Volunteers from across the Cabot Learning Federation have joined forces to transform a tired, neglected play space at the Snowdon Village Nest site into a safe and fun space that children can use to learn and play.

Colleagues from estates teams, and professional services worked collaboratively to volunteer their skills, and found themselves doing tasks from fixing rotten raised beds, to planting up newly painted tyre planters.

The session is expected to be the first of a series of CLF Volunteer Days which invite people to step away from their day job and support an estates-based project in one of the Trust schools.

The group started the day by having a quick health and safety briefing with Leighton Williams, Deputy Estates Manager, before donning supplied personal protective equipment.

Each volunteer was then given a task from the schedule; whatever your skillset, there was something for everyone to do.

Digital Content Editor Matt Greatorex was among the volunteers, and his role included grass cutting and planter preparation.

He said: “Working in professional services, my role is very desk based, and I often hear people say how difficult it is to see what impact some of our roles have on our young people.

“After being involved in the volunteering day, I came away with an overwhelming feeling that the hard work and effort we all put in during the day would really make a difference to the young people at the Nest.”

Leighton, who planned the project, said: “I was really pleased with the work the team completed at the Nest. I wanted to try and improve the area, to make it a more enjoyable space for staff and students to use.

“We are looking for more volunteers to help us with future days, and we are also looking for more small projects from any CLF Academies that we can lend our skills to.”

If you have a project that you think the volunteer team can help with, then please get in touch with Leighton Williams via email to discuss.

Although the day ended with a bit of drizzle, it was a real success, and the transformation of the play space was great to see.

Hope Allen, Centre Lead for the Nest, said “Many of our disadvantaged learners have limited access to outdoor spaces. The work that has been carried out by the volunteer team will ensure our children have a safe and inviting outdoor area. It will provide opportunities and learning that lots of our children are not able to experience outside of school.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for all of their time and efforts and a special thank you to Leighton for organising and always being a fantastic advocate of the Nest.”

The Estates teams will be planning more of these volunteer days at other school sites in the coming months.

Keep an eye out for more CLF Volunteer Day dates in future editions of Heartbeat, along with information about how to get involved.

Staff and students at Bristol Brunel Academy showed racism the red card at a whole school event. Staff and students were encouraged to wear something red in support of this initiative.

All money raised will be going to the Show Racism the Red Card, a charity founded in January 1996, thanks in part to a donation by then-Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

Throughout the day there were pop-up sessions at the start of each lesson where students could discuss the issues around racism. Themed PHSE lessons were staged for every year group across the academy.

At breaktimes and lunchtimes students had the chance to visit stalls where they could talk candidly to groups and organisations about racism. There was also a chance to buy cakes and sweets to raise money for the cause. Students could also take part in a raffle to win JD vouchers, with again all proceeds going to the charity.

Ahead of the event, students watched The Pursuit of Happyness at their culture film night. The film stars Will Smith and is based on a true story about single father Chris Gardner; evicted from their apartment, he and his young son find themselves alone with no place to go.

Event organiser Joshua Sterling, Associate Assistant Principal at Bristol Brunel Academy, said: “At Bristol Brunel we stand together. We pride ourselves on the ongoing work we do with the Halo Code, which protects and allows all students and staff with Afro-textured hair to wear it naturally, as well as working towards our Anti-Racist School Award to improve race equality in schools. The day allowed our students to show racism the red card, moving us one step closer to a world free from discrimination.”

ENDS

Two CLF academies, Begbrook Academy and Hanham Woods Academy, feature in the February edition of the Voices newspapers. Scroll down to find out more.

BBC Radio Bristol Breakfast presenter James Hanson visited Begbrook Primary Academy recently for his weekly slot ‘The Kids V The News.’ James visits a different local primary school each week to interview pupils about events and topical issues, for a piece that airs on his Breakfast Show.

Year nine pupil Kezia Tarzey, from Hanham Woods Academy, excelled recently at the Welsh Athletics Junior Open. Kezia claimed bronze medals in the 60 metres Sprint & 60 metres Hurdles, no mean feat when athletes from across the South West were taking part.

Hans Price Academy staged its annual stunning musical extravaganza for parents, carers, and families. More than 50 students from Years 7-11 took part, both on stage and backstage, with music teacher Rhiannon Greer and Carlo Hooper in support on stage.

This jam-packed show was a mixture of bands, solo artists, and instrumentalists performing, a varied setlist of heavy metal, pop, and classical music.

After spending six weeks rehearsing, Year 11 BTEC music students produced this show as part of their coursework. They will be assessed on the planning and delivery of the show.

An audience of around 250 watched the sell-out performance, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the music department to upgrade and widen the variety of instruments students can learn.

Carlo Hooper, Interim Assistant Principal, said: “Year 11 have shown incredible dedication and motivation across the last two terms to plan and deliver an incredible event.

“We relish every opportunity for student performances, and this was a particularly special event. All our students working together and supporting each other to produce one of our strongest shows yet.

“As always, we are extremely grateful for all the support given by staff, parents/carers, and the wider community for making this possible.”

Year 2 pupils from Minerva Primary Academy visited the SS Great Britain as part of their historians’ unit about the impact of the Victorian era on our lives today.

Pupils took part in workshops, enjoyed dressing up, and had a guided tour of the ship. They developed their knowledge of the Victorian era and the ship’s creator Isambard Kingdom Brunel. They discovered that there were very different conditions for rich and poor people on the ship. Pupils saw where passengers slept, where they kept their food, and they even saw a talking toilet.

They found out that there were cows, pigs, horses and chickens on the ship which were used for food, but they were very smelly! Pupils are now very excited to learn about other significant people as part of their upcoming history unit.

Slaney Mitchell and Laura McGuinness, Year 2 teachers, said:

“Year 2 had a fantastic experience on their recent trip to the SS Great Britain. The interactive nature of the ship meant that the living conditions could be experienced first-hand. Pupils particularly enjoyed dressing in Victorian clothes to take part in a mock launching of the ship. We gathered lots of knowledge about travel, trade, and industry to help us understand how Victorian inventions impact on our lives today. Thank you so much to all the staff and volunteers who made this an unforgettable experience for the pupils.”

ENDS

Year nine pupil Kezia Tarzey, from Hanham Woods Academy, excelled recently at the Welsh Athletics Junior Open. Kezia claimed bronze medals in the 60 metres Sprint & 60 metres Hurdles, no mean feat when athletes from across the South West were taking part.

In fact, Kezia is, 2nd in South West for 75m Hurdles, 3rd in South West for 60m Hurdles, 5th in South West for 60m Sprint, and 11^th in the UK for hurdles!

During this competition Kezia achieved two personal bests, as well as qualifying for the England Athletics National Championships in Sheffield on February 11 and 12th.

Kezia who competes for the Bristol & West Academy, first became involved in athletics at the age of 11, around three years ago. Kezia started while in primary school and took part in lots of different competitions, competing in various disciplines, but now specialises in sprint and hurdles.

Kezia’s mum & dad said, “Kezia thoroughly enjoys her athletics and is so committed to being her best. We are so very proud of Kezia and her achievements.”

Kezia said: “I would like to thank my family and my coaches for their support, without them I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Steve O’Callaghan, Principal at Hanham Woods Academy, said: “We are exceptionally proud and honoured to have Kezia as one of our students and we are excited to be part of her journey in athletics.”