Story time will be a lot more comfortable from now on at a village school, thanks to shoppers at Tamworth Co-op’s department store donating the dividends they earn on their purchases.
Tamworth Co-op department store floor controller Julie Plummer is pictured presenting the Community Dividend Fund cheque to the delight of pupils aged four and five.
Customers raised £500 through the local Co-op Community Dividend Fund which will pay for a special storytelling chair for outdoor reading sessions at Thomas Barnes Primary School in Hopwas.
At the moment teachers have to sit on tree stumps in the Forest School area when reading to the children. Some of the older pupils also read to the younger ones and will be able to make use of the high-backed, wooden chair too.
Tamworth Co-op department store floor controller Julie Plummer said: “We’re so pleased to be able to support a local school in this way through the Community Dividend Fund scheme and the generosity of our customers. The children clearly enjoy their outdoor lessons and it’s nice to know they will all benefit from this money.”
Head teacher Emma Tibbitts said everybody at the school is grateful to the shoppers and Tamworth Co-op for raising the money.
“It will enable us to develop our Forest School area,” she said. “The Forest School develops children’s communication and co-operative skills and helps to build resilience and perseverance.”
Thomas Barnes Primary has more than 100 pupils aged four to 11 who go outside in all seasons and weather, not just for story time. They also learn about creatures, bugs and the natural environment around them, including Hopwas Woods, the Coventry Canal and River Tame.
The annual Community Dividend Fund will be handing out £10,000 this year to charities and other organisations locally. Each of Tamworth Co-op’s 11 convenience stores, department store and town centre supermarket adopts a good cause.