A CATSHILL school has been boosted after receiving a grant for a new outdoor play area.

In June, the Advertiser reported on Chadsgrove School and Specialist Sports College, the day special school for children who have a physical disability, bidding for cash from the OneFamily Foundation.

The Meadow-Road based school's outdoor space is in desperate need of refurbishment to make it a safe and inclusive play area for pupils, their siblings and children in the wider community.

The ambitious plan has now moved a step closer after a £25,000 community award was made by the foundation.

The proposal is for the fully wheelchair accessible playground to feature a new sand area, alongside a mirror and music wall.

The area will also be resurfaced.

Deb Rattley, the school's headteacher, said: “This project is going to have a huge impact on the pupils in the school and the children in the wider community; providing them with an environment where they can play as independently as possible, enabling them to learn, socialise, relax, and most importantly have fun.

"It’s very exciting, the work can now start. We want to say a huge thank you to both the OneFamily Foundation for their generosity and the public for voting for our project."

OneFamily Foundation is a customer benefit fund that has committed to making £5 million available to its members in the next five years, making their lives and communities better.

OneFamily customers nominated community projects for funding and the public were encouraged to show their support through an online vote. Chadsgrove Special School’s playground scheme was nominated by OneFamily customer, Carolyn Russell, and is one of four UK projects that have been announced as a winner of a £25,000 award.

Anna Drabble, head of community at OneFamily, said: “We are delighted to award our largest amount of community funding to Chadsgrove School.

"It will help create a fantastic outdoor space for the benefit of both the school and the surrounding community.

"Our community awards are there to enable customers to make something better in their area and Carolyn will be doing just that in Bromsgrove through this inspiring and community focused project."

• Four further awards of £25,000, and 15 awards of £5,000, are being made available for community projects to bid for.

To find out how to bid or for more details visit https://foundation.onefamily.com.