School unveils new playground thanks to parents’ fundraising efforts

A new and improved playground has been unveiled at a primary school in Caerphilly thanks to parents’ fundraising efforts.

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at Cwrt Rawlin Primary School raised £31,835 to fund the upgrades, which were carried out over the summer and completed in September.

Becky Vallender, co-chair of the PTA, told Caerphilly Observer: “It has been a big undertaking. It desperately needed repairing as soon as possible, so we set about the task of trying to raise the money.”

The idea was first suggested by pupils in the school council, so the PTA organised events such as Christmas fairs, summer fairs, raffles, and sponsored events to raise money, rallying the whole school community behind them.

Money was also raised when the school was being used as a polling station during the summer’s general election, with teas and coffees being sold to voters to help towards the fundraising target.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the school community,” continued Ms Vallender.

“We are so grateful to all the families of the children in the school, to all the teachers who supported our whacky ideas all year, and the local community who got involved and came to our summer fair and helped out on election day.

“In addition to that, we wrote to Caerphilly Town Council, Penyrheol Community Council, and companies like PHS, GE, iGP, Howdens, and Barratt Homes. So many of them rallied around and donated and match-funded for us.”

She added: “We’d also like to thank Pentagon Play, who were the company that installed the playground for us, and we’re really pleased with the equipment we’ve got.”

Headteacher Tara Lloyd said: “The current and past PTA have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to raise the money over the last two years to replace the existing playground, which was battered and torn and in need of replacing.

Mrs Lloyd thanked the businesses who helped out, as well as the town and community councils for providing support.

Deputy headteacher Rebecca Gilbert said: “It’s been a massive team effort and a credit to the wider school community – it’s really brought everyone together.

“Literally everybody from aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, families, everybody has chipped in, it’s been a massive effort from everybody. We’re absolutely thrilled and the children absolutely love it.

“It’s going to be well-used and well-loved.”

The new playground was officially opened on Friday September 27, with pupils, parents, staff, and sponsors in attendance, along with Caerphilly town mayor Mike Prew.

Cllr Prew said: “It’s absolutely amazing how people can pull together, from the PTA to the children, to the teachers and everybody, including all the community groups and businesses that have contributed. It’s an example for others to follow.”

Discussing the PTA’s next steps, secretary Hanna Safadi said: “Going forward we’re going to concentrate on sensory rooms for the children with additional needs, which the children have asked for, and possibly adding some smaller objects to the infant playground to support children with additional needs too.”