KIND-HEARTED volunteers are working together this week to transform a playground for children and families in York.

The team of 200 volunteers is working on an adventure playground in Bell Farm to help make it more accessible to families with small children as part if the York Cares Big Community Challenge.

Teams made of school children from Yearsley Grove Primary School and Huntington School, employers from across the city and volunteers from the local community are taking part in the three-day project due to be completed on Thursday.

A York Cares spokesman said: “Bell Farm is an area of York with limited facilities and is historically one of the most disadvantaged parts of the city. The adventure playground provides an open space, central to the local community.

“It is currently well used by eight to 13-year-olds but provides no facilities for parents and small children.

“The aim of the big community challenge is to give a burst of support to the management committee of local residents who are desperate to see the space improved a
and turned into a mulit-purpose area that can be used all year round by everyone.”

Today, teams from Aviva, Network Rail, Brooks Macdonald, Benenden Health and City of York Council helped with the project.

Among the tasks carried out by volunteers is the building of benches to make seating and picnic areas for families, the construction of a shelter, and putting up artwork designed by children.

Green fingered volunteers are also creating a willow den and paved trails, to make play areas for young children, and clearing vegetation and building raised beds for flowers, herbs and fruit.

Helen Green, a volunteering project officer for York Cares, said: “It has been a fantastic start to our three day challenge. People have been putting in a lot of hard work. We are looking forward to the next two days.”

The project is being supported by volunteers from Evora Construction, Northern Rail, City of York Council and the Bell Farm Management Committee.

York Cares is an employee-volunteering charity committed to making the city a better place. If you are a York employer or employee and interested in finding out more contact 01904 323482, or info@yorkcares.co.uk or visit www.yorkcares.co.uk