ANNINGTON SHARES GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP WITH MARHAM NURSERY

Children at The Rainbow Centre in Marham, Norfolk, are enjoying the gift of a Buddy Bench at the before and after-school club. The bench was donated by Annington, who has recently refurbished a selection of two and three-bedroom homes at nearby Field View.

Set to help ease any worries that the children may have, the Buddy Bench is designed to help children combat loneliness and foster friendships, something that is perhaps now more important than ever as they adjust to the changes that lockdown brings. Made from sustainably sourced wood, the Buddy Bench has been placed under the canopy at the outside play area at The Rainbow Centre, and children that are feeling sad or anxious can sit on the bench to signal to others that they need a friend to speak to. The bench has been hand-engraved with a message to remind the children of the importance of supporting one another:

“We sit, we chat and ask each other questions,

We leave as friends, with all good intentions.”

Dee Gent from The Rainbow Centre commented: “It’s so important to create a safe and caring environment for children so that they are able to talk about their feelings, especially during such uncertain times. The Buddy Bench is such an important tool to help children who may struggle to talk about their emotions and help them to feel comfortable to talk to a friend when they are sat next to each other, and how to act when they see that someone else needs support. We are very grateful to Annington for donating the bench to us.”

Louise Saunders, Sales and Marketing Manager at Annington, adds: “At Annington, we strive to support local communities wherever we can, right down to the very youngest children in nursery. We are proud to gift the Buddy Bench to The Rainbow Centre, and we hope that the children will be able to use it to create new friendships and feel more confident for many years to come.”

Annington is refurbishing former MOD homes at its Field View development in Marham. Currently available are a collection of two and three-bedroom homes, with prices starting from £125,000.