Team Building Challenge - BUPA Make a Difference to Hillside Special School
Hillside School is a small community of 60 pupils aged between 5 and 16 years old who have severe and profound learning difficulties. About half of the school's population are wheelchair users, many of the pupils have sensory impairments and some have life limiting conditions. Pupils are split into classes that cater for their specific needs, profound and multiple (PMLD), severe (SLD) and autistic spectrum (ASC), however the school promotes inclusive learning, encouraging all pupils to play and learn together and the use of outdoor spaces is very important to facilitate this communal learning and relaxation.
The team from BUPA International got involved with this particular project because they were looking to effectively help the local community in a way that would utilise their particular skills. The team were all unskilled labourers but were very happy to get involved and get their hands dirty for a good cause.
On the day the team split into two teams and got to work, building a raised flower bed out of railway sleepers so the children are able to see and access the flowers more easily and also constructed a shed so the school can store the outdoor equipment safely and protect it from the weather, sanded down the picnic benches to prevent the children getting splinters, wood stained the wall decking, trimmed back substantial garden growth and generally cleared the area.
The team were supported by two of the school's caretakers throughout the day who were a great help and added to the success of the challenge. The objectives of the day were clear and specific and everyone managed to complete them so that the team felt happy and proud, but more importantly the school felt pleased with the results too.
The BUPA team said:
‘We should be able to bring co-operation and communication skills back to the office.'
‘The children are now able to access the garden a lot easier and we have also provided a means for them to grow their own plants/vegetables.'
Fran Cable, the headmistress at Hillside school said:
‘It was a pleasure to work with this team, who were all willing & able and seemed to enjoy the day. We would be very happy to have them back on another challenge. It is good to share our school with new people and open everyone's eyes a bit more.'
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