we received the telescope today. We will be taking it to the beach to start our adventure tomorrow. Many thanks for this fantastic donation. Kind regards, Laura - February 2023 Good afternoon. Just wanted to say what an amazing telescope it is, we’ve had few clear nights and my son has been in his element, Looking at stars and space station, He’s amazing how it really helps him to relax, can’t wait for more spring summer nights, Thanks again - Kim - February 2023 Hi Patrick. Thank you so much - the telescope arrived today and (as all the children are with grandparents today) I've had it out and put it together. With clear skies tomorrow night we're excited to be able to take them for a sunset picnic tea and some stargazing before bedtime: they will be over the moon (no pun intended!). The telescope looks absolutely ideal for what we need, thanks so much for your attentiveness in that. I was not expecting something of such good quality and brand new as well, so we're really thrilled. I'll send you some photos of our first expedition! Rachel Hi Patrick, We received the telescope and I have only just got round to opening it today with my daughter. My daughter is over the moon and I'm in shock that it was brand new I was expecting a second hand one which we would of been appreciated. She is over the moon she is going to be able to see the stars and moon and all I can say from the bottom of my heart if thank you so much! I would of never been able to get her one like this and she is so excited. I will send some pictures over when my daughter first uses it. Can I ask where the photos will be posted? Thank you so much again! Jennifer Dear Patrick Thank you so, so much... We are going to send you and Scopes4Sen a thank you by snail-mail, but in the meantime, I just now wanted to send a quick 'thank you' over the email to say that the telescope had arrived... I cannot easily express what receiving the telescope from Scopes4Sen means to me - not just the telescope itself, but the inclusion and kindness to receive one. Sometimes with SEN, the road can be more rocky as a family - not just because being a square peg in a round hole can be harder sometimes, but because the systems don't fit too - we fall between so many things: too SEN to manage many things people take for granted; not SEN enough for others (also mostly because, as a parent, the child begins to thrive in the environment you create for them). Home educating really enabled my son to cope mentally, to become happy again, to be able to learn and thrive learning - but as a family, it costs a lot of other things and opportunities (all of course worth it as he no longer wishes he didn't exist). Your kindness through Scopes4SEN meant so much, and as much as the telescope - we are going to have so much fun using it! When the telescope arrived, I was taken aback as I didn't expect this at all - so much so that we were so overwhelmed to open the box for a few days (hence the delay). Then we (well, he!) came to open it eagerly - my son was absolutely thrilled as he opened the box and telescope, with huge smiles! He loves it so much. Tonight is going to be a clear, frosty night I believe and so we're going to set it up for the first time to see what we can see in the sky - and we're already planning the types of things that we could do in the springtime, to watch the nature and see the scenery! Thank you so, so much, With best wishes, Kathryn - February 2023 Hi Patrick, Thank you SO much for the lovely telescope - it is so very gratefully received. The children are absolutely delighted at being able to explore the night sky, and are equally enjoying using it for birdwatching during the daytime. We look forward to many more hours of stargazing and exploring - especially when the weather warms up. Thank you Hi Patrick, Thank you for the telescope, we have had a lot of fun using it around the Academy. We have learnt how to use the telescope carefully and have really enjoyed using it to look around our local area and school site. It has also encouraged discussion about our previous topic of space. I have attached some photos, thank you again. Clare - February 2023 Hi there Patrick, Just wanted to send an email to say thank you so much for the telescope. We received it safely just over a week ago. My son is absolutely astounded by the craters on the moon, and how he can properly see them through the scope. Its been a little too cloudy around Jupiter in our local sky to get a good sight yet so we've been practising with the moon, and last night we had the full moon directly opposite the house so got the scope out for a gaze. We found it relatively easy to out together by following the instructions. We look forward to a warmer evening where we can take it outside and star gaze with it too. We are so grateful, thank you so very much. Best regards, Mem Hi Patrick I just wanted to thank you from the depths of our hearts, i was blown away as was Lidiya, your kindness shines brightly, the world needs more humans like you and us 🌍💖 We've had a beautiful weekend looking for the comet cloe to earth, and of course the beautiful full moon last night Thank you thank you. Wishing you well Kim x - February 2023 Hi Patrick. I just wanted to say thanks for the telescope. We saw the moon for the first time tonight. I’ve popped a screen shot of it through the view finder and a video too of something else we saw (it’s not perfect but you cab hear how happy my daughter is:) Louise Dear Patrick. Apologies for not messaging sooner - as I mentioned before we have just moved and are all quite unsettled. I wanted to thankyou so much for the telescope. It is so kind of you and we are so lucky. I shall message more in due course once we have set it up and had a go with it and of course let me know where I should leave a review. Very best regards Lucy Padina Hi Patrick, Apologies for the delay in replying, just wanted to say a huge thank you, my son cant believe how clearly he can see the craters on the moon! Here is a couple of photos of him looking out for the comet this week. I’ve passed the details onto my sons School which is specifically for children with disabilities. Thank you again, Michelle - February 2023 Oh wow thank you so much for the lovely telescope. The girls have been using it to look at birds with over the weekend and unfortunately it has been cloudy every night. We can’t wait for a clear evening ! Paula January 2023 I just wanted to say a huge thank you for our telescope which arrived a couple of days ago. The children got their first glimpse of the moon up close last night (with a clear view of the craters), and could also see Mars & Jupiter which was very exciting! They are looking forward to lots more sky gazing in the future & will hopefully make more exciting discoveries! Many thanks, Lou, Kieran & Heidi - January 2023 Thank you so much for the telescope. She was absolutely thrilled with it. And we managed to see many more stars than with the naked eye. She was very excited to see Jupiter and a moon, however it’s been so cold here when we’ve had a clear night so she hasn’t been out for long. Once again thank you so much! Sami - January 2023 She wants to see Saturn so will try and get up early for that one. Just to let you know the telescope arrived today, my son and I set it up and are waiting impatiently for it to get dark. He has been busy watching space online learning videos and has downloaded some apps. Thank you for the opportunity to get him engaged in a new science. Cari - January 2023 Good evening. I just wanted to email to say a huge thankyou for the kind donation to our sen school and homeschooled children for our telescope. It's amazing and the children are very excited to use it. So a huge thankyou on behalf of all the children at pioneer special school. Nikki. Hello, I just wanted to drop you an email to say thank you so much for the telescope that arrived today. My two boys were straight onto putting it together and getting good use out if it by already viewing Jupiter and Mars this evening. And I’m sure it will be out every evening to explore other planets and stars. I have shared your website to another SEN home education group, I hope this is ok. Thank you again. - January 2023 We just wanted to say a massive Thank you for the telescope for Hayden. He is over the moon with it, and he can't wait to use it, as soon as we have a clear night. Thanks. Sally Just to let you know that First Light kit arrived safely, thank you very much. Arty was really impressed and interested to know what constellations were in the sky at the moment… even if the inclement weather has kept us indoors! I’m sure it’ll be really useful. Thank you very much again - Rebecca January 2023 Many thanks for the prompt delivery of the telescope and for giving us such a great instrument. My son couldn't wait to set it up and have a look at the stars, even though they are currently well hidden with all the rain. Still, he is very happy and is planning a trip to the Brecon Brecons' Usk reservoir with his dad to explore the sky from there! I will take and email some photos to you as soon as possible. Many thanks for your great work. Kindest regards, Barbara - January 2023 Oh how I wished I filmed my youngest reaction to opening the telescope! He is so incredibly pleased. Sadly the sky was too cloudy this evening, but he was honestly so excited. When we get a chance to use it, we will send over some pictures for sure. Thank you so so much! Lorna January 2023 Evening. I just wanted to send you a quick email to say thank you for the telescope. We received it today and Ronnie was so happy when he opened it. He cannot wait to use it, though unfortunately tonight is very cloudy where we are. I have attached photos of Ronnie opening the telescope and I will send more photos and feedback soon. Thank you again, you've made a little boy very happy and you have given us the opportunity to continue to make his learning interactive and fun. Many, many thanks, - January 2023 Thank you so much for the telescope (photos attached). Isaac was thrilled when it arrived and has been testing it out on the fields behind our house. He's looking forward to a clear night when we can get a closer look at the moon. In the absence of being able to attend school at the moment, this is a very welcome distraction and a real treat given that his current special interest is space! Many thanks, Amy and Isaac - Jan 2023 I can’t thank you enough for the telescope, my daughter was over the moon with it today and the fact that it came with a back pack blew her away. She has been sorting her bird books out and phoned her dad to arrange our outing this week to Galloway forest which she loves as their are birds of prey and an amazing place to see wildlife and the stars.Thank you again and my daughters face says it all. Trish and Taylor x I just wanted to let you know that the telescope arrived safely, and to thank you again. Arty is extremely excited and I think we have many adventures ahead gazing at the night sky and exploring nature. Your charity provides wonderful opportunities for children like Arty… who knows what that inspiration will lead to :) Best wishes, Rebecca - Jan 2023 Since sending my email Charlie has been in the garden, avoiding other people's windows ;) and excitedly called to say that he could see a fly on an apple that is hanging on in a garden a few houses away. We are fortunate to live under Salisbury Plain so lots of opportunity to practice on wildlife safely away from any windows. Hayley - Jan 2023 My son received his Scope in November and on a very cold night he learnt to set up his scope and focus on the stars and planets. We live in the Northern Hemisphere and he was able to observe Jupiter and Mars along with Pleiades, the seven sisters. Learning doesn’t stop there. When we came in from the cold my son learnt that the nearest star of the cluster to earth is 434 and 446 light years away. He learnt that the stars are 100 times brighter than our sun. There are over 800 stars in the open cluster (not that we counted them). After some research we found out that the Seven Sisters comes from a Greek Legend. The Pleiades are the seven daughters of the Titan God Atlas and Ocean nymph Pleione. The seven sisters are Asterope, Taygete, Maia, Celaene, Electra, Merope and Alcyone. During an ancient war, Atlas rebelled against Zeus, the king of the gods, who sentenced his foe to forever hold up the heavens on his shoulders. The sisters were so sad that Zeus allowed them a place in the sky in order to be close to their father. (Source space.com) Currently my son is studying Space and working his way through Chatty Zebra Curriculum Workbook. https://chattyzebracurriculum.com/ We are currently waiting for the next dry evening so my son can get his scope out again. Jill - January 23 Hi Patrick, I wanted to thank you for sending Hope Valley Pathways safety glasses to view the partial eclipse at the end of October. We talked with our students, and several took some glasses away to view the eclipse. On return to school, I asked the students whether they had experienced the eclipse. All had forgotten about the eclipse. I did take a pair and watched the eclipse with my 8- and 3-year-old, whilst out on a walk. They were really pleased to be able to viev this interesting event. On the brighter side. We have been using the telescopes to view the birds that come to feed at our bird-feeding station, here at Hope Valley Pathways. This activity has really engaged more of our students to play with the scopes and we are going to run a telescope library, so the students can doing some star-gazing at home. Wishing you a happy christmas and a fabulous new year. Alex - December 20, 2022 Hi,we have received the telescope! My daughter absolutely loves it!(she especially loves that it comes in a rucksack!) Thank you so much Kylie and Evie Popham - November 2022 Hi Patrick , Just wanted to say a huge thank you for sending the telescope. I have decided to start an after school astronomy club so we can get maximum use of the telescope. The students are very excited, so as soon as we get this up and running, I will give you plenty of updates. Thanks again Sara We would like to send a huge thank you to yourselves for our amazing telescope that has arrived this morning . My daughters were so excited . So much appreciation for all you do We would like to send a huge thank you to yourselves for our amazing telescope that has arrived this morning . My daughters were so excited . So much appreciation for all you do 😊 Thank you so much Patrick. My son has just received his scope and its up and running already, my son couldn't wait. Hes now learning how it works. He loves the idea its portable and came in its own backpack. I will get some photos later and send them to you. Kind regards Jill Thank you again so much, Samuel is over the moon with his telescope and can’t wait to set it up and use it. Sarah We have received the wonderful telescope and are excited to use it as soon as the skies are clear. I will share wonderful charity within my SEND groups and Friends. Thank you for such a wonderful gift for my son. Lucy Fletcher Ciara is having so much fun with telescope; Thank you…I’ll send photos soon! Kind regards Jo Hi Patrick, Thank you so much for the telescope, we love the fact it’s in a backpack, looks like we may be having some fun adventures out with it!! Thank you again Michelle hi patrick thank you again for the solar viewing glasses. these are some of the things the girls had hi patrick thank you again for the solar viewing glasses. these are some of the things the girls had to say - they really appreciated it I was awake for it but the clouds covered it up the whole time! My aunty saw it from Manchester though. I have really bad luck I already seen it I can see the moon i seen it was so cool like i never thought i would see anything like this in my life. most coolest experience ever I'm literally dying. Now I'm going to have to wait another few years. Last time I saw it was when I was 6 with very little memory!!!!!!!! I always wish for the day to be cloudy and today I really got it haha My whole family saw it and they were amazed by the sight.. My little brother was confused because he couldn't see it anymore so he thought that the sun ran out of charge 😂😂😂 Now he wants to wear the glasses all the time to see it. Very cool! as you can see, it was such a nice experience for (most) of them thank you very much for giving them the opportunity to experience it sandesh - November 2022 Good morning Patrick, Thank you for keeping the connection going with Arif and for enabling our students to see the partial eclipse. The key to experiences in life is the potential to access those experiences and you have certainly enabled us to support some of our most vulnerable to experience the world, literally though a different lens. I can only echo Arif and Lucy’s sentiments and gratitude and I thank you for keeping Harlington School in your thoughts and process. Thank you so much for your support and consideration here Kind regards Antonio - October 25, 2022 Hi, I just wanted to pop by to say a huge thank you to Patrick and anyone else involved in the scopes4sen project. What an incredible thing you do! We received our scope several months ago through the scopes4sen application process but have just really started using it recently, now the nights are drawing in and WOW!!! Me and my son have been out several nights this past month and we are both pretty amazed with what we have seen. We have witnessed the moon in its total brilliance and seen craters and features we've never seen before. We have gazed at Jupiter and actually spotted 4 of its moons AND it's stripes on many nights over the last few weeks. And we both actually screeched in delight (probably more so me than my boy to be honest) when we got an incredible view of Saturn and her glorious rings. I can't take my eyes off her! We have also got involved with our local observatory/planetarium who have given us some great advice and tips. And finally our next adventure takes us to Northumberland where we are going to try and make the most of the dark skies areas and see what wonders we can see from there. My son struggles with confidence, has huge anxiety and neurodivergence issues and this has been a gorgeous hobby that we have both been able to share together. His face when he managed to set up and capture our first view of Saturn entirely by himself was worth everything!! So another huge thank you. We wanted to let you know the impact you have had and how you have affected our tiny little earthly lives vastly. We are travelling through the stars every night thanks to you. Much love and appreciation, Jacob (8) and Tina (45) 😁 - October 2022 I apologize for the delay in getting feedback to yourselves. Firstly, thank you so much for the telescope. Our children have loved using it and finding stars and planets in the night sky. Please find attached some pictures. We are a home-educating family and this telescope is a valuable tool for us to use within our science lessons. Our oldest has done a whole science block on astronomy and our youngest is about to start in September. This telescope will mean that we can bring to life the astronomy course and get both of our children using the telescope on a regular basis. Thank you again for this kind gift. Ruth July 2022 Hi just a quick email to say thankyou so much for the telescope it is very greatfully recieved and will be loved and enjoyed by the whole family thankyou We received our scope this week and want to thank you so much. We were over the moon with the binoculars and didn't dream of getting anything else. My daughter is putting it together with her Dad later today. Thank you for all that you do ☺️ Thank you so much for the telescope that arrived here for Edward . It’s stunning . We carefully built it together and hope tonight to learn together how to use it and find what we can in the night sky. We’ve had a lovely history lesson learning about the late Jack Jones and his remarkable inspiring achievements, brought to us via his binoculars in the case ❤️. Thankyou so much . I want to say a huge thank you for the amazing telescope you so kindly donated to my son. We received it yesterday and set it up immediately, he was so excited! We managed to get some fantastic,clear images of the moon. Henry is home schooled due to his disabilities and today we are learning more about the Solar system. Thank you again for giving Henry the tools to be able to look at the sky at night. I am a lone parent and really had no way of purchasing a telescope for him due to low income. We are very, very grateful. Have a wonderful day. Thank you so much for the telescope. My son is over the moon. Keep doing what you are doing. Many people appreciate it. Hope you are we'll. We received our telescope today, thank you so much. My daughter and I are so excited to use it. We are moving in three weeks to the coast in Northern Ireland so its staying boxed up til then. I am honestly so grateful to you and we will definitely be putting it to good use! The binoculars are firm favourites of my daughters and she takes them out with her daily on our walks. My daughter would like to write and say thank you. Please can you let me know an address for her to send it. Also is it possible to raise some money for the charity? We could do a sponsored silence (only joking that would never work 😅) book read, swim or bake sale? It would be nice to give something back. Thank you again! This morning my son received the most amazing gift of a telescope. He cried with happiness. You have made a child’s year. He will get such huge enjoyment from using the telescope, and learning about the night sky. I can not thank you enough. You are amazing Kind regards Even though it was not a telescope our son was thrilled. He has complex Special educational needs, and this will help his keen interest in bird watching. This gift is greatly appreciated. Ann H June 2022 From the binoculars collection we donated in June 2022: We were overjoyed with the wonderful binoculars we received and we have been putting them to good use already! It's wonderful to hear they were donated from a collector although in sad circumstances and we are thankful to his sister for passing them on. If you are able please pass on our thanks. We are moving to the coast of Northern Ireland soon so there will be lots for us to look at. -- I was going to email you once I had a nice photo, to thank you for the wonderful set of binoculars we received for my daughter this week. We were surprised to have binoculars but far from disappointed, she has used them at any given opportunity so far and even walked around the car boot sale with them on today and told everyone about them. The fact that they are pre loved makes them even more special to my daughter, she loves to collect things and finds such a lot of pleasure in owning something that someone once loved before. The case that our binoculars came in has a name written in it and she found that particularly interesting and now wants to have her name below it. It's really is fantastic to see her interest and care for them. So thank you and thank you to the lady who donated them, I'm sure it's made a lot of children and families very happy. Keep up the great work that you all do. -- it was such a surprise to actually get anything we were over the moon. I am absolutely sure it has such a history but looks perfect. My girl went straight out into the garden and started looking around. We are incredibly lucky to live in Cornwall so I am sure our beach trips will be extra special with these binoculars and we are eternally grateful 😍 Many thanks for your kindness -- Hi Patrick, I just wanted to drop you a line to say how absolutely thrilled we were with our binoculars that arrived yesterday! We’ve been visiting Rspb sites recently so these will be greatly used for both the night sky and the wonderful wildlife! They also gave me a really lovely nostalgic moment because my dad had a pair just like them when I was a child. I can’t believe people would be upset with receiving such fantastic, well looked after binoculars. I’ll send some pictures when we get out and about with them this weekend. Thank you again for all of your hard work! -- We received our binoculars and are very happy. Thank you -- we received some beautiful vintage binoculars, and my son opened the box this evening . We loved the card inside the leather box where it’s evident this pair belonged to a gentleman whom cherished this pair as we will do so now too . You are doing a wonderful thing for Sen children . Much appreciated . -- I just wanted to thank you so so much for the telescope sent for kole, he’s over the moon with it , the day it arrived was such a happy surprise for him and he is already exploring the Skies. Home educated autistic/send children are often forgotten about and finances for new equipment can be tough, so this is really appreciated. Your kind gift means the world to him. Karie - June 2022 Dear SCOPES4SEN, Thank you so much for the telescope that was delivered to us yesterday. Our 9 year old, Jack, has always loved the night sky and this delivery has made him so happy! We have set it up tonight and he has been loving trying it out and was so excited every time he spotted another star! We honestly can't thank you enough! It is so kind of you to not only offer this to SEND kids but also those home educating too. Our kids that have additional needs are usually the ones that are forgotten about when their needs also mean that they don't suit mainstream schooling. Massive thank you again, Emily, James & Jack Dalby - March 2022 I would just like to say a big thank you for our telescope on behalf on Challney High School for boys in Luton. Attached is a photo of our headteacher Daniel Connor, along with myself, Helen Furminger an SEN teacher and two of the boys I teach who will benefit from the wonderful donation. I will be sharing on social media. Hi Patrick Apologies it’s taken a while to give my sincere thanks for your donation - aftermath of storm Eunice to blame! We are so appreciative of the telescope you have given us and cannot wait to have it used in one of our events. It makes such a difference to a small CIC starting out that there are wonderful charities like yourselves supporting what we do. Best wishes, Ysella - Choose Nasture CIC @% February 2022 Hello Patrick Thank you so much for sending us the telescope! It arrived this morning and we have already been out tonight to use it! It has been fantastic fun spotting the stars and figuring out their names. We are really excited to see the moon when that is back out too. The children are so excited and we are now planning to visit some local areas where the skies will be darker so that we can learn more about the night sky. This is a fantastic gift of years of learning and adventure you have given our family as the children grow up, thank you so much to you and all the charity supporters. Best wishes Finlay family in County Durham! (22 February 2022) My daughter & I are over the moon, we received her telescope yesterday & had a wonderful time already, last night out viewing the craters on the surface of the moon, thank you so so much. I will send you some photographs once we can go out with it again, it has been snowing and is freezing this evening so it will not be tonight. We are so very excited about this, my daughter could barely believe her eyes. Thank you again. Jenna D - 18 Feb 2022 I wanted to drop you an email to let you know that the 3 telescopes have arrived safely today, and how brilliant they are! We'll get the hang of them soon enough, but we've built one of them this morning and they're really impressive. I've attached some pictures I've taken, and we'll share about Scopes4SEN on our channels in the next few days too. As we start to use them in groups in the coming and months, we'll share more photos! Emilly, Daisy Chain, Stockton on Tees In November we had a star gazing evening with folks from the Bath Astronomy Society – we used the telescopes you kindly donated. The kids really enjoyed the evening – seeing the rings on Saturn was a highlight. Now we’re lending the scopes out to the children for a week at a time so they can use them in the evenings. I have attached a few photos. (See blog) Many thanks again for your kind donation. Regards, Andy Joy, Headteacher - St Philip’s Primary School (January 2022) Hard to keep up with the testimonials. Often we get mentioned in press and social media. We get thank you cards and letters. Stories, images are so much appreciated and are fuel to continue donating telescopes and educational material. Below a snapshot only (images - with permission - on our Blog) |
Many thanks for our Skywatcher telescope!
With such clear skies we had a lovely view of the moon yesterday afternoon. The children were very interested and hopefully we can now organise some astronomy projects in the new school year.
Thanks once again! Martin Edmonds, Plympton Academy
We continue to loan out the two telescopes weekly to families- it really has been an amazing project. It has created huge interest in the stars.
You have inspired me to purchase a few microscopes and slides to loan to families. We serve an area of deprivation... but have very bright and inquisitive kids who just need the opportunity.
Thank you for creating a real legacy - you have made a huge difference to the children.
Mark Dakin, St Gillis School, Willinhall
Thankyou for the dozen pairs of safe solar filters and glasses, we received them today. We are really looking forward to being able to use them on the 10th June to look at the Partial Eclipse. Lets hope it is a clear day!
We will record the event on our web site and acknowledge how generous Scopes4SEN have been donating the filter glasses and telescopes.
Tracy Blackwell, Head Teacher / SENCO - Hartington C of E Primary School - May 2021
It has certainly been a funny time since the arrival of the telescope which, whilst placed in our science room, this room was only allocated to a certain bubble of learners which meant that access was limited. However, it was used as part of the RSPB Big Bird watch and the learners really enjoyed using it. It helped them to put practical context in to their learning which is always really good with visual learners. Those who used it found the telescope really useful and they were all very engaged in the lesson content.
As we begin to plan the reduction on the limitations of mixing within bubbles, we are hoping that more learners can experience this more fully. We are excited about the opportunities which we will have next!
Dawn Day, Kennel Lane School Bracknell - April 23, 2021
Some March 2021 feedback (once schools opened again due to Covid19:
What a happy week! The kids all back in school and a new telescope. It arrived yesterday and looks amazing! We are an outdoors school and spend a lot of time camping. This will be brilliant for star gazing on camp as soon as we are allowed to go again. Millfield Walsall
Just to let you know that our telescope has arrived safely and we are absolutely 'over the moon' with it. We will keep in touch with photos etc. Thank you so much for this fantastic opportunity! Rowley View Nursery School
hope you are well. I just wanted to let you know we've received the telescope and are looking forward to setting it up and using it. Thank you so much - I'll be in touch when we have something to share :) Ryders Hayes School
We have just received our telescope and are very happy with it. We can't thank you enough. We are hoping to purchase some more for termly astrology clubs. Any useful tips for running such a club would be greatly appreciated. Brownhill West Primary School
Just to let you know our telescope is here!! We have set it up and are working out how to use it before it goes on a tour of the school next week. It is visiting each class so we can show alm the children . It will then start its journey with us in year 2. I will send feedback and photographs soon. Again a big big thank you Alumwell Infant School
I would like to say a huge thank you for providing Pinfold Street Primary School with an excellent telescope.
We were very impressed with how swift we received communication and subsequent delivery of, the telescope. Children in school have been keen to learn more about how telescopes work and use them to satisfy curiosity.
Thank you so much. Toni Beech, Headteacher, Pinfold Street Primary School, Darlaston - 03 March 2021
My dear Patrick - I trust you and your family are all keeping well.
As promised - to justify the funding etc, and good measure really - here are the pic's.
The students (and staff!) love it. This article will be published in our school newsletter and has 100s following.
Together we can make a difference - take good care and I hope you like it!
Arif - Harlington December 2020 (see images on Blog of 03Dec20)
We have unpacked and set up the wonderful telescope that you have sent and are really excited about the opportunities that it will provide our children.
The children and the adults are in awe of the telescope and we have been planning how to incorporate this in our learning. We are starting with bird watching!
It's an amazing opportunity for our children and we appreciate your generosity.
Thank you once again and we hope to send you some pictures and work from our children in due course.
Kind regards, Vicky A, Raynham Primary School
I just wanted to let you know that the parcel arrived yesterday. I am looking forward to spending some time over the weekend exploring the astronomy kit and solar can before introducing it to the children. It looks very exciting!
Thank you for sending these additional resources, which I know the children will love.
I hope you are staying safe in these very strange times.
Melanie, Shinfield St Mary’s CE Junior School, Reading
Thank you for the telescope, it arrived today!
The children are excited about using it, they can't wait for us to set it up.
We will take some photos of the children using it and tweet them for you.
Thank you again, Kind regards, Stella I, Merryhills Primary School, Enfield
"A big shout out and THANK YOU goes to the awesome charity: #SCOPES4SEN and its founder @PatrickPoitevin ! Through his passion for inspiring students, yet again another motivated group of staff and students are so appreciative of the opportunity to “reach the stars”. The charity has sparked a schoolwide interest in astronomy by donating an excellent TELESCOPE to the Science department! Thanks Patrick for your passion for education and opportunity, from @KHaroldAcademy !"
I hope this email finds you well in these exceptional times. It has been a half term of hand-washing, sanitising and encouraging the children to socially distance themselves as much as they possibly can - very challenging, to say the least!
In the midst of all the increased safety precautions, we received a wonderful gift of a telescope from Scopes4SEN. As many people have been dreading the nights drawing in and the long winter that lies ahead, here at Shinfield St Mary’s Junior School we have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the dark evenings so that we can maximise the use of our telescope! It has caused much excitement amongst the children, whilst members of staff have been setting it up ready for use.
We are planning to allow our pupils with special educational needs to borrow the telescope from Friday evening, returning it the following Tuesday. This will give them four nights in which they can hopefully do some stargazing, and will allow three days for quarantining the telescope before sending it home with the next pupil. I am going to purchase a book about our Solar System that will accompany the telescope to encourage the pupils to do a little bit of reading, and I will also encourage them to make a small entry in a diary to record what they saw. I hope that I will be able to send you some of the diary entries in the near future.
The telescope has already generated a great deal of awe and wonder as the children look up at the night sky when they are at our After School Club in the dark; especially this week with the beautiful moon and the number of stars that they could see this evening as the sky is so clear. It’s wonderful to see the children appreciating the magnificence of the world around them. A sincere thank you once again.
Stay safe in these very strange times.
Best wishes - Melanie Boyer, Interventions Manager, Shinfield St Mary’s C of E Junior School
Firstly we would to apologise in our delay in response to thanking you for our telescope provided by Scopes4SEN, this has been exacerbated by recent Covid cases in school.
However, we have finally unpacked our telescope as our Y11 girls embark on the space content of their GCSE Science course - here are some pictures of them identifying the different parts of telescope with our Science Teacher Matt Hughes.
The girls were really excited with what they saw. Moving forward we are going to be setting up a 'Mindfulness Twilight Club' which is going to see us use the telescope to study astronomy followed up by some mindfulness under the stars - pictures will follow once we have this up and running.
This really wouldn't have been possible without the amazing donation from Scope4SEN.
We are sharing these images on our facebook page and website.
Very kind regards Donna - Donna Walker, Head Teacher, The Link School, 03 November 2020
I wanted to thank you and Scopes4SEN for your kind donation of a super telescope to our school. We have a number of SEN pupils with a deep interest in Space and all related subjects and I promise this telescope is going to thrill them. One particular boy with high functioning autism is in Year 1, age 6 and there is barely a fact about the planets that he doesn’t know already but deriving from a socially-disadvantaged family and a very high level of deprivation in the local area means he has never had the chance to look at the night sky with a telescope and we have a plan to do so this term. We received the telescope in the Summer term and have not had a chance to set it up yet as we were waiting for the earlier darker nights…and here we are. We have arranged for this young boy and his mum to be the first to have a go and we can’t wait to do so. After Covid we will set up a stargazing club at school and, again, are very much looking forward to this!
None of our adventures into space would have been possible without the kind donation from Scopes4SEN and once again I wanted to thank you for your support and kindness.
Yours sincerely, SW 27 October 2020
We received our telescope last half term and were absolutely delighted with it – thank you very much indeed for the generous donation and the fantastic work you and your team do to provide equipment to support some of the most vulnerable children. I will share the weblink with other schools in the area to highlight the fantastic work you are doing and encourage them to become involved.
When the school received the package, our Year 5/6 teacher (who is also the school’s science coordinator) was extremely excited – we decided that it would be a good project for one of our Year 5 boys, who has extremely complex social , emotional and mental health needs, to build. This young man carefully follow the instructions and worked with his adult to construct and test the telescope. He then created three child friendly instructional posters on how to use the telescope safely and what objects could be observed through it in the night sky. The teacher then encouraged this year 5 child to put together a presentation and deliver training to the class on how to use the telescope safely – which he did. It was fantastic to see a young person, who struggles on a daily basis with his emotions and anxieties, grow in confidence and share his knowledge and understanding of a topic with his peers. It gave him a huge amount of satisfaction and the adults working with him were extremely proud of what he achieved. He is now our telescope monitor, which has helped him to develop friendships and communicate with other children that might previously not engaged with.
Thank you on behalf of the school for providing such a valuable and enjoyable piece of scientific equipment for our children to use.
Paul Fletcher - Avenue Primary School 27 October 2020
Frustratingly, the weather has not been kind to us since the telescope arrived and we’ve had very few clear nights. However, on the very night that the telescope arrived, I was able to get to our Cubs meeting in time to get a great view of the moon. Several of our Scouts loved it and it was wonderful to see the excitement in the young people who had never seen the moon that close before.
Our plan will be to make much greater use of the scope once we’re allowed to camp again and when the weather is better. But, please rest assured that we’re delighted with it and it will get lots of use – we have space and astronomy related badges as part of the syllabus so it’ll get plenty of use then too.
Yours in Scouting…, Paul Carcone MBA FCMA CGMA, Group Scout Leader, 1st Chandlers Ford Scout Group - 25 October 2020
My name is Jane Musson mother of Catrin Burrows and I am a trustee of Valeplus a charity which gives learning opportunities to adult people with learning difficulties.
We are grateful to receive the telescope from your charity. At present we remain closed we were due to reopen when the second lock down arrived
When we eventually return we hope to put on some evening sessions to watch the sky at night but during the day it is light to take out and about birdwatching and looking at views over the Bristol Channel as some activities
We’ve just taken possession of one of your organisation’s telescopes and I just wanted to write on behalf of Stanley Head OEC to say thank you very much.
We are a residential centre accommodating thousands of children every year, so it will be very well placed to be accessed by a great many young people as part of structured sessions in the evenings. We are located in the countryside of the Staffordshire Moorlands so get a great view of the sky when the weather permits.
If you’d like any photos of it in use, please let me know (although you’ll have to wait until we’re able to re-open…).
Best wishes, Adam Geens, Head of Centre and Outdoor Education Adviser, Stanley Head OEC, Stoke-on-Trent City Council - July 2020
Your kit is really proving useful! James Salmon, Holmewood School, London - July 2020
Oh my goodness!! I can't believe it. I can't say thankyou enough. I am a 54 year old mum (widow) to 14 year old twins, both with Autism. My son is more severely affected. He has mental health problems associated with autism and has been unable to continue in mainstream school. We have recently been given a place in a different school setting where all of the pupils have either SEN or high anxiety/suicidal thoughts. My son has been suicidal on two occasions in the past 18 months and was referred as an emergency on both occasions to CAHMS which is the Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service.
My son has one of those clever autistic brains where he can self learn anything he is interested in, read it, learn it, then lock it away in his brain (his words). He knows so much about the solar system as it is one of his passions.
Sadly his father, my husband, died unexpectedly when he was 8 years old and we've still not managed to come to terms with that yet.
We live on the edge of Dartmoor and we go there regularly. It will also be an ideal location to use the telescope. I will most definitely be providing you with some photos.
Thankyou again so much. It's been such a long time since something positive and nice has happened in our life. Charities like yours make such a big difference to families like ours.
Kind regards,Hayley - July 2020
I must apologise for not emailing you sooner. Just so that you are aware I do have some pics of our SEND young people using the telescope that you kindly donated. My laptop was quite good and it usually did everything that I needed. On Thursday 28th May I was contacting parents of kids from home (Safe and Well calls and individual telephone lessons). I felt something burning on my lap only to discover that my laptop had caught fire; part of the screen melted. I was able to unplug and get it outside to a safe area. Now I have a different laptop and I did manage to save lots on the cloud so at some stage I will be able to send you some pics. Our SEND groups have used the telescope to observe the Sun (through a filter of course) they have even seem Jupiter and Saturn. One of the kids commented and said “ooh look I can see a blob with ears’’. Patrick I would like to invite you into school at some stage in the new academic year. Hopefully lockdown will be over and this Global Crisis and CoViD will be defeated. Kindest regards, Frank Nichol
Hope this email finds you well during this difficult time and love that your work is still continuing.
I work for Lillington Youth Centre in Leamington Spa and in 2018 you provided us with some telescopes to use within our youth clubs that work with young people not accessing mainstream education, facing hardship or have diagnosed SEN. These have been a vital resource for support and has encouraged many young people back into education. One girl in particular has chosen to study astronomy at university, she will be the first person in her family to attend university.
I am writing to you to ask if there any possibility to apply for 2 more telescopes/ kits. One would be for an autistic young person who over this period cannot attend school but is also a young carer and has to take responsibility for her younger siblings and parent who is terminally ill. This young women aspires to work within the space industry but has very limited resources to encourage her learning at home.
The second is for staff to use on outreach sessions; as you can imagine the recent government guidance has impacted on our delivery stopping us from operating from the building. Instead we are delivering face to face work with our vulnerable members of the community out in the local park. We would love to be able to bring out some telescopes for our outreach summer provision as they really enjoyed using the telescopes in the centre.
Please let me know if you need anymore information.
Thank you for your time. Emma Stuchbury, Trainee Youth and Community Worker - Jun e2020
Hi Anakin received his Astronomy kit today he was so excited to get a parcel just for him & screamed (happy ) the house down when he seen what he had received he sat & has read through & he loves the dial he’s so excited & happy I just wanted to say a massive Thank you! It really is appreciated & we are also going through it together how excited Anakin is really has rubbed off we sit outside most nights now looking up to see what we can see he has an app on his phone but just sat out when it’s quiet just us two looking up is such an awesome experience & seeing Anakin so animated is just heartwarming sorry I’m off again I just wanted to let you know that your kindness mean soo much to myself & Anakin Thank you Tina - Burbage, Leicestershire - June 2020
and ...
Hi Just wanted to say a massive Thank you!! Telescope arrived this afternoon Anakin literally couldn’t wait to set it up! He’s so excited to look up at the night sky tonight! You have made a little boy extremely happy I’m so grateful Thank you so so much Many Thanks Tina
Hi Patrick, fter working all day yesterday, I was greeted with your parcel. Thank you so much, when I see my Headteacher I will give this to her, she will be over the moon!
I'll send you copies of any photos and newsletters Scopes4SEN appear in! Stay safe
Kind regards, Claire - Mrs Claire Hearn, Child Welfare Lead, Bexley Safeguarding Champion, Bexley Domestic Abuse Champion, Lessness Heath Primary School
Thank you so much, the telescope arrived this afternoon. My P was too excited to wait for the stars to be in view. But seeing the bird poo on the school roof across the road was the funniest thing to look at and got lots of laughs. I hope we can have a good look at the moon tonight, fingers crossed for clear skys.
P.S we have just figured out we had the telescope on the stand the wrong way round. We're all learning lots of new things all ready.
Thank you again, for bringing smiles, Emily - May 21, 2020
Home scholing during Covid-19 Lock-down:Hi Patrick, just to let you know the telescope & astronomy kit have both now arrived & are amazing. Thank you so much we are incredibly grateful. Kind regards, Sharon
Hi! Thought I would show you the face when he realised what it was haha! Thank you again so much, will let you know how it goes. Kind regards, Becky & Bryce
We have it, thank you so much it’s amazing! Can’t wait for tonight, an afternoon researching is in order 😊 Sarah
Hi Patrick, I just wanted to let you know that the telescope has arrived and it looks absolutely amazing. Keelan was amazed by being sent a parcel and was literally jumping up and down and flapping his arms. We have not set it up correctly and I will need what I refer to a good day from fibromyalgia to be able to work it out as we are on lock down due to health conditions. I will send you some photos etc when we are up and running and I would like to say a massive thank you for your generousity and kindness we are really grateful. Many Thanks, Dawn and Keelan Fleming
Adam Clark on LinkedIn: Gratefully received it has been too, with the students, that are in school, designing and building a cardboard observatory next week to house the telescope … when it is dry outside obviously! Thank you again - April 2020
I just wanted to make contact and confirm that the telescope has arrived.
I assembled it around lunch time and already the young people have used it to look at the wide variety of birds feeding on the grounds.
Once again, a BIG thank you. Cheers, Steve Cartledge - Meadows House, Radstock - April 2020
On behalf of the SEN children at St Paul's thank you so much for the scope!! Its amazing and we are loving it. We are currently trying to arrange for the scope to move around to different families to use to view the amazing full moon at the moment.
So we wanted to say a massive thank you, to you and your team for this brilliant resource.
Stay safe and thank you again. Chris Partridge Headteacher - April 2020
I am emailing to say that we have received the telescope. Thank you ever so much. This will be a valued resource at our social clubs.
Many thanks, Amy Warrington, Club Administrator, Space4Autism (Reg Charity No. 1141860)
We have received our telescope! Isn't she a beaut?!
We will be sure to send pictures over to you. Once again thank you, Kind Regards, Kos Choudhury - Assistant Principal, Heart of Birmingham Vocational College - March 2020
The telescope arrived this afternoon, thanks for your efforts.
It is very neat and compact and I wasn't expecting the rucksack.
We have scout grandparents who are amatuer astronomers. Sometime ago they ran the Astronomer badge for the Cubs and I have made contact again so that they can give us some more advanced guidance than my basic general knowledge. Thanks again. Regards, Ray Hobbs, 6th Blyth Scout Group - March 2020
We received our telescope today. Wow! We are extremely grateful. We have a group of children going to the Lake District soon on a residential, they are going to take it with them. Thank you so much! Regards, Joanna Hervey, Learning Mentor/ Computing Support, Marsh Green Primary School - March 2020
We’ve just received the telescope…Thank you! We’re absolutely thrilled for our children to have this opportunity! Thank you for all your hard work and wishing you the best with your undertakings. Best wishes and regards, Archana Lopez, SENCo, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Eltham - March 2020
Good afternoon Patrick. Woww thank you I have received a "First Light astronomy kit" from you .
Naome Cynthia Muzeremwi, Registered Manager, Five Rivers Child Care,Salisbury - Mar 20
Our surprise has arrived! That is so kind. Thank you. It will really help the students get the best use out of the telescope. We are enjoying. Best wishes, Janine Christley, Director of Fundraising, Ruskin Mill Trust - Mar 20
Thank you so much for the wonderful gift of the telescope. We received it just before half term and cannot wait to use it with our children. The teachers are all very excited about this generous gift which will no doubt be put to good use. We will keep you informed of how the children are using it and hopefully send some photos over to you. Thank you once again. Best wishes, Julie Lewis, SENCo, Boxgrove Primary School - Oct 2019
Wonderful trip to your greenhouse today, thanks ever so much for our lovely new telescopes. Will be sure to keep you posted on our endeavours and will share on school social media pages. Thanks again ever so much and for the literature too, we are so very grateful and can't wait to get the children involved. Frankie
Kirklington Primary School, Nottinghamshire - 05 October 2019
This is a quick email to say a massive thank you on behalf of our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts with learning difficulties for the amazing donation of the Celstron portable telescope which you very kindly sent to our Scout Group.this week. (I was aware of a parcel due to be arriving this week, but had no idea what is was)
On returning home late last night after running our Cubs and then Scouts, I was amazed to see the telescope and all the accessories to go with it.
Due to the time I got home (after 10:30pm), our young members do not yet know about telescope, as we were not expecting anything so soon, so we will be letting them know about it next Monday and Thursday when we meet again and I am certain they will be 'over the moon' with it!
We are busy finalising plans to deliver the astronomy and stargazer badges, now that the nights have drawn in and the telescope will be put to good use by all the individuals concerned.
As we live so close to an International Dark Skies Park - here in Northumberland, we intend to get the boys and girls out to observe the skies above them and learn more about the universe in which they live.
It is also brilliant that the telescope can be used for watching wildlife too, as we do a lot of that as part of their naturalist and animal carer badges and awards - our Cubs have just completed a weekend of wildlife watching at the beginning of September on the Northumberland coast, so that is an unexpected and added bonus!
I would like to arrange for some photos to be taken when we use the telescope, which we intend to forward to you - I will make sure some are taken in the light, so you can actually see the telescope!
In the meantime, I hope you are happy that we promote the fact that you have very generously donated the telescope through your initiative, via our range of social media and communication channels. We would like to make other local groups and schools aware of your fantastic work.
Once again on behalf of our amazing young people, we thank you and your team for your amazing help and support! Very best wishes, Mike Hawkins, Group Scout Leader, 2nd Wideopen (St John's) Scout Group - 04 Oct 19
I would just like to say a huge thank you on behalf of everyone at Woodley School and College, for our telescope which arrived this week. Our students and teachers are very excited to use it, and when doing so we will take photographs and tweet them ensuring we mention ‘Scopes4Sen’. If you are ever passing through Huddersfield you are more than welcome to visit our school and have a look around.
Thanks again, and I hope you manage to continue to offer such wonderful work.
Kind Regards, Emma Simpson, Woodley School and College, Huddersfield - 13 September 2019
Back at school yesterday. 'There are two parcels for you', said the Office. Funny, I thought, I am only expecting one.
Imagine my surprise when I found the telescope; an ideal teaching instrument for GCSE.
I'm seeing the group for the first time on Friday and I suspect that they will be rather excited....
Thank you! [I'll be on the scrounge again I am sure...]
James Salmon, Holmewood School - 04 September 2019
Our telescope arrived in the post today and the boys are absolutely over delighted with it, (no pun intended)
Thankyou so so much, they are looking forward to dark :-)
I have attacked a few pictures of them using it, they have watched a spider spin a web on the garden so far
We will be making a donation in due course!
Thank you, Regards , Zoe sparkes - Sent on behalf of lindon and keris sparkes
Thank you so much for the very quick arrival of the telescope. I haven’t had the chance to open it yet but I am very excited to do so! As soon as we are able to get some photos of the children and young people using the equipment we will post them on Facebook and share your website with it and another posts that are included with the telescope in future posts. We are closed next week for the week so we are spending this week getting ready for a week off so it maybe a little time before any photos are posted on our Facebook page but please do keep a look out for them in the near future!
Once again huge thanks for such a kind donation from all of us here at Aspired Futures.
Many Thanks and Kind Regards
Claire, Claire Buckley, Administration Officer, Aspired Futures
Just a massive thank you for the delivery of the spotter scope!
As of next week, I will be running some space-themed football games with the youth Ability Counts players at Parley, & they will get to rotate use of the scope for a week at a time, indefinitely.
I will send some pictures when it is up and running. Thank you again. My very best wishes, Rob Amey - Parley Sports Ability Counts
Our telescope arrived this afternoon safe and sound.
Many thanks from all of our Beaver Scouts for such a generous gesture.
We can’t wait for our sleepover later this year when they will all have a chance to explore our dark skies in North Northumberland. Best wishes, Christine Coleman
Thanks to Patrick and Joanna Poitevin for donating the telescope to Nightstop Wyre Forest. We are a small local charity that challenges and prevents youth homelessness and provides a family mediation service. It has been a joy to see one particular 10 year old learning how to use the telescope and hope that this will provide him with a new interest which he can share with his family and friends!
Thank you for the telescope it has arrived safely in school. We are already planning a star gazing evening on the back of this. Best wishes, Elizabeth Ward St Bede's RC Primary School
I just wanted to say thank you so much for the telescope. We received it and it's perfect.
Now that we have the telescope we are going to be organising a star gazing event in October. Everyone is really excited and looking forward to it.
Thanks once again Jenny Thorp Science Lead Latymer All Saints Primary School - 03 July 2019
Thank you soooo much. We received our telescope earlier in the week. We are already planning our stargazing night for the winter and will shout about you now and then. Thank you soooo much again.
Hannah and all at Bude Primary - 29 June 2019
Just wanted to thank you for your wonderful donation of a telescope for our school. Hopefully there will be many WOW moments to come...
Trevor Jarred - Enfield School 26 June 2019
Thank you so much! Our telescope arrived yesterday and looks amazing. I had no idea it would come so quickly. The timing is fab because I'm taking a year 5 group on a residential trip onto Dartmoor next week. I can't wait to try it up there.
Thanks again, I'll spread the word and best of luck with all your work.
Katharine Pemberton Modbury Primary School - June 2019
I am writing to confirm safe receipt of our telescope and I am amazed at just how quickly you were able to organise this.
On behalf of Freezywater St George's, I would like to send you and all those involved our thanks and appreciation . This will provide our children with new and deeper learning opportunities and increase their Science Capital.
I would also like to extend our gratitude to the companies who have facilitated this.
Many thanks Sandra Burt Science lead Freezywater St George's CE VA Primary School Hertford Road, Enfield, EN3 6NR - June 2019
All the scouts, leaders, and committee at KD6 Scout Group in Kidderminster want to thank you for your wonderful donation of a travel telescope – perfect for adventures and camping trips! Scouts can work towards an astronomy badge which includes identifying constellations and observing the moon, so your donation will be well used. Maybe we will discover a new star?! Best wishes for your future work, thank you again, Holly FerrisHolly Ferris - Treasurer, KD6 Scout Group, Kidderminster, Worcestershire - June 2019
Our Physics team is over the moon, as you predicted. We offer an astrophysics option as part of the A-Level so the telescope that arrived today will be brilliant for that.
It may be that a member of staff will offer amateur astronomy as an enrichment activity too.
Coincidentally (?) we have a couple of private candidates sitting GCSE Astronomy at our exam centre this summer. Life has some unexpected comings together when the stars are aligned, it seems.
Thank you so much. As I say, the staff are delighted and amazed.
Fiona Pocock - Principal at Bosworth Independent College
Dear Patrick, I just wanted to say a very big thank you for our telescope. It arrived this morning and I have just finished setting it up. I am sure that there will be many hours of fun and learning for the children using this. Already I have teachers excited about using it with individuals and I know that these children will gain a lot.
Many thanks for your kindness.
Louise Brisco and all of the children at Our Lady Star of the Sea RC Primary School - 01 April 2019
Good evening My school has received the telescope from you today Thank you for the nicest gesture someone has ever done for us As I had promised I will get in touch with the relevant agencies and I will ask them to contact you if possible Kind regards Mihaela, Mab’s Cross Primary, Wigan
Good evening Patrick Poitevin we received 2 telescopes the APSC Managment want to thank you for your amazing great humanitarian work. You are making a big impact on our young people education. Thank you very much. Kind regards AValentim
Thank you so much for the telescopes. We are absolutely delighted with them. We are currently working out how to use them, so we know how to show the children. We are so grateful for your support and helping us change the lives of children in hospital. Best wishes Fiona
Fiona O'Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager Edinburgh Children@s Hospital Charity - 11 February 2019
Hi Patrick, Just wanted to pass on my thanks for the donation of the telescopes, they really are fantastic and the children and young people will love having a go with them. Thank you Best Wishes Stacey
Stacey Curzon, Youth Worker, Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, Lark Rise, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2HS - 04 February 2019
Dear Patrick and Joanne - I thought you might like to see these pictures of our stargazing event last week. I am the wife of Dr Ger Graus who put us in touch and you subsequently donated two telescopes to Arbourthorne Primary and Gleadless Primary in Sheffield.
I contacted the University of Sheffield and we welcomed Astronomer James Wild to share his knowledge and teach us how to get the best from the telescopes with our children.
We had the most fantastic evening! We are now planning a summer stargazing camp out later in the year.
My sincere thanks for your kindness and generosity. You helped to make many children (and adults) very happy indeed! With very best wishes
Vanessa Langley, Executive Headteacher, Arbourthorne Community Primary School, Gleadless Primary School - 30 January 2019
Thank you very much Patrick we received the telescopes yesterday - they are already unpacked ! Thank you again for such a great resource Thank you Claire
Claire McKenna, Manchester Secondary PRU - 22 January 2019
It was a genuine pleasure and well worth the drive. What a beautiful village and location Tissington is. Thank you once again. I was able to share the scopes with the children in assembly and there are a host of budding astrologers eager to make the most out of them! Many Thanks
Hannah Binns, Stalmine Primary School, Poulton-le-Fylde - 21 January 2019
Sorry to be so long acknowledging receipt of the amazing telescope. My wife and I were able to put it together yesterday and had a fabulous view of the moon!
Now we can make it work we are going to involve the children.
Thank you so much for the very generous funding that provided the telescope.
Nigel Steele - Acting Head Teacher, Trinity Christian School in Reading, 13 January 2019
Huge thank you Patrick. Pupils love them. Genuinely can't thank you enough for your generous gift
Ian Roberts, Kensale school, 23 Sep 2018
On behalf of the children, staff and governors I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your generous donation of the two travel scopes and the PS1000 telescopes that you have kindly given to the school.
Judith, the member of staff who collected the scopes was absolutely blown away when she realised the size and quality of them. They will make a huge difference to the children when they are undertaken field work, I hope our knowledge of the curriculum will not do the scopes an injustice! (On a plus a member of our team is an astrophysicist!)
Thank you once again. I am sure we will not be the only school who will be humbled by your generosity.
Tracy Blackwell, Head teacher, Hartington C of E Primary School - 01 October 2018
Just a quick note to say a huge thanks for the telescopes which arrived today… They look absolutely amazing and will be a brilliant resource for Space Week and other events…
Have you got a postal address we can send a letter of thanks to please?
Abigail Stein, Programme Manager, Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity
Please accept our sincere and heartfelt thanks for generously donating telescopes to Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity. It was so kind of you to think of the children in the hospital with this gift.
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Kirsten Sinclair - Director of Fundraising, Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity - 27 August 2018
Dear Patrick and Joanne, how can we thank you enough for your amazing work in providing our SEN children with such amazing equipment. My apologies for this message coming to you a week after receiving the telescopes. I wasn’t in school on the day the parcel arrived and my headteacher was away in Shropshire with her ill father ........so.......things were delayed. I sent an email and this morning it came back!!!! So, I am writing to you via LinkedIn. We are so excited about next term’s work. I’ll be honest, it’s a new venture for us but one that is full of challenges. I think the way forward for us is if I find a suitable SEN expert who can get us started. We have a sleepover in the winter term and this will be such a fabulous addition to the whole experience. I will endeavour to keep you posted. I’m sending this message on behalf of myself and Gillian, the headteacher who is with her father now. Our sincere thanks and good wishes to you both, Carrie and Gillian.
St Anns School London - 16 July 2018
I just wanted to say thank you so much for the telescopes- they are amazing. I plan on using them initially with our nurture group. This is a group of SEN children with varied learning and physical difficulties. They are currently doing a project on planets and this will mean the world to them.
Kind regards
Lisa Burke - Moorside High School, Werrington, Staffordshire 30 June 2018
The telescopes arrived today - thanks so much! Can't wait to get them up and running!
Leila Stayton-Dyke, Early Action for Autism, Haywards Heath 27 June 2018
They have arrived, thank you again. I have already had two autistic children come and have a look at them. They said their dream is to see Jupiter and have been suggesting ideas for a star gazing evening.
Bryony McGregor - Combe Pafford School, Torquay Devon 13 June 2018
Thank you so much for the telescopes and equipment you donated to our school. The students and staff are extremely grateful and are making good use of all the resources.
Sarah Wilson - High Grange School, Mickleover Derbyshire 6 June 2018
We have started to unpack and look at our wonderful telescopes and are really excited about the opportunities that they will provide.
I will send you an update for your website very soon.
We really can’t believe how generous you have been and are very appreciative of this opportunity for our young people.
Everything has arrived in excellent condition.
Julia Clouter - Linden Centre (Primary) Carpenter Centre, Overdale Telford 5 June 2018
The telescopes are wonderful! The kids will love them. Thankyou so much. I'll start my astronomy club in autumn so will send you some pictures. Massive thanks again Jon.
Jon Green Teacher of SEN, Newsome High School 31 May 2018
We recently received a very kind donation of one of your telescopes together with a spotter scope for which I would like to extend our grateful thanks. Scouting aims to provide Skills for Life and we work with young people from across a range of backgrounds and abilities. Our programme includes awareness of the world around us and these telescopes will be made available to all Scout Groups in Eastleigh District to support their programmes. In particular I hope that they can be taken to camps to allow indoor based knowledge to be turned into reality through study of the night sky.
Our thanks to your charity for this donation.
Regards Dick
Dick Whittington, District Commissioner, Eastleigh Scouts 15 May 2018
Thank you so much for your delivery. They arrived today. Can't wait to use them.
Kelly McKeague Crynallt primary Neath 30 April 2018
The 2 telescopes have just arrived. Thank you so much.
My class were very excited when they found out what was in the boxes.
Can’t wait for it to go dark!
Paul Worsdale, North Ridge High School Manchester - 19 April 2018
Thank you so much Patrick you have made my daughter so happy she loves science especially space xxx
Rebecca Walker, Loughborough - 13 April 2018
Thank you so much Patrick, I have cc’d in our science teachers as they will be delighted I’m sure.
Kind Regards
Aoife (Pron' Eefa) O'Connor, Activity Centre Manager, The Children's Hospital School at Great Ormond Street and UCH - 09 April 2018
You recently sent me a ExploraScope 114AZ telescope, which has been well received by the pupils at North Primary School in Kirkcaldy. It has certainly created a buzz. We are currently arranging to collaborate with a group of amateur astronomers from a local high school, who might be able to offer advice, guidance and instruction on how best to operate this wonderful piece of equipment, which is fantastic. You mentioned in a previous email that you might be in a position to send an additional telescope, if the need arose. I think we will soon be at this point. If this is not possible, that is equally fine. Your initial gesture is still fabulous, and will prove to be a huge asset to the school and our children.
Matthew Ritchie, North Primary School, Nelson Kirkcaldy FIFE Scotland - 20 March 2018
Thank you very much for your kindness and generosity. It’s such a lovely thing you are doing and we are very grateful!
Jo Benfield, Hospital & Home Education Learning Centre, Nottingham - 20 March 2018
Thank you so much for the telescopes for St Luke's C of E and Biggin Primary schools.
It was great to meet you on Friday. I am amazed at your hard work managing the operation and commitment to get the telescopes into schools. I will definitely spread the word! You made light of it when we met but without your foresight and effort it wouldn't happen - we are so grateful.
We'll be using the telescopes immediately after the Easter holidays at St Luke's but Biggin may decide to wait until I start at the school in September (though I'll try to persuade them to explore before then!). Either way rest assured they'll get plenty of use.
Thanks again for this fantastic opportunity.
Teresa Nicholls Science Lead St Luke's C of E Primary - 18 March 2018
While on a course, a friend recommended your website and couldn't have had more praise for how wonderful and generous your service was. I know you're likely very busy and underfunded, but we're interested in whatever resources you can provide. We have no telescopes in the school, and only use one very strong birding lens to demonstrate some of what looking through a telescope is like.
I love space, and I wish to pass this love onto our students who sometimes find the material a bit dry. Due to various learning needs, practicals really help cement the learning and get their interest in a way worksheets just can't. Of course, since this is a passion project of yours, I'm sure you understand.
Thank you for everything you've done and the thousands of schools and centres you've helped. I hope that the planets align so that Selly Oak Trust can be one of them as well.
Trina Luciano, Selly Oak Trust School, Birmingham West Midlands - 16 March 2018
Thank you so much for all the excellent astro kit - the three scopes will be so important to the ongoing work that is being undertaken with the Care Home / Care Leaver young people.
Jan Reynolds and Nick Spall - 10 March 2018
Dear Patrick and Joanne
Thank you for your time and expertise the stargazing evening was a big success. Thank you for your generous donation of the three AstroMaster telescopes. Thank you for delivering the event, everyone loved it. We have had some great feedback from several people who commented on how engaging your talk was. From the event we raised just over five hundred pounds which will help us to support very deserving children from not only Derbyshire but from the rest of the UK as well, to enjoy a week of essencial respite, far away from the challenges they face in their home environment.
Thank you once again for your wonderful donation. I look forward to updating you on the difference your support has made in due course. You are always welcome to come and visit us.
Matt Nickson, Regional Fundraiser, CHICKS Daleside Retreat - March 2018
Wow - thank you so much for your incredibly generous donation! We are buzzing with ideas about how the telescopes can be used by the young people across the whole school, in the teaching centres and the hospitals. We will keep you updated with news of how we are getting on.
Claire Brown, Management Support Officer, James Brindley School - 08 March 2018
Firstly I would like to say a huge thank you for all your determination and effort in enabling so many young people the opportunity to gaze into the sky and explore our solar system. I believe that opportunities like this are essential in any young persons development and not only encourages an interest in science but builds their aspirations, imagination and knowledge.
Emma Stuchbury, Youth Worker, Targeted Support For Young People, WCC, Lillington Youth Centre - 06 March 2018
Patrick and Joanne, Thank you so much for your kind gift of the telescope. We were delighted with it and will definitely be putting it to good use with the students, it isn’t often we get such a useful piece of equipment so thank you again. It gives us the opportunity to make such an abstract concept more realistic for the students.
Lesley Dunkerley, Head of Science Newbridge Group School - 28 February 2018
Hi Patrick and Joanne. Telescopes have already reaped dividends for young fella with a range of issues. He was tasked with assembling the telescopes (a work in progress) and the positives he has taken from this has been massive already.
Dean Scott, Burntisland Primary School - 23 February 2018
Dear Patrick and Scopes4SEN, Thank you so much for the wonderful telescope you have given to St Christopher's Special School. It is simply marvellous to give the young people of St Christopher's the opportunity to enjoy the marvels of the sky. Many thanks and Kind Regards,
Maxine Pittaway, MBE - Headteacher St Christopher's School - 26 February 2018
Hi Patrick & Joanne Thank you so much for this lovely gesture. You can be assured we will put this telescope to very good use. It will provide a fantastic opportunity to children who might not otherwise have had access to this. It will also open up a window to a universe the children have not yet explored. I can’t wait to see the reaction of the children when they have the opportunity to use this wonderful resource. Once again, thank you so much for this very kind gesture. Will make a donation in due course. Have a great day!
Matthew Ritchie, North Primary School - 24 February 2018
Hi Patrick, Thank you so much for the telescope you sent. Kind regards,
Rachel Woodbridge, Youth Club Support & Training Young People First - 20 February 2018
Our telescope arrived and we love it. My Science and Art Teachers are excited to get it out and test it
Shaun Jarvis, WSAPC Littlehampton - 20 February 2018
Wow Patrick , we find it hard to believe that this is genuine. Special schools don’t usually get this generosity . We all thank you so much. Ange. - 18 February 2018
Many ,many thanks Patrick . Head teachers were chuffed. Children are thrilled and excited . Ange
Ange Anderson, Ysgol Pen Coch - 20 February 2018
Hi Patrick, Pitcheroak school received the telescope and accompanying materials today. The students will be very grateful for your donation of the equipment, and I am sure will put it to great to use in their science lessons and other associated curriculum activities.
Thank you for your kind generosity. Regards
David Lockyer, Pitcheroak School - 14 February
Dear Patrick, Just to say thank you so, so much for the telescopes etc that you sent to Unicorn Nursery. They are fantastic and the children are thrilled with them. I have passed you details on to as many people I could think off. Thanks again,
Deborah Tesseyman, Unicorn Nursery - 13 February 2018
Hi Patrick Thank you so much for the telescope, I’ve put it in my lab. The first thing one of our young people said ‘can I borrow it’, so I was wondering if it would be possible if we could have a couple more telescopes which we could loan out to some of our older young people who have expressed an interest in space.
Could I also ask for some more solar shades or sunoculars as our young people are keen to look at the next solar eclipse. Reagrds
Jo Chadwick, Priory Group - 07 February 2018
This evening we had our bonfire/star gazing night at school. Our star gazing club team all attended and although it was pretty cloudy, they enjoyed using the telescopes at night time. We also had two dads and a husband of one of our teachers bring their telescopes along and of course their fantastic knowledge! The year one children who attended the evening as part of their 'Who's hiding in the dark?' Topic, also had great fun experiencing the telescopes and the binoculars. It was a very successful evening for all! (Of course the sparklers and hot chocolate helped with the enjoyment!!)
Claire Hawkins Summerlea 01 November 2016
I just wanted to touch base about our star gazing club! We have 24 9-11years attending the club. We've had a range of activities for the children to experience. They've all got their very own book which they've all decorated and personalised and each week they add a new constellation drawing and facts. This week the children made bottle rockets and we tried to fly them with a mixture of explosive vinegar and bicarbonate of soda.
My colleague went on a star gazing course organised by Chichester planetarium. Her new gained knowledge is helping to teach our very keen learners.
Each week a child is selected to take the telescope home and then the children have fed back to the rest of the group what they have discovered. Some of the children have made PowerPoint presentations, brought in photographs and information about the stars they have seen.
At the beginning of November our year one children are having a bonfire night at school (they're learning about nocturnal animals and Guy Fawkes) Our star gazing club are also invited along to use the telescope alongside a couple of parents ones, ipad star apps etc to enjoy some star gazing at night time.
Claire Hawkins Summerlea 20 October 2016
I have finally got my year nine group out into the school grounds to make some solar observations and we had good success. Unfortunately when I got the photos on my desk top, I remembered one of the students is not allowed to be photographed so I photo shopped him an Iron man mask.
Mark Liquorish St Martins 06 July 2016