Pupils at Bovington Academy, in Dorset, have benefitted from a combined project by VIVO Defence Services, its tier one supply chain construction partner BJF Group, the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) and Armed forces charity SSAFA.
The team worked together to provide a new ‘Listening Ear’ cabin at the school to enable children to have a safe space where there is always an adult on hand dedicated to listening to their concerns.
For children of Army personnel, which make up around 70 per cent of the academy’s pupils, it is commonplace to move schools many times, even during primary school years, meaning that they may find resettling difficult.
This, combined with the impact of a parent regularly being deployed away from home, means that an extra level of pastoral care is often needed.
The situation can also be difficult for the civilian students, who must cope with their friends leaving them when their families are relocated.
Lowry Stone, Head of Pastoral Care at Bovington Academy, said: “We’ve always dreamed of a space which acts as a place of safety away from the noise of the playground. To have a good friend you need to be a good friend. This project teaches children that they always have someone to turn to.”
The project included developing a part of the playground and building a cabin where children can go to find a kind and compassionate listener.
Willow, a pupil at the Academy, added: “If we are worried about something we have somewhere to go to talk about it. In break time there is always someone there to listen if something is upsetting you.”
The listening ear replaces an older dilapidated building and the work to construct a new one was carried out by BJF at cost after VIVO’s local team put them in touch with the school.
VIVO also donated towards the project as did BFBS, SSAFA, Pinnacle Service Families - which provides the National Service Centre for Service Family Accomodation (SFA) and Gavin Jones, who work with VIVO providing grounds’ maintenance in the south west region.
Bovington Academy is the nearest school to Bovington army camp in Dorset.
Joby Rimmer, Commanding Officer of the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment and Governor of the school, said: “Service children go through so much, and I am delighted that this initiative has been supported across the board.”