Playtime has just become that bit more fun for children at a Darlington nursery.
Young people taking part in the town’s Prince’s Trust Team programme have helped to revamp the Eastbourne Pre-School garden.
Clearing and restoring the play area, refurbing the sandpit and adding a new playhouse, willow fencing, grass mound and water feature, the team’s efforts were gratefully received by staff.
But none could be more delighted with the young people’s hard work and imagination than the young folk who regularly visit the nursery.
“The children love the garden and will happily spend most of the day out there,” said pre-school manager Gail Wilkinson.
“They learn so much from outdoor play so the work that the young people have carried out will make a real difference.”
Catering for children aged from two to four, all of the youngsters who visit the pre-school will now get to enjoy the refurbed outdoor space. And Gail said it will particularly benefit those who may not have a garden at home.
Introducing the children to the newly refurbed garden at a special opening ceremony, Prince’s Trust Team member Becky James, 24, of Darlington, said: “It has been a challenging project but it is amazing to see the children enjoying the space. It has made it all worthwhile.”
Gemma Foster, 18, also from Darlington, added: “It has been a good experience and it feels really good to see the kids so happy.”
The Prince’s Trust Team programme is a 12-week personal development scheme delivered in Darlington by Stockton Riverside College.
It offers young unemployed people aged 16 to 25 the chance to develop new skills by taking part in a range of tasks and challenges, including a community project.
Securing funding for the garden makeover from North Star housing association and the Key Fund, the students also received a helping hand from local businesses who donated tools and materials.
Nursery manager Gail said: “The young people worked really hard, staying late to get everything finished and coming up with lots of ideas that were far beyond what we could have hoped for.”
Prince’s Trust Darlington Team leader Mark Hamilton said: “There were eight young people involved in the community project and the effort they have put in has been brilliant.
“Working on a project like this gives them self-belief and it is a great chance for them to give something back to their own community.”