Mears Foundation grant help transforms North Lanarkshire school playground
The playground at Christ The King Primary and Nursery School in Holytown has been transformed, thanks to a £5,000 grant from the Mears Foundation and hands-on support from parent volunteers and Mears Group colleagues who volunteered their time and expertise.
A Mears Foundation grant and volunteers have helped transform a North Lanarkshire school playground.
The playground at Christ The King Primary and Nursery School in Holytown has been transformed, thanks to a £5,000 grant from the Mears Foundation and hands-on support from parent volunteers and Mears Group colleagues who volunteered their time and expertise.
The Parent and Teacher Council at the school submitted an application to local employer Mears Group's charitable arm – the Mears Foundation to support their vision of creating a welcoming, safe, and creative space for children to learn and play.
To achieve this the volunteer team removed a large storage shed, levelled the ground, fitted AstroTurf, removed overgrown trees, replaced outdated COVID-era playground markings, and installed new, fun activity markings.
Volunteers from Mears' Coatbridge team helped coordinate the project so that it could be completed during the school holidays and offered practical support throughout the project, working alongside the school and community members to help bring the plans to life.
Members of the school community dedicated hours to preparing the site before contractors arrived. Their efforts also encouraged local suppliers and tradespeople to offer further support free of charge, including the donation of benches and picnic tables for the revamped outdoor space.
Scott Hoey, Chairperson of the Parent and Teacher Council at Christ The King, said: 'A heartfelt thank you to Mears Foundation and Mears Group for your incredibly kind and generous grant.
'With your support, we've been able to transform them playground into a more exciting, inclusive, and educational space for all our children.
'New playground markings have been added for netball, football, and bike-ability activities, and we've created a new area by clearing overgrown trees and weeds, allowing us to develop an outdoor classroom and play zone.
'Watching the children enjoy these spaces has been a real reminder of how powerful community support can be.'
Alan Burns, Managing Director, Mears, added: 'Mears Group is committed to supporting the communities where we work and live. This project is a fantastic example of how meaningful that support can be – not just in terms of funding, but by working closely with local people to bring their ideas to life.
'Backed by funding from the Mears Foundation, we're proud to have played a role in helping the school create a vibrant and inclusive space for pupils to enjoy for years to come.'
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