Simple Life's cash boost for Mills Hill Primary

As part of its UK Corporate Social Responsibility strategy, new build rental specialists Simple Life Homes has pledged £8,000 to Mills Hill Primary School in Chadderton.

The company, which is bringing forward large-scale housing schemes across the UK for the private rented sector, including schemes in Oldham and Middleton, announced that it would be donating £50,000 to charitable organisations and schools in the areas in which it is developing its schemes in 2018.

Simple Life has donated £8,000 to five schools in the UK.

Each school has different requirements, however, so the donations will cover a range of improvements, including better playgrounds, reading areas and libraries, as well as sensory play areas and gifts for the children, such as books on their birthdays and theatre trips.

Mills Hill Primary School completed work on its playground earlier this month.

Previously, older children had access to a ‘scrap yard play’ shed which proved to be very popular, encouraging ‘imaginative play’ amongst the children.

As the school has grown, the playground has had to be split into different age groups, so Head Teacher Ian Mason wanted to use the money to create a new ‘scrap yard play shed’ for the younger children, as well as making further additions to the playground like bringing in new benches.

The older children are also now benefitting from a new, durable metal container shed and a host of additional play and sports equipment to enhance break times and lessons.

Mr Mason said: "One of our priorities here at Mills Hill is to enhance the quality of our lunchtime experiences for children.

"We encourage our children to be both active physically and to be creative with their environment.

"The much-needed money from Sigma Capital has increased our equipment for children and will result in more active and creative lunchtimes."

Matthew Townson, development director at Simple Life, who recently visited the school, said: “We have been working in the community in Greater Manchester for a number of years now, to create new homes for rent for growing families.

"It was great to visit the school and see first-hand what else we can do to help make improvements on the ground.

"The children certainly seem to like their new scrap yard play shed, and we’re delighted to have been in a position to be able to donate the funds and we look forward to continuing to roll out the programme in other schools across the UK.”

The other schools selected by Simple Life are Monksdown Primary School in Norris Green, Liverpool; Riverview Primary School in Salford; St Theresa’s Catholic School in Sheffield and Galton Valley Primary School in Smethwick in the West Midlands.

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