Community Spirit Transforms School Play Areas

On Friday 8th May, employees from United Utilities and OCU Group generously gave their time to organise a volunteering day at our school. A large team arrived ready to work hard, renewing the track around the field and replacing the bark in the children’s play areas. Their enthusiasm, kindness and willingness to support our school community made a huge difference and was truly appreciated by everyone. Governors and a representative from the school PTFA also came to show support and thank the volunteers.

As a small school with a limited budget and only one site maintenance officer, who works for just two hours each day, projects of this size can be very difficult for us to complete on our own. Over time, the track had become worn, muddy and slippery, making playtimes challenging for the children and creating safety concerns. The play areas also needed refreshing so that the children could enjoy them safely and comfortably. Thanks to the incredible support from the volunteers, these areas have now been transformed into spaces that are safe, welcoming and enjoyable for all.

Throughout the day, the children were fascinated to watch the transformation taking place. They were excited to see so many people working together to improve their school environment and could already imagine themselves using the new track and refreshed play areas. The improvements will have a lasting impact on daily school life. The children are now able to run, walk and play more safely, while staff and parents are relieved that muddy clothes and slippery surfaces will no longer be a regular problem after every playtime.

The new track will also support the children’s health and wellbeing by encouraging them to be active outdoors in all seasons. It provides opportunities for exercise, outdoor learning and quiet reflection during the school day. For many of our children, these outdoor spaces are an important part of their school experience, and having them renewed so beautifully means a great deal to us all.

We are incredibly grateful that the community came together to support our school in such a meaningful way. The generosity, teamwork and care shown by the volunteers have made 100 children very happy. Their hard work has created a safer, cleaner and more enjoyable environment for our children, and the positive impact of their kindness will be felt for many years to come.