Kenton Playing Field Project

The pupils of Kenton Primary School are taking on the challenge to together; walk, cycle, run, scoot or swim the 9190 miles to Australia. They will do this over 3 months, which for children ranging the ages of 3-11 years is no mean fit. We are a small village school, so the average distance for each child is around 100 miles. But having successfully raised over £6000 in the last few years to level, re-turf and have a U10 football pitch and running track to improve the facilities. The pupils, parents and staff, are excited to go that last mile (or 9190 of them) and raise the money needed for these vital facilities.

We’re increasingly educating our children to be healthy and make good life choices, but we struggle with a lack of quality space for physical exercise. 

The long term aim has been to provide the school, and local community, a useable playing field that will support both the school's educational and Devon County Council's 5 year policy - Promoting independence by enabling as many residents as possible to stay healthy and active in their communities for as long as possible 

Why is our field important?

Kenton Primary School has a very small playground for it's 90+ children. The requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 cannot currently be met in our current space - the hall has limited head space and floor areas for parts of the PE curriculum, the playground is extremely small for the number of children in the school. PE lessons therefore the children have to be escorted off site to the school field.   

School Field

Situated in the heart of Kenton village, just a short walk away from the local amenities and church, is our school field. It really is a magnificent location but it is unfit for the purposes of the school - happily our recent fundraising endeavours mean many of the previous problems (the poor uneven ground and slope, which meant that the field is was not suitable for some of the school PE requirements) are now to be resolved by the field being levelled off and the surface made flatter. 

Currently located on the field is hard pitch, a multi-use games area, a small climbing wall, trim trail and a new play area for young children.

The Project

We are so appreciative of the support that all have given to our project thus far, towards bringing our field into the 21st century. In line with the Kenton Neighbourhood Development Plan supporting families with their needs well beyond its educational remit, inspiring health and well being in a safe and fun environment for years to come. But the last element we vitally need is toileting facilities. Without having them there are so many implications, the environmental impact of urination in the bushes, the stigma of needing to go back to school for a 'number two' or the wider impact of needing to have extra staff or volunteers to enable the later.

A sports field is so important, but to fully utilise it you need vital facilities?

"Sport not only provides the benefit of physical activity but they are very crucial in terms of mental growth and alertness. Not only does it empower youth and promote higher self-esteem."

"Numerous physical benefits include maintaining a healthy weight, preventing chronic diseases and learning the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle."

There are 5 main benefits to having a village field: 

Benefits for Families - Family ties are improved by spending leisure time with each other. This effect even works with parent-child relationships.

Reduce Crime Rates with Children - A community sports centre gives children a safe place to play, keeping them off the streets.

Cultural Diversity - Participating in group activities can help to increase cohesion in both the community and the workplace. 

Tourism - Sports facilities can hold tournaments that can bring people from neighbouring towns and villages. This increase of people can help bring more revenue into the village a few times a year. 

Reduce Stress - The benefits of sports field not only help the body, but they also create a less stressed mind. Another benefit to the mind is overall happiness, People who exercise regularly are more than twice as likely to consider themselves happy.

What you get for your money?

This is how the level & turf  U10 football pitch and  running track are going to be built onto the playing field over the coming months with work starting this month.

The plan for the toileting facilities to then be built would be...

Please be part of this project and bring value to the whole community, improve the area for everyone. Support, pledge and get involved in our project and its funding to enable us to reinvigorate the local area and ensure our children have a healthy start to life.

If you’re not able to contribute but like what we’re doing, get the word out! Shout about us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and / or WhatsApp the link to your friends, email it to your colleagues and talk about it with your family. 

On behalf of the KSPA, Kenton Primary School teachers and children & the local Kenton Community. THANK YOU!