Redrow's charity for children

Wed, Aug 31st 2005, 11:00

A special needs centre for children in South Wales is to have a brand new playground with the help of Redrow. Redrow Homes has teamed up with South Wales’ number one hit music station Red Dragon FM to help transform an existing playground in Pontllanfraith, as part of the radio station’s Project X.

The leading house builder has kindly donated a JCB and has offered advice to volunteers who are transforming an existing playground in Pontllanfraith from a plain concrete plot to a safe and quiet environment to cater for the needs of children with disabilities.

Paul Wright, Redrow’s project manager, says: “I am very happy to be involved in this project and Redrow has chosen to help a very worthy cause.

“We are working with the other volunteers to ensure we get the project finished as soon as possible.”

Red Dragon FM launched Project X last December, in conjunction with HSBC, to offer one deserving community project the opportunity to receive man power to complete an on-going project.

Red Dragon FM asked their listeners to vote for a project that they thought deserved to be developed. The Special Education Needs Centre at Pontllanfraith won with over 1,000 extra votes.

Red Dragon FM along with their project partner HSBC and other volunteers including those from Redrow want to convert this run down plot of land located next to a car park, into a safe and happy environment. They hope this will encourage the children to have a sense of value and responsibility whilst at the same time, working towards their personal development.

The school, in Blackwood, Gwent, is attached to the local High School and has approximately 50 pupils with a variety of disabilities.

Lisa Fairclough, station co-ordinator at Red Dragon FM says: “We are very grateful that Redrow has decided to help us out with such a worthy project.

“It’s a great project and I’m sure the finished article will make such a difference to the school. With the help of HSBC, Redrow and other volunteers I’m sure we’ll be able to produce a great play area which will be a safe environment for every child to enjoy.”

Glyn Mabey, managing director for Redrow Homes (South Wales), said: “It’s great that we’re in a position to be able to help such a worthwhile project, especially ones that will really make a difference to people’s lives. At Redrow we not only build new homes for communities but we also wish to support the communities where we build and projects like this are a fantastic way in which we can get involved.

Redrow regularly fund raises for worthwhile causes and this year retained its Business in the Community PerCent standard, an accolade which only goes to those UK companies that give 1% or more of their annual pre-tax profits to the community.