WIREDGOV

Youngsters at Tanners Brook Infant School can share their playtimes with storybook characters in a revamped play area and new reading garden thanks to staff from Ordnance Survey, Bond Pearce and John Lewis.

Volunteers worked together to develop a currently underutilised part of the playground and transform it into a Reading Garden providing the teaching staff and pupils with an excellent outdoor resource. The team also created an “Enchanted Wood” where the pupils can meet the characters from the stories they have read including Goldilocks and the three bears and developed a stage area for the pupils to act out what they have read.  

Tamsyn Dollery from Ordnance Survey commented: “The day was fantastic and I really enjoyed being able to paint on school property without getting a detention! It was great to hear the kids singing the alphabet song and showing their parents what we had done. It definitely made it all worth while!”

Madeleine Jenness, one of the volunteers from Bond Pearce commented: “We are delighted to have been involved in the Give and Gain day again this year and it’s been great to roll up our sleeves in support of another local school.  Reading gardens are a wonderful outdoor space providing children a fun and inspiring area in which to read and learn.  We hope that the children and staff of Tanners Brook Infant school will really enjoy the space we have created.” 

Louisa Westwood from the John Lewis visual merchandising team said: “We were thrilled to be involved in the preparation and implementation of the Reading Garden. The school had an amazing atmosphere and the children loved painting the nursery rhyme characters.  We hope that everyone at the school enjoys the new play area and garden.”

Stephen Howard, Business in the Community’s Chief Executive added: “It is great to see so many companies – including our member businesses – working with their communities through volunteering at a time when it has never been more important. We applaud the efforts of businesses participating on Give & Gain Day as these organisations have made a visible and valuable difference in society.”

Note to Editors:

Give & Gain Day 2009

Give & Gain Day is Business in the Community’s national day of action for employee volunteers, who give their time and skills to community projects in over 40 cities and towns throughout the UK. Give & Gain Day took place on 5 June 2009 during Volunteers’ Week– which is celebrating its 25^th year and will focus on rewarding, recognising and recruiting volunteers.

http://www.giveandgainday.org.uk/

Email: melanie.osborne@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2937

Senior Communications & PR Officer - Paul Beauchamp

Email: paul.beauchamp@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

Phone: (+44) 023 8079 2568

Press Office fax: (+44) 023 8030 5295