Two custom made ‘Buddy Benches’ are helping to create new friends and combat loneliness at Treverbyn Primary School.
Made by students studying at Cornwall College, Engineering Lecturer, Luke Bazeley explained the project began after a plea for help from the Friends of Treverbyn parent group.
“They originally asked if it was possible for us to make some simple benches, but we decided to go one step further and created a design based around the contents of a pencil case,” he said.
“The Engineering students then managed the ‘real life’ project and together with the carpentry department, the end result was these impressive and very unique benches made to a very high standard.”
Emma Knowles, Friends of Treverbyn Academy (FTA) explained that the school have a student council and are voted in by their peers on a yearly basis, who are then asked what they would like to see or improved in the school.
“This year, they asked for Buddy Benches, with the ethos being that if a student is lonely, sad or has no one to play with then they can go and sit on the bench and then other children would join them or involve them in what they are doing,” she explained.
The Friends of Treverbyn parent group exists to help to provide the extra things that are not always provided by the school. Treverbyn Academy has 210 children and additional funding is always welcome.
“The guys at the college said ‘we can do that’ when they heard about the buddy benches and the children have all been really excited about the benches and we’ve been keeping them updated with the progress,” Emma added.
“Some of the college students joined the grand unveiling of the benches and it was a great opportunity to see the fruits of their labour and how excited the children were all too finally have these benches”
Head teacher at Treverbyn, Simon Welch thanked the FTA committee and the team at the college.
“The FTA have been amazing with the fundraising and making things happen that will provide the children lots of opportunities of health, fitness and wellbeing – the buddy benches are part of that wellbeing, so thank you for all your hard work,” he said.
For more information on the range of Engineering & Carpentry courses available at Cornwall College St Austell visit www.cornwall.ac.uk or call 0330 123 2523.
