Housebuilder Barratt Homes has donated a friendship bench to a primary school in Swaffham, to support the social well-being of local schoolchildren.
The bench has been donated to Swaffham CofE Primary Academy, which is located close to the housebuilder’s Ceres Rise development in the town.
Donated during Anti-Bullying Week (Monday 13th to Friday 17th November), the bench carries a heartfelt inscription to reflect the messaging of the campaign: ‘We sit, we chat and ask each other questions. We leave as friends, with all good intentions.’
Founded by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, Anti-Bullying Week encourages the discussion of the stigma around bullying with the aim to enable everyone to live happy and healthy lives.
The buddy bench donation aims to encourage positive social interactions, empathy, and inclusiveness among the children of Swaffham CofE Primary Academy.
Syreeta Rice, Deputy Headteacher at Swaffham CofE Primary Academy, said: “The incredible buddy bench dedicated to friendship is a symbol of how kindness is at the heart of our SPA Way Curriculum.
“We are very grateful to Barratt Homes for their generosity and commitment to making children’s lives better in our community.”
Simon Wood, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Anglia, said: “Having a space to socialise with peers, create friendships and be open about mental health from a young age is extremely important.
“We hope that by donating a friendship bench, children at Swaffham CofE Primary Academy will be encouraged to talk openly to each other and staff about how they are feeling.”
For more information about the housebuilder and its properties in the county, visit the website at Barratt Homes in Norfolk.
