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Wellsford School is turning its old bus shed into a multi-purpose facility for the community after winning $3000 in a national competition this month.
The school came second in the Powering Your Community competition, run by agricultural company Tru-Test, after receiving 600 votes supporting the project.
School principal Dave Bradley says the shed was originally used to house and maintain the school’s bus fleet, but has been used as a storage space for many years. However, the building has a leaky roof and needs urgent maintenance.
“If we don’t spend money on it now then it will continue to deteriorate, but this win gives us the opportunity to turn it into a multiuse space and a facility which can be used by the community.”
Board member Sarah Walsh says they have some ambitious plans for the shed.
“We want to use it for kapa haka, as a rehearsal space for school productions and for cooking, dance and music lessons.”
The shed is owned by the school rather than the Ministry of Education, so does not receive government funding.
The school has concreted over the two mechanic bus pits, and has purchased rubber mats for the floor with funding from Pub Charity. The next step is to repair the leaky roof and replace the toilet.
Some of the work will be completed by carpentry and decorating students from NorthTec and the project will be a component of their assessment.
The school has also applied to Trustpower for a $48,000 grant to complete the project.
Sarah hopes work will begin in a couple of months and the renovated shed will open early next year.
