St Martins School, in St Martins near Oswestry, is continuing to rebuild after a serious fire last year that damaged part of the building and had a big impact on the school library. Many books and resources were lost, and the space needed to be rebuilt to make it safe, comfortable and ready for pupils to use again.
St Martins is one of the neighbourhoods we have homes in, and many children who live in our homes in the village and nearby villages attend the school. We wanted to offer support as the school worked to restore the space. Through our Hardship Fund and Social Value Fund, we provided new bookcases and bean bags to help create a fresh and welcoming library for pupils.
We also donated a voucher for new books so the school can replace parts of their collection that were damaged in the fire. The aim is to help the library feel inviting, calm and enjoyable for children of all ages.
The school has worked incredibly hard to rebuild the area, and these additions are helping them move closer to reopening a fully refreshed and safe library. A thriving library can make a real difference to learning, confidence and imagination, and we are proud to play a small part in supporting a resource that will benefit children for years to come.
Supporting our neighbourhoods, and the people who live, learn and work in them, remains at the heart of what we do.
