Nearly 200 excited schoolchildren followed the Yellow Brick Road to Ferndown’s Barrington Theatre to see The Wizard Of Oz.

The pupils, aged seven to nine from Bethany CE Junior School in Boscombe, were treated to a special performance of the panto.

The Wessex branch of Variety – The Children’s Charity organised the Christmas pantomime adventure.

More than 5,000 children locally have benefitted from the charity’s ‘Great Days Out’ scheme during the past year.

The outings aim to create positive childhood experiences for those who would otherwise miss out.

Variety’s Wessex branch organised the trips for the children, often from disadvantaged backgrounds and also including young carers and those with disabilities.

The days out for children at several schools in the Bournemouth and Wimborne areas have been funded by a group of generous businessmen.

Shan Seewooruthun and the BC Club have raised more than £100,000 for Great Days Out.

Much of the funding came when the club’s members did a series of London black taxi stunts during Covid restrictions.

They set up challenges and were sponsored to do adaptations to the taxi.

The adaptations included installing disco lights, a Dukes of Hazzard horn and even a toilet in the front passenger seat.

Frances Cornelius, Chair of Variety Wessex, pictured with BC Club members, said: “Thanks to your wonderful generosity Variety Wessex has been able to support more than 5,000 deserving children.

“You have enabled us to provide these children with some amazing experiences, giving them stories they can share with their families and will remember for the rest of their lives.

“Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”

Since December 2021, when 30 young carers from Bethany School visited Longleat, there have been outings to Monkey World, Longdown Adventure Farm, Chessington World of Adventures, Paultons Park and Marwell Zoo.

There have also been Easter and Christmas parties and trips to the theatre.

For children who are restricted by particular disabilities, such as severe autism, the funding has paid for Zoom shows.

Krazy Kev, the popular children’s entertainer, Zooms in his show to particular classes in special schools.

• For more information about the work of Variety Wessex, please contact Frances Cornelius at francesaaa@aol.com
• All pictures by Hattie Miles.