Hundreds of children from High Street Primary got a visit from safety mascot, Ivor Goodsite, as part of a series of community engagement activities run by Mi-space, part of the Midas Group.

The visit was organised by Mi-space, who have been contracted by Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) to carry out renovations on their properties in High Street and Waterloo Close, situated next door to the school.

Work has already begun and includes replacement windows, overcladding, new communal doors, renewed boundary railings and revamped balconies. The internal staircases will also be plastered and decorated.

With scaffolding surrounding the flats, and works continuing until February, staff from Mi-space as well as Ivor visited the school to deliver positive safety messages to children that live in and around the flats.

Children learnt what construction signs mean, how dangerous sites can be, what equipment workers need to be wearing to keep safe, and the importance of keeping away from scaffolding.

Ivor invited the children to take part in a site safety poster competition with the winning designs getting blown up and displayed at the site.

Sarah French, Area Manager South, from PCH judged the posters and chose designs from Kaleigh Bassett, year 4, and Jessica Nastaj, year 2 as the winners. They were both presented with a £15 voucher to spend at Toys R Us.

Shane Jones, Operational Manager for Asset Management at Mi-space, said: “Refurbing residential properties is exciting, yet can be disrupting for those living there. For children it may even look like a temporary playground and we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone understands the dangers and stays safe. This is why we have introduced Ivor Goodsite and the poster competition to High Street Primary.”

Mi-space has also spent time at Ham Green, where they are renovating more flats as well as shops on behalf of PCH, and PCH Manufacturing, who are supplying the windows and railings for the two sites.

Works at Ham Green include replacing windows, cavity filling walls and completing a colour render.
Louise Turner, Head of PCH Manufacturing, said: “Working with Mi-space and PCH is fantastic. We’ve been supplying windows and railings for two major regeneration sites in the city. When they are complete, each area really will be transformed.”

ENDS

Photo captions: Sarah French, Area Manager South (PCH), Ivor Goodsite, Lisa Saunders, Senior Tenant Liaison Office at Mi-Space and Sarah Whitehead, Tenant Liaison Officer with children from the High Street flats showcasing the winning posters from the competition.

For more information about Plymouth Community Homes visit www.plymouthcommunityhomes.co.uk