The Children’s Scrapstore PlayPod, donated by housing provider Stonewater and its retrofit partner LivGreen, now stands in the playground of West Coker Primary School.
The PlayPod is filled with loose parts and scrap materials, offering children the freedom to play, create and explore during their break times.
The project also includes colourful wall art in the school’s library.
Emma Mifflin, head of retrofit delivery at Stonewater, said: “We were delighted to make these donations to West Coker Primary School alongside LivGreen.
“When embarking on the project and deciding on the social inclusion details, we were particularly interested in the sustainability focus of the Scrapstore PlayPod and how it will benefit the school children.
“The retrofit work that has been completed at our homes locally has been well received by customers and will help reduce customers’ energy bills for years to come.”
The PlayPod was part of Stonewater and LivGreen’s social value commitment following recent retrofit improvements to Stonewater homes in West Coker, which raised the energy efficiency of properties to at least SAP C, with some reaching SAP B.
Nicola Taute, social value lead at LivGreen, said: “After a successful retrofit programme with Stonewater, our social value commitment allowed us to give back to the community.
“Seeing the children’s faces and the joy it has brought to the school was amazing to be a part of.”
Representatives from Stonewater, LivGreen, and Children’s Scrapstore gathered at the school to celebrate the installation and see the PlayPod in action.
Staff also received training to help support and guide children’s play with the loose materials.
Phillip Hayland, headteacher at West Coker Primary School, said: “We are very grateful to LivGreen and Stonewater for their generosity.
“The PlayPod has been transformative for our playtimes; it has enhanced creativity, improved physical activity and increased social interaction.
“It encourages free play, promotes problem-solving, negotiation skills and self-confidence.
“The PlayPod has also contributed to a reduction in waste and is a good example of how we can re-use and recycle what would otherwise just be thrown away.”
The PlayPod will be regularly topped up with recycled scrap materials to support ongoing play.
Lucy Rae, development manager at Children’s Scrapstore, said: “We’re thrilled that the children of West Coker Primary School are benefiting from high quality play provision during the school day.
“Having the freedom to play creatively outside with others is vital for their physical, social and emotional wellbeing, which feels more important now than ever.”