Toy building blocks helped youngsters at a Flintshire primary school get hands-on when a top construction company paid a special visit.
Award-winning builders Anwyl Construction are currently building 58 new properties at Glan-y-Don, Bagillt, for leading social landlord Wales and West Housing and they held a special activities event at nearby Ysgol Glan Aber.
The pupils spent an enjoyable afternoon learning about the construction industry and the importance of site safety with representatives from Anwyl and Wales and West Housing.
The programme of activities and tasks went down well with the Years Five and Six pupils who were able to get hands on with lots of different tasks using Lego to create cranes, houses, construction vehicles and machines.
Anwyl Construction’s community liaison officer Olivia Hughes said: “We wanted to make sure the children were aware of the dangers of building sites but we also wanted to teach them about the construction industry.
“There are so many opportunities for careers in construction and we brought in the Good to Great Community Linked Company – to do some fun STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematical – activities with the pupils.
“The idea is to show them how the construction industry works, the skills required and perhaps kindle an interest in them to make construction their careers.”
The day got the thumbs-up from Ysgol Glas Aber pupils Leah Foulkes and Lucy Roberts, both eight, and Alfie Derby, nine.
Lucy said: “I liked the experience of making a crane and also learning how to stay safe on building sites. I wouldn’t go onto a building site to play as it isn’t safe at all.”
Alfie added: “I’ve learnt a lot about being safe and that building sites aren’t playgrounds. I really enjoyed making a LEGO house. I learnt how it has to be constructed so it’s strong.
“I have been watching them build houses at Glan y Don. It’s interesting to see how they build things.”
Leah said: “I like working with IT so enjoyed making the crane from what I was shown on the computer. I’ve learnt a lot about staying safe and why we should never play on building sites.”
Jane Janaway, Wales and West Housing’s PR and Marketing Officer, said: “Some of the pupils at the school may well be moving into a Glan-y-Don property with their families next year and most certainly live very close to the site.
“It’s important to get our safety message across and also to engage with the local community and make them aware of what we can provide.”
G2G director, Moira Lockitt said: “We took the opportunity to do some STEM work with the children. They have had to build a working LEGO crane following a step by step computer plan. All the children have really enjoyed the day and I’m sure we have got the message across.”
Ysgol Glan Aber head teacher, Paul Noon, was impressed and said: “We need to target children to focus and take an interest in engineering and maths and schemes like this are a fantastic way of doing just that.
“This has been a great opportunity for our children and I’m delighted at the way the whole day has gone. It’s wonderful to see companies such as Anwyl Construction and Wales and West Housing engaging with the community.”
