LilaConnect is bringing the fastest, most reliable internet connection to swathes of the UK over the next few years and we are pleased to say our full fibre network build started in Colchester earlier this year.
With every new project, our community engagement team like to make sure we go above and beyond to create a strong and lasting relationship with the communities in which we work, reaching out to residents and businesses alike to see where we can help…
Paxman Academy
Local school, Paxman Academy was close to one of our network build sites and so with a safety-first mentality, our eager team reached out to the school with the hope we could engage the children by presenting our on-site safety tips. We set out for our first meeting with the Academy, meeting Melissa, a member of staff. Although she was keen for us to push forward our safety message she quickly let us know about the Academy’s future plans to create a reflective garden on the premises. The garden would be for students to use as a safe space and for teachers to conduct outside learning.
A very special garden
The garden idea also had another, rather new and special significance…
During the pandemic a number of Paxman Academy’s parents, grandparents and school staff became ill with COVID-19 and a great many more suffered poor mental health due to the numerous lengthy lockdowns. A safe space to enjoy some alone time to reflect or talk with teachers or friends coupled with the mental health benefits of time outdoors was needed more than ever.
We have all felt the effects of the pandemic in one way or another and so LilaConnect wanted to help make this outdoor haven a reality. Our team immediately called a meeting with our Colchester network build contractors to see if they would be willing to volunteer some time, labour and materials in order to complete the garden. Amazingly, each and every firm contributed generously and so, project Paxman Academy was a go!
Kicking-off the garden build
It was decided that the build should commence over the school holidays, this would limit disruption as much as possible. And so, on the 9th August, 2021, the garden build began and we had a lot to do.
Incredibly, the project only took around two weeks to complete, at a cost of approximately £10k, all covered by donated materials and labour. Today, we are extremely proud to say the garden is ready and waiting to be unveiled to the school, a feat that wouldn’t have been possible without the generous donations provided by the fantastic local community.
Our relationship with the school won’t end here. It is our goal to turn this project into a legacy project with our next steps being to create a ‘walk of fame’ leading from the school towards the garden. We also have plans to create and bury a student time-capsule containing letters from current students which can be opened and read in 20 years’ time. After the last couple of years we have had, we think you’ll agree it will be incredibly interesting for future students to look back and read first-hand accounts of such a poignant time in history.
A big thank you!
As a company and team we are incredibly proud of the work we have undertaken so far for Paxman Academy and would like to thank everyone who has shown unbelievable generosity contributing to this project with special thanks going to our contractors Stauntons, Jim Richardson Traffic Management and Fosters and Birch Technical, who kindly donated time, labour and materials.
We would also like to say a big thank you to the 250,year 8 students who our team initially spoke to about our Network Build Site Safety. These students kindly helped to create a range of safety awareness posters which we will gladly use throughout our network build sites across Colchester, keep an eye out!
