Strand on the Green Junior School unveils new playground art project

The boards were created by students in collaboration with local artists; credit: TimeGivers

Community joint effort  

Strand on the Green Junior School has unveiled its colourful new playground, the result of a months-long project involving students, local artists and volunteers, .

The art project was led by Flora Hesketh from TimeGivers—a charity who create volunteering opportunities for children, hoping to inspire them to give back to their community and the planet.

Photographs: TimeGivers

Flora said:

“This was a true collaboration between the school, the students, and some wonderful artists who gave up their time to run workshops with the students to come up with designs for artworks for their playground.”

The children’s designs were photographed and printed onto aluminium boards with the help of sign manufacturing company Lavastar.

Children were inspired by workshops with local artists; Photograph TimeGivers

Teaching children to give back

Kate Deighton, founder of TimeGivers, said: “Our platform is all about children doing good. The point of what we do is that there always has to be a double bounce. The idea is that we teach children a new skill, and then they bounce it back to the community.

“Although this project is different because the children were volunteering in their own playground, this is something that affects all the children there.”

TimeGivers have worked with Strand on the Green for a couple years, and were keen to get involved when the school approached them for help with the playground.

With a grant from the Beaverbrook Foundation, the charity arranged for local artists Jack Hilton, Tilly Power, Mary Wintour and Rose Electra Harris to hold workshops with the children.

In total, 27 aluminium boards were unveiled at a celebratory event held earlier this month, attended by local councillors and Amy Croft, Mayor of Hounslow.

The Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Amy Croft, alongside fellow Riverside ward councillors Gabriella Giles and Peter Thompson at the opening; Photograph TimeGivers

Ensuring accessibility

TimeGivers also worked to rejuvenate the school’s secret garden, which was completely overgrown when the project began. The space now has a new shed and a designated reading corner.

Kate also said it was important that the new playground was accessible for all students, including those with special educational needs.

Strand on the Green Junior School is home to the Swan Centre, a separate educational unit that caters for children with autism.

Pupils at the Swan Centre use the same playground as the mainstream school, and so TimeGivers wanted to ensure there were quiet spaces to support everyone.