A sales and service centre in Kings Langley have chosen to make Breakespeare School their social and charitable responsibility for 2015.

Following a visit earlier this year, Swagelok London, based in Kingley Park, Station Road, believed they could make a real difference to pupils attending the Abbots Langley community day school for children with severe learning difficulties.

The company met the children at the school before Christmas, and were so touched, it became their focus in the run up to Christmas to provide each child in the school with a present. In two weeks, Swagelok raised £780 for the school to buy the presents through donations, a tombolo and a Christmas jumper day.

Mark Beesley, Marketing and Communications Manager at Swagelok London, said: "As a company we have wanted to get involved in the local community, something we felt we should do to put something back into the community where we live and work. To this end, we identified local schools as a great way of foing this and made contact with three of them.

"On our visit to Breakspeare School, it was obvious that their need for our support was the greatest. With such a high ratio of adults per child required restrictions on government funding and vital work to be done. We saw instantly the value we could bring to the school."

The money the company raised at Christmas was an extra and not part of their charitable responsibility for 2015. This was something the associates wanted to do on their own, separately from the company.

Mr Beesley added: "Our plan is to create a project team who will re-visit the school to identify the requirements for our support for the year ahead. The areas we will focus our aid to the school will fall into three areas. People - providing resources to do things where we have the skill or ability, fundraising - through events, raffles, dress down days, and donations, contributions and awareness - financial support, equipment.

"As a company, we are really proud that we can do something for the children and staff at the school and are really looking forward to making a real difference to their lives."

Caroline Day-Lewis, Deputy Head Teacher at the school, said: "The pupils, staff and parents at Breakspeare School have been delighted with the support we have had from Swagelok. They provided funds for us to purchase every child in the school a special Christmas present, appropriate to their individual ability. With the present was a hand written card to each child and their family making it a truly special and thoughtful gift."