Playground for village school

Leconfield pre-school now has its own playground, thanks to a grant scheme which aims to strengthen ties between members of the armed forces and the community in which they live.

The Leconfield Pre-school playground has received £25,000 in funding from the Ministry of Defence Community Covenant Grant scheme, secured through the East Riding Community Covenant.

The grant scheme delivers financial support to projects which encourage activities to help integrate the armed forces community into local life.

It is the second time that Leconfield, which is home to the Defence School of Transport, has benefitted from the grant scheme. Last year, it provided £27,177 for the Leconfield Playing Fields Association for play equipment.

The new playground is a long-cherished dream for the pre-school, which is based on the Leconfield Primary School site.

The pre-school has children from military and civilian families and encourages friendships by introducing families to each other.

The new playground provides equipment which is aimed at making playtime interactive, challenging and fun. It is intended that the play area will improve and encourage group play and team building.

It was opened by Councillor Jackie Cracknell, East Riding of Yorkshire Council portfolio holder for community involvement and performance, and Lt Col John Roskelly, Quartermaster at DST Leconfield.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the lead authority for the East Riding Community Covenant, and Councillor Cracknell said she is delighted that the funding bid for the pre-school playground was successful.

She said: “The East Riding Community Covenant aims to provide support in five main areas – housing, health, education and childcare; money matters; and employment and adult education. The new playground will help to encourage activities which help to integrate the armed forces community into local life.”

Lt Col Roskelly said: “I am extremely pleased that the Community Covenant have granted the funds to complete this project. I am sure that children from the local and armed forces communities will benefit hugely from this playground for many years to come.”

Stacey Harris, chairwoman of the pre-school committee, said: “This project has been talked about at Leconfield Pre-school for many years and seemed a pipe dream due to lack of funding. It is only now, with the hard work and perseverance of the committee and staff, the kindness of the staff and governors at the school, and the support of the council, together, of course, with the generosity of the Community Covenant Grant, that the project has been able to come to fruition.”

There is still money available from the Community Covenant Grant scheme to which organisations, charities and residents can apply to support projects that will help integrate military and civilian communities, in line with the aims of the Community Covenant. For further information about the grants scheme, contact frances.prew@eastriding.gov.uk or ring 01482 391473.