Rotary Club of Northampton volunteers making a difference at school

Rotary Clubs from around the county took 2,000 children to Wicksteed Park in Kettering as part of the national Kids Out campaign.
The Rotary Club of Northampton entertained guests at Wicksteed ParkThe Rotary Club of Northampton entertained guests at Wicksteed Park
The Rotary Club of Northampton entertained guests at Wicksteed Park

Kids Out was started in 1990 and the Rotary Club of Northampton has been involved almost from the start.

The club sponsored 80 children from Green Oaks and Northgate schools in Northampton, to enjoy the day out at the popular family attraction.

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After lengthy links with Green Oaks School, the Northampton club developed its relationship three years ago when they answered a plea to supply six large planters.

Rotarians from the club have been supporting the pupils at Green Oaks with resources and assisting with other extra-curricula activities.

After two resonance boards were made to the school’s specifications, the school asked if the club could help replenish the children’s library.

The children voted on the titles of the books that they wanted to read and ultimately more than 80 books were purchased by the club and presented to the school - David Walliams being a firm favourite.

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In 2015 the children from the special needs unit were invited to spend an evening at The Hub at Riverside, an indoor activity centre that provides a wide range of fun activities in a safe environment. Complete with hot meals and drinks, the evening was a success and a planned repeat of the outing is scheduled for this coming winter.

Members have also volunteered to help children to develop their reading skills, going in to school to listen to the children.

The most recent project was to build a mud kitchen, an outdoor messy role play area, for the youngest members of the school.

Although usually made from old pallets, the club’s in-house architect decided to build a designer version from predominantly decking boards that would be an all-weather structure.

The kitchen was completed with the purchase of pots, pans, mixing bowls and utensils for the pupils.