A HUNDRED volunteers are needed to help transform the grounds at a York primary school.
The call to arms is being made by local charity York Cares as part of its annual Big Community Challenge.
The employee-volunteering charity needs people to help Westfield Primary School, in Acomb, transform part of its grounds into 15 allotments for local families to grow their own vegetables.
Under guidance of Miller Construction, volunteers from local businesses and schools will work together next month to create the plots, install a water pipe and tap, chop back hedging, create pathways and raised beds.
Tracey Ralph, head teacher at Westfield Primary School, said: “Our school council found out that there is a waiting list for allotments in our community, and some of our own children do not have gardens at home, so we are very excited about Westfield School’s new Community Garden.”
Launched in 2006, York Cares is a partnership of York’s leading employers – including The Press – which matches volunteers to community projects where they can have the most impact, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Jacqui Tesselment, from York Cares, said: “We are so grateful to the Miller team for leading this project on behalf of York Cares, but we need the help of local businesses and their people to help– we can’t do it without you.”
The project will take place on October 4, 5 and 6.
John Lister, chairman of York Cares, said: “We have every confidence that the people of York will pull together and meet this challenge.
“Businesses who encourage their staff to donate just three hours of their time are not only helping to improve their local community, they are also helping their team to learn new skills such as team building, problem solving, confidence building, and leadership skills.
“The community benefits by gaining a new resource, employees benefit by learning new skills and businesses benefit from a motivated workforce – it’s a real win-win-win situation.”
The Community Challenge is the latest in a series of makeover projects facilitated by York Cares.
Other projects include the transformation of a wildlife area at St Nicholas Fields last year, the makeover of Applefields Special School and Tang Hall Primary School in 2009 and Heworth Lighthouse youth centre in 2008.
To volunteer for this year’s project phone York Cares on 01904 323482 or email info@yorkcares.co.uk
The big benefit
MAKING York a better place has been the watchword of York Cares since 2006.
The charity matches the skills and expertise of employers and their employees to community projects. Now it is calling for a hundred volunteers to transform the grounds at Westfield Primary School into somewhere local families can grow their own vegetables.
The rallying cry is part of York Cares’ annual Big Community Challenge. Last year, local firms and people got together to transform an area of St Nicholas Field and, despite the weather, there was an overwhelming response.
The Westfield School project will run in a month’s time and John Lister, chairman of York Cares, says he is confident the people of York will pull together and meet this challenge.
We’re sure they will and applaud this commendable idea. It benefits the whole community and is good to be involved with. So why not volunteer to lend a hand.
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