St Cuthbert's school opens new facilities

St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Wigton has recently finished its new Muga (multi-use games area) facility, following the completion of its new wooden play area in June.

The new facilities are the result of a year-long fundraising campaign, which began last summer. St Cuthbert’s received various grants and funding from different bodies and companies, including Sellafield and Tesco.

Work on the new Muga facility was started on October 1, with the markings adding the finishing touches on October 12.

Deputy head at the school, Ann-Marie Handford, said: “It all started last summer, we did a collective fundraising appeal.

“We had parents and students raising money, we had companies like Sellafield donating.

“It has been a collective effort. We won some money from the Tesco blue token appeal, sugar tax... a collection of different things.

“The local community and parents have really supported us in our fundraising efforts.”

Mrs Handford continued: “We did a lot of fundraising and received a lot of grants. We have done a lot to the playground as well as the Muga, we have installed a new play area.

“There is a lot going on and we have raised a lot to do it.

“We have installed the wooden play area and the markings are finished. We still have the garden area of the playground to do, but that requires funding that we haven’t quite secured yet.

“We want it to be an outdoor learning space.”

The school hopes that students will reap the benefits of the new facilities.

“It is all about helping them to be active, working together in terms of offering different sports”, added Mrs Handford.

“It is all about ensuring that children can be as active as possible.

“Children aren’t as active at home now, so we want to give them as many opportunities to be active and healthy as we can.

“That was the main aim with the Muga.” Without the Muga they will just play football, now it won’t just be football, children can try other sports.”