Pupils from Strathearn Preparatory Department celebrate after securing a £300 community grant from Power NI, Northern Ireland’s leading energy supplier.
The East Belfast based school received a community grant through Power NI’s staff sponsorship scheme, ‘Helping Hands’. The initiative enables Power NI staff members to nominate local organisations that they are involved with to receive community funding. Thanks to the nomination by Power NI employee, Jack Ferguson, Strathearn Preparatory Department will purchase gardening herbs, vegetables and shrubs, which will contribute towards a ‘Growing Garden’ project, taking course over the year.
The ‘Growing Garden’ is closely linked to the curriculum and will help pupils develop key skills by getting hands on in the planning, developing, and maintaining stages of this project.
Jack Ferguson, Power NI staff member and parent of Strathearn Preparatory Department says:
“In what has been a particularly difficult year for all, the £300 donation from Power NI will help towards the creation of the growing garden, which will provide a place for pupils to learn about and experience nature. Helping spread joy whilst improving mental health and emotional wellbeing.”
Speaking about what the donation will mean for the kids, Valerie McKinney, Primary 1 Teacher of Strathearn Preparatory Department said:
“We were delighted to find out about Power NI’s ‘Helping Hands’ initiative from one of our P1 parents. This kind donation will help us to fund a ‘Growing Garden’ where the girls can help plan, develop and maintain a herb garden, some vegetables and bigger shrubs to observe throughout the seasons. With budgets under pressure more than ever, we are grateful for Power NI’s kind donation.”
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