Volunteers from Leeds Building Society braved heavy rain to revamp the large outdoor area at a West Yorkshire school.

The site at Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School includes vegetable beds, sheds, an outdoor stage and multiple seating areas.

The area had become overgrown, so the Society’s intermediary team cleaned and tidied it for winter, ready for the children to use again in the spring.

“When I saw the revamped outdoor area, which the children call Narnia, I was staggered at the difference,” said Kay Newton, school business manager at Norristhorpe Junior and Infant School.

“The Leeds Building Society volunteers did a fantastic job in just a few short hours, although I am sure it felt like forever up there when the rain started to come down.”

The 20 intermediary corporate accounts team colleagues took advantage of the mutual’s volunteering scheme, which allows all employees a day’s paid leave each year to help in the community.

“We had an amazing day and the staff at the school really appreciated our efforts. It was strenuous but satisfying, especially when you could see the completed work,” said Tony Raine, intermediary corporate accounts team manager.

“It was a great team building exercise, and we all enjoyed working and interacting with people outside our normal environments. We found the activities, which will make a real difference to a large number of children, challenging and rewarding.”