East Suffolk Council
Councillor’s community funding pot helps realise ‘Zen Den’ vision for school
A calming corner of an East Suffolk school has been unveiled to give pupils a peaceful place to unwind.
East Suffolk Councillor Mark Packard donated £3,000 of Enabling Communities Budget funding towards the new ‘Zen Den’ at Birchwood Primary School – in his Martlesham and Purdis Farm ward.
The custom-built cabin contains a variety of tools and furnishings designed to give pupils safe, supervised sanctuary from stress, anxiety and other emotions.
Cllr Packard, who officially opened the new space alongside school governor Paul Firman, said:
“I was happy to use my Enabling Communities Budget to help Birchwood Primary School Parent Teacher Friends Association fund this worthwhile project.
“This new Zen Den provides a sensory setting for pupils to make use of when feeling overwhelmed.
“Projects like these acknowledge the importance of children’s wellbeing as a key part of their safety, happiness and development.
“Looking after the welfare of our young children has always been important, but in the modern age and with the impact of covid, schools like Birchwood are leading the way in finding extra ways to help their children.”
Paul Firman MBE, Governor for The Partnership of Birchwood and Holbrook Primary Schools, added:
“I have been involved in many fundraising projects, but I have never witnessed such a much-needed project fund raise so quickly. There is no doubt that Cllr Packard’s contribution gave us an injection of funds that really spurred us on to meet our goal and got this worthwhile project up and running to meet the needs for the wellbeing of the Birchwood community.”
Each of East Suffolk Council’s 55 elected members has an Enabling Communities Budget to support activities delivered by community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations.
A total of £412,500 has been allocated from New Homes Bonus, generated through new housing development in the district, for 2024/2025 – giving each councillor a budget of £7,500 to spend on community projects, or to develop new projects in their ward to tackle local need.
Projects have previously included village hall refurbishments, one-off events to benefit the wider community, youth groups and activities, and the purchase of play equipment and defibrillators.