SpoonProjects
WEST MIDLANDS - REYNALDS CROSS
SCHOOL, SOLIHULL. £21,000 TOWARDS
PLAY AREA EQUIPMENT
Pupils, teachers and special guests had a royal day
to remember when they saw HRH Princess Royal
unveil an array of play equipment at Reynalds
Cross School, Kineton Green Road, Olton.
The School has been on the site since 1994 and
accommodates 96 pupils aged between 2-19, with
SLD or PMLD, including many with autism. For
some time it has slowly been improving its three
play areas, adding new facilities when it can but
desperately wanted to increase the equipment for
wheelchair pupils.
Teachers and parents launched a fundraising drive
and received donations of £20,000 from Wooden
Spoon, £5,000 from Lions Club International and
£7,000 from the Solihull Foundation.
Pupils were fully involved in the project designing
“THIS OUR FIRST COMPLETED to be able to enjoy activities outside school. Spoon the new playground with their favourite rides and
PROJECT IN THE REGION. stepped in and the Committee funded the £16,000 equipment. The play area has been completely
NORTHGATE SCHOOL NEEDED vehicle that will help tremendously.” transformed and now includes the ‘Lions’
A VEHICLE TO ENABLE THEIR The newly converted Freedom Vehicle can take wheelchair swing, a Wheelchair Roundabout, a
GROWING NUMBER OF normal wheelchairs via a fold-out ramp, plus two climbing frame, swings, an adventure trail and
WHEELCHAIR PUPILS TO BE other children and staff. other new equipment
ABLE TO ENJOY ACTIVITIES Shez Webb said, “This means so much for us as The School was overjoyed to have Spoon’s Royal
OUTSIDE SCHOOL. SPOON our minibuses were unsuitable for children in Patron, HRH The Princess Royal unveiling the
STEPPED IN AND THE wheelchairs. Now Wooden Spoon has made it project. West Midlands Regional Chairman Phil
COMMITTEE FUNDED THE possible for those pupils to enjoy activities outside Pemble and Head Teacher Jane Davenport escorted
£16,000 VEHICLE THAT WILL of school fully and we already have plans to use the princess throughout the visit along with Head
HELP TREMENDOUSLY.” the vehicle for a wide range of activities. The Boy Russell Bakewell and Head Girl Katie Poulton.
vehicle even comes complete with its own Teddy Phil said: “We are very grateful to HRH The
TONY GALLONI, Wooden Spoon mascot!” Princess Royal for her attendance and making it a
NORTHAMPTON REGIONAL day to remember for those involved, in particular
CHAIRMAN the children. She was very impressed by the
YORKSHIRE - KIRKLEATHAM HALL magnificent efforts of all concerned, from pupils,
SCHOOL, NEAR REDCAR. £25,5000 FOR parents and teachers, to all the local businesses
NEW PLAY AREAS and organisations that have provided support and
funding for the project.”
Kirkleatham Village is a very small hamlet, three He added: “I’m sure the play area will provide
miles south-east of Redcar. The school was built by hundreds of children with opportunities to have
the LEA in the seventies in what were the grounds fun and exercise in a safe environment for many
of 17th century Kirkleatham Hall. years to come. This demonstrates how much can
The school provides education for 124 children be achieved through working together, three
aged 4-19 with a wide range of learning difficulties charities have enabled construction of the
from the area between Middlesbrough and playground in a relatively short time frame.”
Saltburn and south to Guisborough. Head teacher Jane Davenport said: “I was very
On a very wet summer day in July, it stayed dry impressed with the knowledge of HRH The Princess
just long enough for Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson Royal. She took time with people and listened to
to do the honours and unveil the new playground. what they had to say and it was a time to be
Dame Tanni is Britain’s most successful Olympian extremely proud of our pupils. The playground has
having won 11 Gold Medals as a wheelchair been a dream and has given pupils opportunities to
athlete. Dame Tanni lives just 300 metres from the extend their choices at leisure times. The
school and up until her recent retirement used to roundabout has given our pupils in wheelchairs an
train on the road running outside the school. increased opportunity to be included with friends
The Wooden Spoon Play Area comprises a tower, when playing. The bright colours and numbers
a slide, a tunnel, a swing bridge, and a number of mean we can play educational games and being
other features and games. On a separate patch of involved with the planning of the playground gave
the playground there is a train feature all built on a pupils great satisfaction.”
soft-play base.
Dame Tanni spent time with the children and
staff before heading back home cross country in MID-WALES - GOLWG Y BANNAU
her wheelchair. The school kindly provided Dame RESIDENTIAL UNIT, BRECON. £4,000 FOR
Tanni and other guests, including Jeremy Horsell, BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES
Mike Coughlan and Richard Smith from Wooden
Spoon, with refreshments after the opening. Spoon In early 2007 Ted Cochrane, with the help of his
Above: World Cup winner, Ben Cohen
hands over a new minibus to
is extremely grateful to Dame Tanni for giving up wife Helen, Emrys Bowen past Chairman of the
Northgate School her time during her very busy schedule. Gloucestershire Region and Mal Thomas, Chairman
12 Spoonews Autumn 2007
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