Rougham Church of England Primary School near Bury St Edmunds sees Save our Pool campaign boosted by councillor funding

mariam.ghaemi@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Published: 11:23, 17 January 2023

| Updated: 11:59, 18 January 2023

A community fundraising campaign to fix a village swimming pool has had a welcome start to the New Year thanks to the support of a West Suffolk Councillor.

The Rougham Church of England Primary School community has been trying to raise £50,000 to refurbish its leaking pool, which is used by the school, pre-schoolers and wider community.

The 'Save our Pool' campaign has already gone great lengths towards its target with around half of the money pledged so far, and clearance and cleaning work was undertaken last year in preparation for the refurb.

Front row: Rougham Primary School students Suman Burhm, Isaac Sodey, Lucy Lake, Oliver Ritchie, Sophie-Rose Sturgeon, Grayson Smith. Back row: left to right, Lisa Sturgeon (Save Our Pool fundraising committee), Clare Clark (headteacher), Ally Smith (Friends of Rougham Primary School), Emma Thurlow (office manager), Vanessa Cameron-Laker (Acorns & Woodlands Pre-school), Amber Chignall (Save Our Pool fundraising committee). Picture: West Suffolk Council

Now Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, who represents Rougham, near Bury St Edmunds, on West Suffolk Council and is also the cabinet member for strategic health, has given £1,100 from her locality budget towards the project.

Cllr Mildmay-White said: “Learning to swim is such an important life skill, it can have enormous benefits for people’s health and wellbeing, it’s fun and brings people of all ages together.

"Having a village pool not just for pupils but for the wider community can make such a difference to people’s lives. The community fundraising campaign has been fantastic and I’m delighted to be able to support it with funding from my locality budget.”

Last year, work started on clearing and cleaning the outdoor swimming pool at Rougham Primary School in preparation for the refurb. Pictured are parents and staff from the school - Robin Phillips, Steve Philpin, Calvin Roshier, office manager Emma Thurlow and headteacher Clare Clark. Picture: Mecha Morton

Emma Thurlow, office manager at the school, said about £25,000 has been raised so far from events organised by the school and parents including a music festival and race night, alongside donations from organisations such as Rougham Estates, Ravenwood Hall, Taylor Wimpey, Collins Skip Hire, Treatt, Travis Perkins, Jewsons, Ridgeons, Suffolk County Council and Sam and Nicole Jaggard.

Mrs Thurlow said: “We are very grateful to everyone who has backed our campaign so far. Our aim is to get the pool fixed and back in use by the summer and we have lots more fundraising activities planned between now and then.

"We have 200 pupils at the school and having the pool back will be great for them as well as for the pre-school youngsters and the local community.”

Forthcoming fundraising events include the Rougham take on the Big Fat Quiz of the year. The family quiz evening will be held this Friday, January 20, from 5pm to 8pm at the school. Teams of up to eight can enter and entry costs £3 per person. Food and drink will be available.

And that will be followed by a Red Disco on February 10 and a Nearly New Sale on February 25 from 1pm to 4pm (entry costs £1).

The outdoor swimming pool at Rougham Primary is leaking water and there is a fundraising campaign to raise about £50,000 to repair it. The pool is used by the school and local community. Pictured is Rougham Primary headteacher Clare Clark. Picture: Mecha Morton

For more follow www.instagram.com/rougham_save_our_pool and Rougham Primary School Swimming Pool on Facebook

You can also donate here.

Bury St Edmunds Education Mariam Ghaemi