School benefits from donation of barbeque

Published by Craig Downs for Frank Haslam Milan in Housing and also in Communities

Sausages and burgers are on the menu this summer at a Gateshead school after a local company offered to build them a barbeque free of charge.

Staff at Kibblesworth Primary School in Gateshead approached community regeneration specialists Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East, to ask if the company would consider donating bricks to build the barbeque.

FHM, which is building new homes close to the school, went one better – not only donating the bricks but building the appliance too.

Now pupils, staff and local people are all looking forward to using the grill at events over the summer.

Head Teacher Kevin Dodd said: “We are hoping to gets lots of use out of the barbeque, especially with sports day coming up.

“We are very grateful for the donation from FHM – this is something which will benefit the whole community.”

FHM developed close links with the school after giving an assembly to pupils about the dangers of building sites.

The company is currently constructing 150 new homes in Kibblesworth for The Gateshead Housing Company.

The development will replace a rundown ‘Airey’ housing estate, which was built in the 1950s. The project, which started in 2010, will cost £14 million and is being carried out over three years.

Heather Miller, Lead Resident Liaison Officer for FHM, said: “We have worked closely with the school since we began working in Kibblesworth.

“We were very happy to help out by providing this barbeque which will be used by the school and the rest of the community.

“It is our way of thanking them for the support they have given us during this regeneration project.”