Transforming no- mans land to swing ball heaven… its amazing what you can achieve with a little help from your friends. GE Money, one of the UK's leading consumer finance providers, based in Leeds spent a week revamping unused land for young people with behavioural problems at Burley Park Referral Unit in Burley.

Thirteen staff from GE Money's Human Resources department, worked alongside teenagers and staff from Burley Park to install two large swingball areas. The 11 to 14 year olds attend Burley Park to help them on their rehabilitation journey back into mainstream education and constructive play, teambuilding, is an important part of that.

Simon Bean, Headmaster of Burley Park Referral Unit, said, "One of the most common characteristics of the young people we see here is that they have not had family situations in which normal play has been experienced. This has a profound and limiting impact on their social skills. So we see constructive play as helpful in allowing the young people to play with each other and with adults in ways that are fun and safe. It enables them to develop social skills in turn-taking, team work, understanding of rules, winning and losing. GE Money has made an important contribution to our ability to fulfil the above agenda and without their help would not have been able to implement the new facilities for the children".

Ian McAleese, HR Manager at GE Money, said, "It's been extremely worthwhile helping Burley which receives scant financial support. It was rewarding too , working alongside the young people. Their level of commitment was impressive. Young people who fall out of mainstream school badly need opportunities like this to be able to demonstrate true potential."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

BURLEY PARK
The school makeover is not just confined to the playground. Over the past few years Burley Park has worked hard to raise standards within the school, areas that were previously deemed poor by Ofsted have now been graded as 'outstanding'. The school has also enjoyed major success with re integrating children back into the mainstream schools and recently submitted its portfolio of evidence in its application for the 'Stephen Lawrence Award', which supports schools efforts in achieving racial harmony and multiculturalism. The school continues to go from strength to strength, providing a place where pupils can feel safe, learn and most importantly, have fun.

Further information - GE Money (UK) Media Relations: Robert Buller - 020 7853 1831 Email: robert.buller@ge.com

GE Money

GE Money is the new trading name of Consumer Finance (GECF), one of the world's leading consumer finance services to consumers, retailers and auto dealers. Headquartered in the US, GE Money operates in 48 countries around the world and has assets worth over $150 billion.

In the UK, GE Money offers credit cards, fixed-term retail credit, loans, mortgages and auto finance. GE Money also operates retail branded credit cards for fashion retailers, department stores and supermarkets. Further information about GE Money can be found at

www.gemoney.co.uk.