Lloyds Banking Group volunteer team transforms pallets into playthings

Bug hotel created by volunteers from Lloyds Banking Group at Abacus Pre-School @ Meadowbrook, Bradley Stoke, Bristol.

Volunteers from the local offices of a national banking firm have created several unique pieces of learning and play equipment for a Bradley Stoke pre-school.

Each year, Lloyds Banking Group supports its staff to spend a day out of the office volunteering on projects to benefit the community. The scheme is known as ‘A Day to Make a Difference’.

The husband of a member of staff at Abacus Pre-School @ Meadowbrook suggested that his team could visit Meadowbrook to help with a project.

In previous years, the team has helped at a nature reserve, helped at a scout camp and refreshed a village green. This year, the team (Michelle, Caroline, Justin, Chris, Simon, and Pete) was seeking a more creative challenge!

Caroline liaised with Abacus to discuss ideas and meticulous plans were quickly drawn up to transform wooden pallets into three different creations, the pallets being kindly donated by one of the pre-school’s parents.

During two days in the summer holidays, the team created a bug mansion, two mud kitchens and two reading benches, and also provided a bird table and feeders.

The reading benches have formed a fantastic new social area where the children can gather for outside snack and story time, but are also used as a quiet reading zone.

Staff at the pre-school say the ever popular mud kitchens are always busy with children making fabulous mud pies, cakes and concoctions, whilst the bug mansion is a great focal point and has been observed and discussed with great interest, especially the hedgehog hole!

The children are now patiently awaiting the arrival of some new resident bugs.

Amanda Lacey, manager of Abacus @ Meadowbrook, said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the amazing team from Lloyds Banking Group from all the children, staff and families at Meadowbrook.”

Bug hotel created by volunteers from Lloyds Banking Group at Abacus Pre-School @ Meadowbrook, Bradley Stoke, Bristol.

More photos on Facebook, PicasaWeb and Flickr.

This article originally appeared in the October 2015 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

Share this page: