New buddy benches for Kirkcaldy primary school

Feeling a bit lonely in the playground? Not for long at one school thanks to its vibrant new '˜Buddy Benches'.
Freya, Katie, Taha,  Linda Sutherland, Murray, Louis and Imogen jump for joy as the benches are unveiled.Freya, Katie, Taha,  Linda Sutherland, Murray, Louis and Imogen jump for joy as the benches are unveiled.
Freya, Katie, Taha, Linda Sutherland, Murray, Louis and Imogen jump for joy as the benches are unveiled.

The three benches, which were designed by six competition winners at Kirkcaldy West Primary School have just been unveiled - and they’re causing quite a buzz among the pupil population.

Teacher Linda Sutherland explained: “The benches were designed to promote friendship. If someone sits on a bench that’s a cue for someone to come and look after them.”

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She continued: “It’s an idea which has been developed all over the world. It was begun in Germany by a little boy who came up with the idea first, then it was taken up in the USA.

“Now it’s just coming into the UK and I think we are one of the first here where the children have designed the benches themselves.”

The PTA, which launched the initiative, invited all pupils to submit designs and originally planned on just three winners but were bowled over by the standard of entries.

Winners helped PTA volunteers paint the benches, with materials donated by Johnstone’s decorating centre.

Mrs Sutherland (middle) is pictured with the winners, from left, Freya Ledingham, Katie Roberts, Taha Khan, Murray Sutherland, Louis McCormack and Imogen Hayes.

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