Buddy bench a firm success

3:28pm Thursday 8th May 2008

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CHILDREN at Down Ampney Primary School have an easy way to make new friends thanks to local fundraisers.

The school council, made up of pupils of all ages, wanted to find some way of involving all children in playtime games and dreamt up the idea of having a buddy bench.

Anyone who felt left out at playtime could sit on the bench so others could ask them to join in.

The idea was raised with members of staff and eventually raised at a meeting of school governors.

School governor and rotarian Derek Skinner explained: " The idea was mentioned at the next staff meeting and eventually reached the ears of the school governors one of whom was a member of the Cricklade and District Rotary Club.

"When the club heard about this they decided that it was just the thing for Rotarians to do."

The bench was presented to the school at a school assembly by club president Mike Noble, vice president Roger Mugridge and rotarian and school governor Derek Skinner.

Mr Skinner added: "At breaktime all the children wanted to sit on it - njot because they were lonely but just for the fun of it."