Prince's Trust Team community project breathes new life into a nursery

A Prince's Trust programme, run by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, has brightened up a nursery room at one of our community hubs with a two-week creative design project.

As part of a 12-week personal development scheme, nine 16 to 25 year-olds spent a fortnight transforming a previously plain room into a bright, colourful, sensory space suitable for the resident nursery at our Leavesden Green Community Hub.

The Prince's Trust Team programme gives young adults that are not in education or training the chance to gain skills, volunteer and boost their CV in order to improve their future prospects. One major part of the scheme is a two-week community project. After identifying local facilities that might require some creative improvements, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue – who run the project for the Prince's Trust – approached us and offered to brighten up the room in the Leavesden Green hub which is used by the Jack in the Box nursery.

Led by Team Leader Paul Rhatigan, the nine participants in the Team programme raised £400 and used the money and additional materials donated by Jewsons of Queens Road Watford, to transform the nursery room by painting, sticking and stencilling the main archway and adding wall decorations. The project also included the nursery’s outdoor space. The team built a playhouse, a sensory educational game board and painted all of the fences around the garden.

Thanks to the hard work of the nine participants in the programme, the nursery room is now brighter and more suitable for the children who visit the nursery. Julie Dare, Senior Hubs and Facilities Officer for Watford Community Housing, said: “We’re so pleased with the work done by the Prince's Trust Team programme. The room looks fantastic, and we know the nursery staff are thrilled with the designs and colours. We’re really impressed with the thought and detail that has gone in to the changes, and can’t wait to see the children enjoying their new space! Thank you to all the volunteers for their hard work, and to our partners at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue and Jewsons for their support.”

Katy Bowen, Programme Manager for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, said: “It was delightful to witness the smile on everyone’s face when they first walked in to the new nursery. The team worked so hard on this project, and they should be extremely proud of their achievements. It always amazes us to see a group of learners come together and become so passionate about the chosen project – they did a fantastic job in transforming the nursery. Thank you to all the staff at Leavesden Green Community Hub for making us feel so welcome.”