CHILDREN at a Blackpool school have been given a new lease of life after local fundraisers from the children’s charity of rugby, Wooden Spoon, helped raise more than £28,000 to support the creation of a new outdoor play area.

John Barnett MBE cut the ribbon to officially open the facility at Highfurlong School recently.

The school, which caters for up to 72 pupils aged between two and 19-years-old with a wide range of special educational needs, now has a wheelchair-friendly playground with equipment specifically designed to stimulate young people with physical and mental disabilities.

Headteacher Rosie Sycamore said the new play area would inspire her pupils and allow them to lead a richer and more fulfilling life.

“You can just see how much fun they were having, it was like their Christmas morning,” she said.

“Their dreams have come true as it’s exactly what they asked for.

“It will help our children to stay fit and healthy, help their coordination skills and allow them to have a wonderful time at school.”

Among the guests invited along to the launch was Rachel Lambert, a former pupil who left the school in 2009.

Rachel, who is 3ft 6in and needs a ventilator to help her breathe, has subsequently gone on to gain a photography degree and volunteers with the police as well as working as a freelance photographer for Wooden Spoon.

“The play area is amazing; it is so vibrant and so colourful. It is a great place for the kids to have fun in a safe place,” she said.

“My photography career all started here in 2007. I did a work placement with a local photographer and that is where the passion started. The school did so much for me.”

Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby, raising money to fund life-changing projects across the UK and Ireland that support disadvantaged and disabled children and young people. Since their founding in 1983 they have provided over £24 million in grants.

“It was a wonderful honour for me to unveil and to open this outdoor play area, which is magnificent,” said John Barnett.

“It is very important that local charities support organisations like this, and Wooden Spoon have done a phenomenal job.

“I smile when I speak about Wooden Spoon because there is always fun in their fundraising, and Wooden Spoon makes a real difference.”

And Jai Purewal, Wooden Spoon director of rugby and community investment, added: “It’s been a fantastic day. To see what our Wooden Spoon Lancashire committee have helped create, to see the smiles on the children’s faces and the happy teachers, it’s been amazing.”

For more information about Wooden Spoon and the projects they support, visit woodenspoon.org.uk