PROUD volunteers have marked the end of a three-day challenge to transform an unused playing field into an outdoor classroom and garden.

Over 150 volunteers from businesses around York were involved in the Big Community Challenge at the Greenfields site off Haxby Road, which was organised by York Cares.

Kate Harper, from York Cares, said: “It’s looking very muddy, but very good. We’ve had all hands on deck trying to get the last bits finished.

“It’s all gone as it should have done, with the exception of the weather. Everyone has worked really hard and got incredibly mucky, but they all carried on.”

The site now has raised and level flowerbeds, a sheltered structure in the centre, and a handpainted sign over the entrance, with more artwork from Haxby Road Primary School expected for the fences.

James Rourke, deputy headteacher at the school, said the staff and pupils were “over the moon” with the development, which will be used all year round.

He said: “We’d never have been able to do it ourselves.

“I’ve been there every day to speak to the volunteers and it’s remarkable. It’s more than we could ever have dreamed of.”

Materials for the project have been donated by MKM Building Supplies, while volunteers from City of York Council, Network Rail, DE Ford, Aviva, the University of York and TSYS, The Press, Benenden Healthcare, Coalters, Evora Construction, FERA, HE Academy, Langleys, North Yorkshire Police, Pension and Benefit Services, Tesco Askham Bar, Wipro Technologies, York Marriott Hotel, and York St John University took part in the event.

Steve Hughes, editor of the Press and a Director of York Cares, said:” This is the first Big Community Challenge that I have actually taken part in And it was really nice to join in with so many other volunteers to do a little bit of work that will make such a big difference to the local community.

“So many employers gave staff time off to take part, so this was York sharing it’s caring side. What we now hope is that other employers in the city will want to find out what York Cares is all about.”

To find out more about this project, or other work carried out throughout the year by York Cares and its volunteers, go to yorkcares.co.uk or phone 01904 323482.

 

York cares says thank to volunteers who took part in the Big Community Challenge

On behalf of York Cares and the Greenfields School and Community Association, I’d like to pass on a HUGE thank you for your support with the York Cares Big Community Challenge. If you were part of a team, please can you pass this to any colleagues who volunteered with you? Thanks to your help we successfully completed the project on Thursday afternoon and opened the site at a celebration event with the Lord Mayor.

In just 3 days we welcomed 150 volunteers from business, secondary schools and the local community. Together we cut back a lot of overgrown vegetation, dug over plots for growing veg, built raised beds, laid a pathway, designed a new sign for the site and built an outdoor classroom. Attached are photos of the site before and after, with many more available to see through the links below to articles in The Press.

Haxby Road Primary School is delighted with the results and what volunteers achieved. Acting Head, Mrs Golightly said “It is a vision coming into being. We now have so many opportunities that can’t be provided within the four walls of the classroom. A huge thank you to absolutely everyone who has been involved.” The Community Association, who will continue to support the school with the site, were also delighted to see so many volunteers giving up their time and getting stuck in.

York Cares will continue to support the Greenfields site with other volunteering projects planned for the future. The School and Community Association extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to visit though – please pop by anytime to see what’s growing!