Youth PWR Charity proudly announces the successful culmination of a collaborative project with Balfour Beatty, the UK construction and infrastructure firm. Over two rewarding days during the summer holiday, young people from Youth PWR engaged in a transformative volunteering experience that revitalized the playground at Riverside School Orpington, a local SEN school. This initiative stands as a testament to the power of partnership in creating positive change.
Under the benevolent guidance of Balfour Beatty professionals, the young participants engaged in a complete redevelopment of the Riverside School Orpington playground. Their dedicated efforts infused new life into the space, fostering an inviting environment for the children to engage in play.
Empowering Experience:
The young participants found the experience both enjoyable and rewarding. The project provided them with hands-on DIY skills and insights into resourceful material use in construction. Engaging closely with industry experts and engineers from Balfour Beatty, the participants received valuable career insights and learned about the various roles within the construction sector.
Nurturing Biodiversity:
Beyond their contributions to the playground's aesthetics, the young volunteers actively contributed to local biodiversity. They constructed eco-friendly installations, including a bug hotel, hedgehog house, bird feeders, bird bath, and two bird perches – all meticulously crafted from recycled materials. Their efforts also encompassed planting two trees and numerous plants and herbs, adding a touch of greenery and natural beauty to the surroundings.
Inspiring Futures:
A dedicated session with Balfour Beatty engineers and industry professionals provided the young participants with a platform to explore potential career paths. Conversations about personal journeys, roles, and advice fuelled the young minds with inspiration and prospects for the future.
The project lead, Molly Dalton, Project Engineer at Balfour Beatty, shared,
“The key goal of this scheme was to give the school an area for quiet reflection, which could also be used for curriculum support around biodiversity and recycling. Thank you to all our Balfour Beatty and Youth PWR volunteers for their hard work at Riverside School Orpington.”
Paul Fuller, Environmental and Sustainability Advisor at Balfour Beatty, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating,
“Since connecting with Youth PWR, we’ve made a great bond working together to help transform young people’s lives from socially deprived areas of London, working with Adeola Onigbanjo and Balfour Beatty, we are continuing the hard work we started earlier in the year. More great stuff to come!”
Adeola Onigbanjo, CEO of Youth PWR Charity, expressed his gratitude, saying,
"It’s always a pleasure working with Paul and the amazing team at Balfour Beatty. This experience allowed our young people to learn important skills, working directly with industry professionals, and gaining valuable insight into different roles in the construction industry. Thanks to everyone at Balfour Beatty who made this possible!Looking forward to more collaborations!"
The project underscores the collective commitment to empowering youth and fostering positive change within local communities. This collaboration exemplifies the profound impact of working together to create a brighter future.
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