A great BID effort for Paddington special school
Employees from ten Grand Union BID members and supporters joined forces on Wednesday 20 August, between them transforming Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee School before learners return in September.
Following a fire in April, school staff have been working tirelessly all summer to reorganise and repair spaces. We were delighted to be able to bring 59 volunteers from ten Paddington companies to lend a hand. A big thank you to Capita, Convatec, Derwent London, FORA, Heathrow Express, IQVIA, Novotel London Paddington, Trend Micro, Virgin Media 02 and Vodafone. Plus a special shout-out to Kier for the skip. Between them, colleagues gave 219 volunteering hours to the school – the equivalent of the Premises Manager working full-time for six weeks, or in other words an entire summer holidays worth of support!
The support of the volunteers has made a real and lasting difference to our school. As a local authority-maintained specialist school with just one site manager, many important tasks are often delayed due to the immediate needs of our learners and the priority of ensuring access. Having volunteers with us during the summer break meant we could complete projects that might otherwise have taken weeks or even months.
Although learners were not on site at the time, the improvements made will have a significant impact on their return, creating brighter, more functional spaces for learners to enjoy and engage with their environment. What stood out most was the enthusiasm, teamwork, and commitment shown by every volunteer. In just one day, they accomplished an incredible amount, and their efforts will be felt across the school community. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of time, energy, and skill that each volunteer contributed. You have not only brightened up our school but also supported us in ensuring a positive environment for our learners.
From all of us at QEII, thank you. We hope to welcome you back again in the future to continue making a difference together.
A Day of Achievements
The day was split into two sessions, with some volunteers attending both sessions. The team from the school briefed volunteers on the needs of pupils and how valuable this day of action would be. Between the volunteers they:
- Erased scuffed walls as they redecorated central corridors and walkways;
- Replaced backing paper with fire retardant hessian on all display boards, bringing noticeboards in line with London Fire Brigade recommendations;
- Completely transformed and made safe outdoor gardens and play spaces - removing rotten raised beds, overgrown vegetation and laying protective weed matting;
- Preserved outdoor benches and sheds with fresh coats of paint and varnish, protecting them for the winter months ahead;
- Sorted and reorganised over 100 boxes of resources, making learning materials accessible to teaching staff;
- Filled a 12 yard skip to the brim in less than an hour with unwanted materials and equipment.
"Volunteer days always leave us with a wonderful feeling of both satisfaction and achievement. Knowing that our help and the tasks we completed will have a beneficial effect on the learning environment and therefore the pupil experience at QEII, left us all with a very warm feeling inside."
If this has left you feeling inspired and taking time out to volunteer appeals, we have a few spaces available at our multi-company pick and paddle event on 10 September. This is your chance to join us on the water, armed with a litter picker and help remove plastic waste from the canal. The opportunity is available to all Grand Union BID members and all the information and how to sign up can be found here.