Merseylink team rolls up the shirtsleeves to help local pre-school
A pre-school in Halton has benefitted from an injection of community spirit as workers from Merseylink swapped laptops and hard hats for paint brushes.
Workers from Merseylink, the team building the borough’s iconic Mersey Gateway bridge, and the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board, gave a special Easter makeover to Holy Spirit pre-school, in Runcorn.
The team painted the inside and outside of the nursery and replaced a sink, to help give the pre-school a new lease of life and freshen it up for the children and families who use it on a daily basis.
Hugh O’Connor, General Manager for Merseylink, said the school did an important job, providing local children and their families with a safe environment where they can learn and feel secure.
“We asked staff to offer a half-day to help with the work, and were amazed at the response,” Hugh said.
“While this was a small commitment of our staff’s time, I really hope the positive impact it will have on the children and families who use it will be massive.
“Holy Spirit is a charity run group with little finances, and it has been eight years since the building was last painted.
“I’d like to give a special thanks to Neil Wilcock, Employment and Skills coordinator with Merseylink.
“He not only helped organise the event, but spent four days at the school painting and cleaning it up.
“During those four days he was often the first to arrive and last to leave. He’s a great example of the dedication and commitment of Merseylink staff.”
The project was also supported by Cemex, who provided £400 in sponsorship to help with the restoration work.
Martin Casey, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Cemex, said:
“We’re delighted to help with this project and endeavour to support local charities and community projects in areas where we have our operations. Last year CEMEX colleagues spent over 5,000 hours working in the community.”
Leader of Halton Borough Council, Councillor Rob Polhill, said: “I’d like to give a special thank you to the Merseylink team for their efforts in helping Holy Spirit nursery.
“We all see their commitment to the Mersey Gateway project every day with the work they’re doing across the borough, but it’s fantastic that they’re also able to roll up their shirt sleeves and get stuck in helping a local community group like Holy Spirit too.
“It’s clear to see they’re a hardworking and dedicated team, and I’m proud to have them working on our iconic bridge project.”
As well as helping to freshen up the nursery, Merseylink experts have made an ongoing commitment of their time and expertise through the Time Bank scheme.
Since its launch in May 2014, the construction joint venture and its supply chain provided in excess of £100,000 worth of support to community projects in Halton.
