Clarion call for a caring ‘army’ (From York Press)
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Volunteers needed to transform Haxby Road Primary School grounds
7:51am Friday 7th September 2012 in News
By Nadia Jefferson-Brown, nadia.jefferson-brown@thepress.co.uk
Staff from Pension & Benefit Services Ltd busy working on a previous scheme to create community gardens at Westfield Primary School in York
AN ARMY of volunteers is needed to transform an area of land into an outdoor classroom and community gardens.
The Ground Force-style challenge has been set and York businesses are being urged to throw their weight behind the project.
Employee-volunteering charity York Cares needs 150 volunteers to transform Greenfields, the old grounds of Haxby Road Primary School , into the outdoor classroom for pupils and community gardens for local residents, in a three-day Big Community Challenge from October 2 to 4.
Under the guidance of Evora Construction, who will provide staffing and expertise, volunteers from local businesses and schools will come together to dig out plots, chop back hedging, create pathways and raised beds, and construct a new entrance way and noticeboard.
James Rourke, deputy head teacher at Haxby Road Primary School, said: “We’re very excited about this project.
“We’ve been working with the local community association and Edible York to develop our old playing fields into a community garden space for a few years now, but we’re really hoping that the injection of volunteers will transform it into a practical and enjoyable space for pupils and residents.”
The work is the latest in a series of successful makeovers organised by York Cares.
Others include the transformation of Applefields Special School and Tang Hall Primary School in 2009, the creation of wildlife habitats and picnic areas at St Nicholas Fields in 2010 and the construction of community gardens at Westfield Primary School last year.
Angela Darlington, new Chair of York Cares and chief risk officer at Aviva , said: “The Big Community Challenge is a great opportunity for businesses to encourage their staff to donate just three hours of their time to help improve their local community, but also to learn new skills such as team building, problem solving, confidence building and leadership.
“I have every confidence that the people and businesses of York will once again pull together to meet this challenge and that there will be more great tales to tell at next year’s awards.”
Businesses can volunteer in teams of up to ten. For an application pack, phone York Cares on 01904 323482 or email info@yorkcares.co.uk before Friday, September, 21.
