Nine-year-old Aden Woodward spent his recent school holidays making noughts and crosses games for the children's ward at Whakatāne Hospital.

The project was inspired by his participation in a BB New Zealand programme called The Edge workshop.

Aden was one of six Awakeri School students selected for the workshop in which he was taught woodwork and painting skills to create a noughts and crosses game.

The workshop aims to give boys confidence around tools, positive values, learned competency, and positive self-esteem, attitudes and behaviours.

His mum, Kelly Stevenson, said Aden “absolutely loved it”.

“Aden was so proud to bring it home and tell us all about his learning for the day. He was so excited about some of the skills he learned and wanted to show us,” she said.

The family found some scraps in the shed and supervised a second project, which quickly turned into a third and fourth.

Over the school holidays, Aden created, painted and wrapped 10 noughts and crosses kits with help from his mum, dad and almost 8-year-old sister Hayley.

“It turned into a bit of a family team event, but Aden led the charge,” Mrs Stevenson said.

They were not sure what to do with the collection until Aden had a particularly “boring” experience waiting hospital emergency room.

“He piped up and said we could give these to families who are bored in the kids ward at Whakatāne Hospital, so here we are, kind of paying it forward,” Mrs Stevenson said.

Aden is grateful to the Edge Workshop.

“I had a new experience and learned new skills, like sawing with a handsaw and painting,” he said.

Edge Workshop programme director Stu Thompson ran the workshop Aden attended and attended the handover at the hospital.

“I was blown away when his mum texted me about the idea. He seemed like a bit of a quiet kid, but clearly is capable of so much,” he said.

The nationwide company started in Tauranga, and visits three Eastern Bay schools once a term, including Awakeri, Apanui and Edgecumbe.

“The schools pick out about six kids a session who they think could benefit from us.

“It’s a chance to provide some positive male role models for these boys, and the schools are telling us there aren’t many of those around.

“We see a lot of engagement. Even kids who get bored and cause trouble, or kids who normally need, teacher aid, become really focused at these workshops,” he said.

More information about The Edge Workshop can be found on the BB New Zealand website.