To celebrate National Construction Week 2007, Denne Construction and Gallions Housing Association ran a series of all day workshops to teach local primary school children in Thamesmead about the science of building properties.

Nearly two hundred pupils from Jubilee, Windrush and Hawksmoor Primary Schools took part in the three-day event aimed at developing children's understanding of building materials and the techniques used in creating the homes they live in today.

Ninety pupils from Jubilee Primary School attended the first workshop at a new £15 million development currently being constructed by Denne for Gallions HA on the former Boxing Club and Boiler House sites along Poplar Place, Thamesmead.

Denne, who developed the construction workshops especially for National Construction Week then visited the other two schools on the second and third day to run more construction activities based around the school curriculum.

"We are very excited about this initiative for National Construction Week.  It is part of our on-going work with Denne Construction to educate and help keep the children of Thamesmead safe around construction sites.

This is a very timely initiative as we are beginning to rejuvenate a number of areas in Thamesmead which means we are subsequently seeing a number of new developments being constructed. These workshops will therefore be a great way for the children to be safely connected to the built environment and to understand more about what is happening where they live."

Chris Page, Project Manager for Denne Construction, said:

"To have the opportunity to involve these three schools in our construction project is excellent. The activities we organised for National Construction Week were an exciting way for the children to learn about the built environment whilst getting some real hands on experience.  

"As a construction company this kind of initiative is important to us as it is an ideal opportunity to promote the industry as a potential career path for the children."

Simon Prynne, Head Teacher at Jubilee Primary School, said:

"I have been very impressed with the level of involvement that Denne Construction have had with us at Jubilee School. They have given our children some really stimulating insights into the world of modern day home-building, and have gone out of their way to help our teachers by supporting them with ideas and practical experiences, for which I am very grateful indeed."