Noah and Ava at Treales C of E Primary School's improved infant outdoor area, photo: Neil Cross.Noah and Ava at Treales C of E Primary School's improved infant outdoor area, photo: Neil Cross.
Noah and Ava at Treales C of E Primary School's improved infant outdoor area, photo: Neil Cross.

Preston contractors step in at rural primary school after fundraising is decimated by COVID

A Preston contractors has helped to fund a new play area at a Kirkham primary school after its fundraising activities were cancelled due to COVID.

Pete Marquis Contractors, based at Bryars Farm, Lea Town, stepped in to help Treales Church of England Primary School, near Kirkham, with new play equipment.

The contractors usually hold a bonfire fundraiser for the school every year but this had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

Despite this, Pete Marquis kindly donated a cheque to the school’s ‘Friends Association’.

Run by parents at the school, the association usually fundraises throughout the year for school trips, mental health and well-being sessions, books, new laptops and more but COVID put a stop to this too.

Now, thanks to the contractors' funding, hard work by teacher Mrs Mather, and one of the pupils’ grandparents, Roy Butterworth - who gave up his entire Easter break to help - the children can enjoy a newly refurbished play area.

Headteacher Liz Robinson said: “Usually, the Friends are able to organise a large number of fundraising events at the school including summer fairs and end-of-year barbecues.

“However, the pandemic has meant that many of these events have not been able to take place.

“Pete Marquis still thought of the children here at Treales School and donated a large amount of money, even though the bonfire did not go ahead.”

The head says that this money will ‘benefit the children enormously’ at the school, which has 61 pupils.

She said that the school community wanted to organise something special following the January lockdown, when many children were unable to attend school.

“We wanted to think of a way for the children to look forward to returning back with their friends,” said Ms Robinson.

“The children were so excited to return to school, they just could not wait to use the newly enhanced area.

“The new equipment enhances the children's learning enormously and has been of great benefit to their mental health and well-being.”

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