School's picnic tables refurbished as part of volunteering scheme

Five employees from Pfizer went to Barncroft Primary School to paint each 
classroom’s picnic table, to enable the children to have an outside learning opportunity.

The volunteering session was organised by Community First as part of their employee volunteering scheme.

Businesses in Havant and beyond give their staff time off to volunteer in the community helping community groups with practical tasks and sharing skills.

Julia Roberts, headteacher at Barncroft Primary, said: ‘It has been a great opportunity to work with one of the biggest employers in Havant and having them on site has enabled our staff team to work on other projects within the school.

‘As a school working in the heart of Leigh Park, it is essential that we work together as a community.

‘Pfizer have provided us with invaluable practical support. However, we are hoping that in the future we can work together to promote science and business aspirations with the Barncroft children.’

Pfizer’s volunteers spent four hours preparing the picnic tables and subsequently painted them with wood preserver to ensure they will survive another British summer.

Mike Stanley, warehouse specialist at Pfizer, said: ‘I have worked at Pfizer for 14 years and both my children attended Barncroft.

‘When the opportunity came up to volunteer at the school I was eager to participate as it is my way of giving back something to the school that gave my children the best start in life.

‘I have really enjoyed the day, we had a good laugh and it was a great opportunity to meet other people.’

If you run a community project and would like the help of a business, or you run a business in Havant and would like to do something similar, please contact Janet Duggan at Community First.

Email [email protected] or phone 0300 500 8085 ext 9722.