local MP celebrates garden launch
A fantastic example of what can be achieved when a community comes together. That’s how Dan Byles, MP, described the new Spurgeons Rainbow Children Centre garden at Keresley Newland Primary School.
Byles, MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, opened the stunning outdoor learning centre on Friday 9 July, along with Mayor Don Navarro. It contains woodland, where children can observe wildlife, multi-sensory areas and a water feature.
With the help of local people and businesses, it was created at a fraction of the commercial cost.
'We had a final budget of just £25,000,' said Ann Kopczewski, Spurgeons Rainbow Children's Centre Manager. 'The closest quote we received was for £75,000, and that didn't include some of the facilities we needed.'
Ann decided the only way to get the project off the ground was to consult local people. Some businesses responded positively and 100 volunteers, including six community payback teams, gave up precious leisure time to work non-stop on the project.
'The support we've received from the local community has been amazing,' said Ann. 'We've built a centre worth five times our budget. In these hard times it's vital community projects like ours make full use of the resources at their disposal.'
Hundreds of local children and supporters of the centre turned out to celebrate the launch with the release of balloons and the cutting of a colossal cake.