Islington primary school hall given make-over by volunteers

Volunteers from Rydon, working with Partners for Improvement in Islington, took time out of their schedule to completely redecorate a large primary school assembly hall in Islington, bringing it back into use for the children.

Pooles Park Primary School is a community school located in London’s Finsbury Park. In years gone by the school’s assembly hall was hired out to an operatic company who had turned it into a theatre. When the group left, the space was left as it was and, because of lack of time, resources and expertise, the school were unable to restore it, resulting in a space that hasn’t been used to its full potential for over two years.

By working together with The BIG Alliance, an organisation which matches the interests and abilities of volunteers to community need, and alongside travel company Expedia, over 40 volunteers took on the mission to redecorate the entire facility and bring it back into use for the school.

Volunteers from Rydon and Expedia had two days to complete the task. It was a really hands on project for all involved and everyone got stuck in to ensuring the job was completed in the time. At quite short notice, Rydon’s Community Involvement Manager Tessa Shelley helped to project manage all materials requirements and purchasing, decorating, safety, volunteer welfare, child safety checking and decorating logistics throughout the task.

Through Rydon’s Volunteering Programme, Rydon staff contributed a total of 14 days of their time working at the school. In addition, Rydon’s subcontractor K&M McLoughlin decorators provided a decorator and an apprentice for two days to advise novice volunteers how to paint. Toga Hire Centres also donated the use of a scaffold tower.

Headteacher Mr Crawford and School Business Manager Sarah Counter personally thanked all the volunteers. Lizzie Jones of The Big Alliance commented: “The school is thrilled with what was achieved by the group and the incredible help provided by the Rydon team and K&M McLoughlin. In particular Rydon’s project management skills were incredible.”

Children at Pooles Park Primary also wrote cards of thanks for all the volunteers and came into the newly decorated hall to present their thank you.

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