08 May 2007 00:00 Herefordshire school gets adventure equipment thanks to Central Networks

Much Birch C of E Primary School will be installing a climbing and adventure unit after winning a grant from Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England.

The company, part of E.ON UK, has donated £2,500 to the school to install a ‘gnome wood’ climbing unit which will provide an interactive space within the playground for the children to play in. This will complete a redevelopment and landscape project which the school began in 2004.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager for Central Networks, said: “This is a great project that will help the children to play safely while also having fun.

“What made it even more appealing to us was that the wider local community is also going to benefit as many of those attending the play schemes which are run by the nursery are local children.

“We’re delighted to be able to help such a worthwhile project and would encourage more local groups to apply for funding to help improve their community and environment.”

The project is one of the winning applicants for Central Network’s £70,000 Safer Environment Fund, which makes money available for projects that demonstrate they will have a lasting and positive effect on the local environment.

Andy Scase, a member of the school’s playground committee, said: “At present the area is underutilised because there’s nothing to play with or to climb on.

“Installing the ‘gnome wood’ will mean that there will be more areas in the playground for the children to play in, and it will also help to reduce the minor bumps and disagreements that can result from overcrowding.

“By participating in adventurous activity the children will develop social skills through waiting of turns and helping others, as well as become comfortable with their physical abilities. This will help them to develop the ability to assess risk in their everyday lives and also to build up confidence and self-esteem.”

The new fund for 2007 is open to all local community groups and not-for-profit organisations with their own bank account located in the Central Networks distribution region, which covers central England. Groups can apply for grants of up to £2,500.

For more information, and to download an application form, visit www.central-networks.co.uk/sef.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Boarders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For more information contact:
Deanna Mooney on 02476 183 678
A selection of Central Networks images are available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under Distribution