Fiddler's Ferry Power Station Education Resource Centre (ERC) has played host to a team of new junior recruits from Moorfield Primary School in Widnes.
The schoolchildren participated in their first safety risk assessments and hazard perceptions at the centre's sensory garden, located on the SSE site.
In an effort to help pupils learn about volunteering and what it means to be part of a community, Moorfield head teacher Andy Williams approached the Fiddler's Ferry ERC to find out how his class could help improve the sensory garden area outside the centre and gain some valuable life skills on their local operational power station site.
Paul Cockcroft , SSE's ERC Manager, said: "The sensory garden has been stripped right back in order for the young volunteers to have a blank canvas to really make their own mark on it, and ensure all health and safety risk assessments are undertaken thoroughly. The pupils and their head teacher have now met with education centre ecologist and our garden maintenance expert who was responsible for overseeing the sensory garden in the past when it was home to aromatic herbs, flowers and a range of fruit and vegetables".
Mr Williams added:
"I am really grateful to SSE for their generous support of Moorfield Primary. As teachers we are always seeking different and innovative ways to provide our children with valuable life and workplace skills, so this year we are reaching out into the community to offer our services in a way that we have never tried before. Schoolchildren are like a ready-made army of volunteers whose boundless energy and enthusiasm are infectious; it would be great to see them channel this through their support of good causes in our local community. By getting involved in the garden project at Fiddler’s Ferry we have begun to accomplish that aim and hopefully bring smiles to the faces of others."
For more information on the Fiddler's Ferry ERC contact manager Paul Cockcroft by email on [email protected].
Pictured left to right: Headteacher Andy Williams with pupils Nathan Bannerman, Isabelle Evans and Vikki James of SSE.