Masterstrokes from LMH helps children's activity area

Published by Jean Clarke for Liverpool Mutual Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Education, Environment, Health

Liverpool Mutual Homes and asset and facilities management services specialist Kinetics Group joined forces to help Princes Primary School develop its outdoor activity area.

A total of 20 volunteers came together on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 April, at the local school in Toxteth, to lend their support. Flowers and shrubs were planted, hanging baskets were put up complete with pulley systems so the children will be able to reach them.

Bird feeders were set up to attract wildlife into the grounds, so the children can enjoy and learn about the different species as part of their Eco Action Plan. New benches were added to provide additional seating for the summer.

The area was also painted and plans are in place to create a sensory garden and vegetable patch for the children to grow their own produce.

The school caters for children with severe learning difficulties. Some of the children also have cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism and others have behavioural difficulties or medical conditions, which require specialist care.

The outdoor activity area is vital to the health, wellbeing and education of the children and the improvements will allow them to take a practical hands-on approach to learning.

The project was funded by Kinetics’ Community Benefit Fund with LMH providing further financial backing through its West Community Initiative Fund. ICI Paints AkzoNobel and Wolseley UK also donated products to assist the venture.

Andrew Oates, Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods and Customers LMH “We support a range of projects across Liverpool taking into account the diverse needs of the people in our city and this is a great example of us helping improve the lives of young children with a fun and educational scheme.

"I really enjoyed helping out with the improvements and I'm looking forward to going back to see it in action when it is fully up and running to see the children enjoying and benefiting from it."

Karen Bentham, marketing & community development manager for Kinetics commented: “This exciting partnership project is for a great cause and will benefit the pupils enormously.

“We see this as a long term relationship with Princes Primary School and will to continue to help in any way we can.”

If you would like to donate any outdoor shrubs or plants towards the development of the activity area, please contact Lynne Stephenson, tenant liaison officer for Kinetics Group on 07771 341 654.