London cab drivers raise £1,200 for Norwood specialist children’s shower

London taxi drivers have raised more than £1,200 for Norwood for a specialist children’s shower, rekindling an 89-year old relationship with the Jewish charity.

The donation from the London Taxi Drivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children was made to Norwood’s Bucket and Spades children’s service in East Finchley, which supports youngsters with special needs.

The money will buy a specialised shower chair, which the charity described as “a crucial piece of equipment that allows the young people who use the home to bathe safely and comfortably”.

A relationship between the city’s cabbies and Norwood began almost 90 years ago, when taxi driver Mick Cohen decided to help the charity that raised him in a Jewish orphanage, enlisting the help of 12 other drivers to raise money.

“We chose Norwood because of the incredible shared history between the two organisations,” said LTFUC honorary secretary Malcolm Shaffron.

“As we approach our 90th anniversary in 2018, it’s great to re-visit the relationship that started it all. It’s also great to come to a service like this and see directly what difference our donation will make.”

Buckets and Spades home manager Annette Shimoni said: “Donations like this are absolutely crucial. We receive some funding but it only covers staffing costs, so for everything else here we rely on the generosity of people like LTFUC. This shower chair will do a lot of good as it will allow people to shower safely.”