Allison Homes Central donates £20,000 to Grantham primary school

A primary school in Great Gonerby, Grantham is set to transform one of its outdoor play areas thanks to a £20,000 donation from housebuilder Allison Homes Central, enabling much-needed improvements to be made for its youngest pupils.

St Sebastian’s CofE Primary School is currently undertaking a vital £40,000 refurbishment of its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) outdoor play area.  

The essential project includes a complete replacement of the soft play surfacing, to ensure pupils are provided with a secure environment all year round, installation of a new dedicated outdoor resource shed and replacement of aging and broken play equipment with modern, high-engagement structures.  

After successfully ring-fencing £20,000 from its own budget to kickstart the project, the school was seeking financial support. Allison Homes Central bridged the gap and donated the full remaining amount, meaning work on the project is able to commence now instead of in five to 10 years’ time, as the school predicted.

Elaine Bedford, Headteacher at St Sebastian’s CofE Primary School, said: “We are delighted to have support from Allison Homes to complete this project. The financial support will ensure that we can offer a high-quality outdoor learning environment to all our Early Years children. The staff are really grateful for this generous donation and the children are really excited about their new learning area.”

The donation forms part of the housebuilder’s ongoing commitment to supporting the communities surrounding its developments, with St Sebastian’s CofE Primary School being under two miles away from the major Manthorpe Chase development, which is delivering a total of 480 new homes.

Adam Knight, Managing Director at Allison Homes Central, said: “We take great pride in donating £20,000 to help St Sebastian’s CofE Primary School begin this much-needed transformation project. The refurbishment of the EYFS outdoor play area will make a real difference to pupils and their families, giving children a safe, secure and stimulating space where they can play, explore and stay active.

“As Manthorpe Chase continues to grow and welcome new residents, we’re keen to play a positive role in the wider community. We recognise the importance of working closely with local schools, organisations and other stakeholders to help ensure the area has the facilities and support it needs.

“We’re now looking forward to seeing the transformation take shape and visiting the school again once the new outdoor play area is complete, to see the children enjoying their improved space.”

Set on the edge of Manthorpe and Great Gonerby, on Belton Lane, Manthorpe Chase is delivering two, three, four and five bedroom energy-efficient homes, with a range of three and four bedroom properties currently available.

For more information on St Sebastian’s CofE Primary School, visit https://www.st-sebastianscofeprimaryschool.co.uk/.