Every year, students and staff at Glebe Primary School in Harrow undertake a number of fundraising activities for local, national and international charities, including Jack’s Place, the children’s ward at Northwick Park Hospital.

The school has a passion for performing arts and often build their fundraising around song, dance and theatre, hosting special events for their families and friends to enjoy throughout the year.

In 2018 Jack’s Place had identified the need for a specially designed all-weather outdoor play area that would offer patients fresh air and the chance to get active. Exercise and having fun has been proven to aid recovery and the staff at Jack’s Place had long wanted to create a beautiful outdoor space to mirror those available to children on the ward itself.

Glebe School did not hesitate to rise to the challenge and throw themselves into helping fund this new and exciting project. Head-teacher Donna Barratt explains, “We very much enjoyed raising funds for Jack's Place through our concerts and celebration events. Our school community is enthusiastic about giving support to Jack’s Place and LNWH Charity. We are delighted to see the difference that the new outdoor area is making to the children and young people who spend time in hospital”.

In December 2018 a group of pupils representing the school attended Jack’s Place to meet Play Team Leader Gemma and see the outdoor area they were funding. With a central climbing frame in the shape of a boat to a swing, wall-mounted puzzles and ample space to play with toys, the space is perfect for children – and their parents – to escape from the ward and have some much needed fun.

"LNWH Charity Community Manager, Simon Pitts, visited Glebe School in February to say thank you and present the school with a giant cheque honouring their amazing fundraising total. He said, “It is fantastic for the students to see what all their hard work and effort has achieved. They have helped to transform an empty area of grass into a magical playground for children to enjoy and, for a while at least, forget about their illness and where they are. The pupils, staff, parents and their families should feel very proud at the difference they have made.”