A play area on the former Vetch Field in Swansea has been made safer for children to play on.

Twelve volunteers from energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE spent three days erecting a fence around the play area making it safe for families to enjoy.

ENGIE was contacted by members from the Sandfields Community Association to request help to put up the fence, which was handcrafted by inmates from the local prison as part of a rehabilitation programme, using materials donated by local councillors and paint supplied by the Swansea Lions.

Charlie Hargreaves, Community Investment Manager from ENGIE’s Places and Communities division said:

“We provided spare materials to Colin and other members of the Vetch Community Garden and Sandfields Community Association back when we first started construction work on Llys y Vetch, and were delighted to be contacted by Colin again to offer further support in making the local play area a welcoming place for local residents to enjoy.”

“Here at ENGIE, we’re always looking for new ways we can give back to the community to ensure we leave a long-lasting legacy on the surrounding area, so we’re extremely proud to donate our time to this worth-while cause.”

Colin Joslyn, Chair of both Vetch Community Garden and Sandfields Community Association, said:

“We originally created the playground from donations from local councillors, however after it was completed, we realised that we needed to enclose it for the children. We were quoted eleven thousand pounds to have a fence put up and our association just couldn’t afford that. When looking for alternatives, we asked the prison for help and they offered to make it for us. ENGIE then offered to install it for us. We’re ever so grateful for their support, the fence looks great!”

Elfed Roberts, Head of Development (West) at Pobl, said:

“The community benefit projects carried out by ENGIE, such as the new fence around the play area, have really benefitted the Sandfields community as a whole. We are proud of the new homes that Pobl and ENGIE have developed at Llys y Vetch, and of the way that the Sandfields community have welcomed the new residents. Working in partnership with ENGIE, we are pleased that these initiatives have built upon our good relationship with the existing community.”

ENGIE recently completed the development of a £3.5million retirement and sheltered housing scheme at Llys y Vetch, which occupies a corner of the former Vetch Field, on behalf of Pobl. The development includes 30 bedrooms as well as communal and management facilities.

For further information on ENGIE, visit www.business.engie.co.uk/places