Around 400 children from Port Talbot enjoyed a school trip to Margam Park thanks to Linc Cymru.

Around 400 children from Port Talbot enjoyed a school trip to Margam Park thanks to Linc Cymru.

The registered social landlord is building 43 affordable homes for rent on the site of the former Lower Dyffryn School in the town

Linc Cymru plans to preserve the legacy and memories of the school through a National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

Staff have built up links in the community and wanted to involve local children. The landlord’s community benefits grant scheme funded the buses to take pupils to the popular attraction and back to school in July.

Rachel Taylor, project officer (heritage) at Linc Cymru, said: “Margam Castle is a traditionally built stone building and loved by the local community. Lower Dyffryn School is built in the same way and equally loved.

“We thought taking the children for a fun day out there would be great way to get them involved in heritage. Cynefin, the school curriculum in Wales, has a strong focus on pupils learning about their locality.

“It was a fantastic day of fun, laughter and learning.”

Jessica James, acting headteacher at Centre Primary School, said: “We’d like to thank Linc for the very generous donation that allowed our primary school children the chance to go on a whole school trip. As one school, across two sites, it can be difficult for the whole school to come together.

“However, with the kind donation we were able to take over 400 pupils on a school trip as one school. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience and it was lovely to witness older children supporting the younger children with their learning. The day was a real success and I know it is one that they will remember for a long time.”

Linc is using Neath-based JG Hale Construction Ltd to build the homes, a mix of houses and apartments.

The homes are being built thanks to funding support from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant Programme.