Naval officers brave the cold to help local kids

Royal Navy Officers recently took time out from their System Engineering and Management Course (SEMC) at HMS Collingwood, Fareham to help two local schools, Wallisdean Infants and Uplands Primary.

The team of 11, who aim to carry out a community project at least once a term, were keen to help with this project in particular as team member Sub Lieutenant Karl Knight’s child attends Uplands Primary School.

They split into two groups comprising 5 or 6 officers and sent a team to each school where they showed great versatility undertaking many tasks assisting both grounds keeping and teaching staff.

Despite the cold weather the teams worked hard clearing overgrown play areas enabling the children of both schools to enjoy them again after a blustery December.

They then moved indoors where they assisted the teaching staff with classroom activities for example, guided reading, before organising the children into group games during PE sessions.

The day also allowed the Officers to take the opportunity to engage with the children in “Show and Tell” sessions where they explained some of what an engineer in the Royal Navy does which the children clearly enjoyed.

Getting involved with community projects such as this provides a welcome relief from the rigours of engineering management and is one way for personnel from the establishment to engage and offer support with initiatives from different organisations.

One of the team members, Sub Lieutenant Benjamin Carver, commented “It's really important to give back to your community, even if it is just for a day. Helping out at the schools was good fun and the kids seemed to enjoy the visit, even if they did think we were policemen!”

Following their hard work at Wallisdean Infants and Uplands Primary Schools, the SEMC students are now back in the classroom at HMS Collingwood as they prepare for their forthcoming assignments as Weapon Engineering Managers at sea.