A Viva Slough Column by Amandeep Mangat
Every so often, a project reminds me why I love my work.
Last week I ran a volunteer project at Foxborough Primary School. It turned into one of those genuinely heart-warming days.
The task was simple: install ten animal sculptures around the school grounds.
But seeing the children’s reaction around us, I realised it was much more than that. They stopped to watch, asked questions and wanted to know who was involved and why.
Created as part of our Brush and Bloom project, the Animal Trail is designed to give the children something new to discover, explore and learn from every day, while also celebrating the multicultural character of the school and of
Slough itself.
Each animal represents a different country connected to the school community. Children can learn more about the countries each animal represents. It creates a valuable educational resource, opening conversations about geography, wildlife, habitats and different parts of the world.
Foxborough serves a community where many children come from families facing real financial pressures. It is also a school with real ambition for its pupils. Its latest Ofsted report describes them as enthusiastic learners and highlights
the way staff help them build confidence and aspirations for the future.
That combination matters.
When children are being encouraged to aim high, small additions to their environment can reinforce that sense of possibility. Something as simple as an animal trail can prompt curiosity, literacy, geography, creativity and pride in their school.
Jessica Theisinger, Headteacher of the school, said the children had been "absolutely buzzing" about the project.
"We are so excited about the animals around the school, and the children have been absolutely buzzing today to see what has been going on. We have lots of exciting plans for this. We are going to do a treasure trail so that the children can find out about the animals, discover them, and find out a bit more."
That is perhaps the most important part of the project.
The sculptures are not simply decorations. The school can build learning around them, and the children can help decide what information sits behind them and how the stories of the animals are told.
For children, seeing adults give up their time to improve a place they use every day also sends a simple message:
their school matters and they matter.
And that is where volunteering comes in.
Without volunteers, none of this would be possible. Their enthusiasm, energy and hard work make projects like this happen.
Corporate volunteers from UCB and Barclays Bank worked alongside the Viva Slough team. For them, it offered something tangible: the chance to transform a community space, work with others and see the impact of their efforts first-hand.
And when that space happens to be a primary school, the impact is hard to miss.
Volunteers leave knowing they have helped create something that will be enjoyed long after the volunteering day is over.
That is civic pride in action.
At the end of the day, one moment captured exactly why projects like this matter.
One of the pupils rode up to me on her scooter and personally thanked me for the Animal Trail. She was so excited, with a real sparkle in her eyes as she talked about what she had seen.
For me and the other volunteers, it had been a day of giving our time. For her, it was something new and exciting in her own school, something to discover, talk about and remember.That small encounter probably said more than any impact report could.
The volunteers undoubtedly got something out of the day too. But the real measure of success was written on that
little girl’s face.
Because when we invest in our schools and community spaces, we are really investing in the children who use them.
And sometimes, the smallest acts of care can leave the biggest lasting impression.
