30/03/10 - Woodcock Street Time Capsule Burried

Tony Hyde, Managing Director of Thomas Vale, added: “At Thomas Vale, we are strongly committed to helping the local community through our construction projects and Woodcock Street is a prime example.

“It’s great to see that so many young people benefiting – not just through a range of exciting learning opportunities over the next 12 months but also through better services and improved workplaces for the future.”

This has been an important and exciting event for the children – the future talent of Birmingham – as it has helped them to understand more about topics such as the working environment, construction, technology and sustainability.

Cllr Les Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “I’d like to thank the children from the schools involved. By taking part in events such as this, these children are helping to shape the future of Birmingham and of the council. Their enthusiasm and creativity shows a taste of the skills and energy we can look forward to.”

“And I’m very excited about the future for our city and the way in which the council will deliver its services. The new building, here are Woodcock Street, along with our new workspace at buildings such as Lancaster Circus and Lifford House, will help employees deliver a much needed improvement in services to our children.”

The schools involved are Cherry Orchard Primary, William Cowper Primary, St Vincent’s Primary, Cromwell Junior, St Joseph’s Primary (Nechells).

Over the last month children from each of the schools have been preparing material for the time capsule, which includes artwork, photographs and items of school uniform.

At the event, the pupils helped to bury the time capsule safely within the foundations so that in years to come, should the time capsule be excavated, a future generation of young people can get a snapshot of what school life was like in 2010.

The event also marked the start of a wider programme of involvement from local schools, colleges and universities in this community building project.

Charlotte Davis, head teacher of William Cowper School said: “The scale and importance of the project, combined with the benefits it will bring for the community, make it a perfect opportunity for my pupils to gain invaluable learning and experience, and this could even be the catalyst for a future career in construction.

“For some, the building could be their workplace of the future.”

Importantly the wider programme will see children learn the importance of site safety and the dangers associated with a construction site.”

Thomas Vale Construction, the contractors on the project liaised with the schools and provided a series of safety presentations, which gave them an invaluable insight into what is involved in major building works.