Widgit volunteer day: Evergreen School, Warwick

April 2024

As an organisation striving to be a force for good in the world, we’re passionate about people and the community that makes Widgit who we are today. So much so that every year, we’re proud to gift both the wider team and individual staff members a ‘good cause day’ to give a little something back to local projects.

This spring, we were delighted to be invited by Evergreen School to assist them with their ‘Music Bus Project’. With a bus donated by Johnsons Coaches parked on the school green, the project team had all the seating removed and went on to install heating, lighting and carpet to help realise their vision of a ‘mobile’ music classroom.

Having made good progress with the decking area, project lead Sam summoned the Widgit team to help them finalise the installation by creating a smooth slope between the edge of the decking and the field; this would help create a seamless transition between the grass and the platform, removing the hazard of the drop-down from the decking. Armed with wheelbarrows, shovels, (and not forgetting an all-powerful 'earth-tamping rammer'), we were happy to oblige as we rolled up our sleeves and got down to work!

From ferrying the soil from bulk bags to the decking area, to compacting it and layering the muddy slope with fresh turf, we enjoyed a good few hours’ manual work in the sunshine. Challenges included some flat wheelbarrows, a dodgy plastic rake, and a missed sandwich order, but we got there in the end.

We even went as far to invent our own gardening tools, AKA ‘penguin flippers’, that helped us stomp the earth down while dancing the box step at the same time.

While we could have shovelled long into the night, project lead Sam was happy with the result, inviting us to attend the grand opening later this year. A great time was had by all, and we’re excited to hear what the students think of their new music bus.

We’ve proudly forged a valuable partnership with Evergreen School over the years; from supporting teaching staff with symbolised communication for children and young people, to partnering with Spectrum Community Arts to deliver sensory workshops featuring Julia Donaldson stories. As a Warwickshire-based school local to Widgit, our very own CEO Cate Rae is also a member of the Evergreen School Governing Board.

A huge thanks to Anna, Cheryl, Elle, Gee, Graham, Jess, Lou, Steve, Stu, Tom and Vicky for taking part. From school music buses and beyond, watch this space for updates on our next volunteering adventure!