Pupils at Porthleven Primary School are now armed and ready to begin work on a project to transform their playground thanks to a £57,000 grant from a forces organisation.

The money from the grant will go towards a Multi-use Games Area (MUGA). Complete with all weather outdoor facilities with evening floodlighting that will benefit not just the School but has a much wider community reach. With RNAS Culdrose 3,000 strong work-force living within a 20 mile radius of the new facility at Porthleven, it is estimated that over 4,130 children and local communities will have access to the project.

The deputy Headmaster at Porthleven, Dan Clayden believes it will encourage a stronger identity and community integration with the Armed Forces and local people, “This promotes greater support and awareness between everyone. Some of our children are nurtured within a forces environment and this scheme will help form core values and philosophy linked with service life and their families.”

The cheque was handed over by Commander John Lea from RNAS Culdrose and Carol Theobold, on behalf of the covenant grant application committee.

They were joined by pupils from |the school and Leigh Yates, chair of |the Porthleven School Parent |Teacher Association, which worked |hard to win the money.

Mrs Yates said she had seen draft plans of the playground and predicted the end result would be “amazing” for both the school and the community.

“RNAS Culdrose's support has had such a positive effect and strengthened links between everyone,” she said. “We want all children in our Cornish community to have access and truly maximise the multiple benefits that this facility will bring.”

The school used the opportunity of the visiting navy personnel to launch its Southerly Point Armed Forces Day on July 4.

They were helped by not only Commander Lea but also a range of servicemen from the Helston naval base.

The latest Community Covenant Grant comes after a successful phase one application, which brought a |new playing facility to the school and was officially opened in spectacular |style by one of the Royal Navy’s |senior Admiral's, Second Sea Lord |Vice Admiral David Steel CBE in December last year.