A mental health charity has risento the challenge of bringing a newforest school to life for a group ofpupils in Northumberland.
Staff and service users from Blyth Star Enterprises have worked tirelessly to transform part of the playing field at NCEA Warkworth Primary School into a woodland wonderland after a mindless act of vandalism left them without one for the start of the school year.
Having used a forest school site located around a mile from the school for a number of years to teach children about the natural world in an environment which also benefits their mental health and wellbeing’ staff at Warkworth Primary were devastated to find that it had been destroyed by vandals during the coronavirus lockdown. Following an appeal on social media’ the community rallied to support the school’ which is how Blyth Star Enterprises came to be involved.
Kevin Alexander’ Supervisor at Blyth Star Enterprises’ woodwork department’ explained: “We were deeply saddened by what had occurred at Warkworth Primary’s forest school site and we wanted to do something to help put things right for the children.
“This past 18 months has been really tough on our young people’ going in and out of lockdown and being unable to see their friends and family and just be normal kids. Playing outside’ building dens and things is all part of that’ so we were delighted to be able to support with the construction of the new forest school within the school grounds.”
Laura Ritson’ Headteacher at NCEA Warkworth Primary School’ commented: “We have been absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm’ creativity and determination shown by Blyth Star Enterprises toward our forest school project. Every time Kevin and the team came to site’ they had a new idea about how we could make the forest school even more magical for the children.
“Promoting positive mental health and wellbeing is central to everything that we do at Warkworth Primary which made working with Blyth Star Enterprises all the more special’ knowing that our project was helping to provide real work experience for people living with lifelong mental health conditions and learning disabilities. We really can’t thank them enough for all of their hard work.”
