Castle leisure rises to the challenge in Newport

Employees from Castle Leisure in Newport have been working with Business in the Community to transform an area of the playground at Alway Primary into a sensory garden to capture the children’s imagination and stimulate learning about the environment.

As a designated ECO school, the completion of the team challenge will enable the pupils to be introduced to environmental issues at a far earlier age.

Organised by Business in the Community’s employee volunteering initiative, the Castle Leisure staff worked tirelessly to create the sensory garden with a seating area, raised beds, shrubs and flowers with different smells, textures and colours.

Local community

Lisa Morgan, Company Marketing Executive at Castle Leisure said: “The team challenge was an excellent way for us to work together as a team away from the office environment, while at the same time supporting a local community initiative.”

Richard Hughes, head teacher, Alway Primary School added: “The support we have received from Castle Leisure and Business in the Community has been fantastic and we are absolutely thrilled that so much has been achieved in just one day.  This will be such a boost to all pupils in the school and especially to our Eco Club.

“As a designated ECO school, the completion of the team challenge will enable the pupils to be introduced to environmental issues at a far earlier age.”

When asked, Reception pupils wanted to say “Thank you to Castle Leisure for making our playground look so fantastic – the new garden is really cool.” And Year 2 pupil Tamsin Hill, member of the Eco Club said: “We can now grow our own flowers and vegetables.”

Collaborative action 

Owen Evans, Director, Business in the Community Wales said: “Collaborative action between business and community is key to the success of team challenges. 

“As well as benefiting Always Primary School, this particular challenge has provided an excellent opportunity for Castle Leisure to develop team building, improve staff morale, motivation and personal development and is an example of the value business can bring to their local communities.”