Young People from The King’s Trust Transform Outdoor Space at Underwood West Academy

It was a real pleasure to return to Underwood West Academy this morning to attend a special event marking the reopening of the school’s revamped outdoor space. The transformation has been led by a group of dedicated young volunteers from The King’s Trust programme, who have worked incredibly hard over the past couple of weeks to breathe new life into the wooded area outside the school.

These fantastic young people have generously given up their time to completely overhaul the area, turning it into a vibrant, usable space that the children at the school can now enjoy. Their commitment and enthusiasm have made a real difference, and the results speak for themselves.

It was lovely to have the opportunity to speak with the young people involved, to hear first-hand about the work they have done, what they have learned from the experience, the new skills they’ve gained, and their aspirations for the future. Their sense of pride in the project was clear, and it was inspiring to hear how many of them have grown in confidence and are looking ahead with ambition.

What was especially encouraging was hearing how the team took real initiative throughout the project. From fundraising for the project at Morrisons, to making sustainability a priority by reusing and repurposing materials wherever possible, their efforts went far beyond the physical work. Yesterday, they were even working on some brilliant pieces of artwork to bring a final flourish to the project – a perfect finishing touch.

It was also heartening to see pupils from the school council engaging with the team, asking thoughtful questions about how the project came together, which parts they enjoyed the most, and what challenges they encountered. It was a lovely example of young people inspiring young people.

A huge thank you must go to Kenny from Guinness Housing, who helped set up the initial meetings back in December, and to everyone who has played a part in making this project such a success. That includes the incredible young volunteers from The King’s Trust, MKM for donating supplies, Crewe Town Council for helping to fund the project, and Morrisons for their support with the fundraising.

This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared goal – and the children at Underwood West Academy now have a brilliant outdoor space to enjoy for years to come.