Machen Primary School purchase new play equipment with Community Empowerment Grant

New play equipment consisting of a wooden train and climbing frame have found a new home on Machen Primary School’s playground thanks to the Community Empowerment Grant.

The Community Empowerment Fund was created to enable communities to develop and deliver projects aimed at meeting the needs of their residents.

Claire Kulisa, a Governor at Machen Primary commented, “I applied for the Community Empowerment Grant, with Cllr Amanda McConnell as my sponsor. I applied on the basis that we have many children with additional learning needs in our school, with around ten children with social communication difficulties or autism spectrum disorders.

“I wanted to help these children have a better environment to play in and improve their social skills and ability to join in games.”

Many of the pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorders refuse to go outside onto the playground and since the new additions have arrived, teachers have noticed a considerable difference.

Claire Kulisa added, “We applied for funding for these two pieces of play equipment and were awarded the full amount of £4940. They have now been delivered and the children use them extensively every break time, with staff encouraging games and use of with additional learning needs children also. We are extremely grateful for the funding and our next project is to help enhance the junior school side of the playground.”