Five volunteers from Water Plus joined staff at the academy to help transform an overgrown area into a vibrant eco garden, ready to support learning and wellbeing activities throughout the summer term. The team worked together to lay bark, clear overgrown sections and improve access, completing the final stages needed to bring the space back into use.

The garden will now be used as a sensory space for pupils, while also supporting learning about the environment and climate change. It will play an important role in the academy’s Eco Club, giving pupils the opportunity to engage with sustainability in a hands-on and meaningful way.

Before:

After:

Deborah Zaher, Regional Community Development Manager at Co-op Academies Trust, who organised the volunteering day in collaboration with Water Plus, said:

“Huge thank you to the amazing volunteers from Water Plus! They were an incredible team to work with on the day, enthusiastic and doing whatever needed to be done to help transform this learning space for the children of Co-op Academy Grove.”

Mrs Shirley Carrigan, Headteacher at Co-op Academy Grove, added:

“Thank you to the great and kind-hearted Water Plus team for helping us create such a fantastic space for learning. Sustainability isn’t just a topic in the curriculum – it’s a value that shapes character and community. Spaces like this empower our pupils to engage with the environment in a meaningful way and understand how they can make a positive difference.”

The volunteering day reflects the positive impact of partnership working between Co-op Academies Trust and Water Plus, bringing together organisations to support local communities and create meaningful opportunities for young people.