Community Story: St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Seaham

For our latest look at a recipient of an Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) England Local Community Fund grant from National Grid Electricity Transmission we visit St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Seaham, Country Durham, where Luke Upton chats to Elaine Parlett, the school’s Deputy Head Teacher about the importance of outdoor learning, opportunities for play, an amazing set of parents and more.

Luke Upton (LU): To start, could you tell us a little about St Cuthbert’s in Seaham and the community you are a part of?

Elaine Parlett (EP): St Cuthbert’s is a small Catholic primary school in Seaham and part of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. We have around 200 pupils from Reception to Year 6 and are proud to be at the heart of a caring and supportive community. Over the last five years, we've worked hard to improve opportunities for outdoor play and learning because we know how important these experiences are for children's wellbeing and development. As an OPAL school, we encourage children to play creatively and actively in all weathers. We've invested in resources such as a mud kitchen, den-building kits, scooters and wheelie boards, which have been hugely popular with our pupils. One of the best things has been seeing children of different ages playing, learning and building friendships together during breaktimes.

LU: What are the Friends of St Cuthbert’s currently focusing on, and what are the main priorities for the organisation at the moment?

EP: The Friends of St Cuthbert’s are an amazing group of parents, family members and supporters who bring so much energy and enthusiasm to everything they do for our school. They have helped fund some fantastic projects over the years, including resourcing forest schools and our craft cabin, which was requested by pupils and is now used for creative activities led at break times by older children. They also organise discos, summer fairs and other fun events, as well as supporting school activities such as Sports Day and our Colour Run. They have funded pantomimes, science experiences and enterprise projects, and have played a big role in improving our allotment and gardening areas. At the moment, their main focus is developing our prayer garden and quad area to create welcoming sensory spaces that pupils can enjoy for reflection, wellbeing and outdoor learning.

LU:  You’ve recently received funding through National Grid’s EGL1 Local Community Fund. Could you tell us more about the project, what the funding will support and what you hope to achieve?

EP: We were absolutely delighted to receive funding through National Grid’s EGL1 Local Community Fund. The grant has helped top up the fundraising already carried out by the Friends of St Cuthbert’s and means we can now install a fixed climbing frame for our pupils. This was something our children identified as a priority through pupil voice sessions, so it's especially exciting to be able to make their idea a reality. Outdoor play is a huge part of life at St Cuthbert’s, and we know how much children benefit from opportunities to be active, challenge themselves and work together. The new climbing frame will provide exactly that, while also complementing the outdoor play opportunities we already offer. We can't wait to see it being enjoyed by children for many years to come. A big thank you to all at National Grid and Localgiving for the support and funding for this project.

LU: How important is grant funding like this to the Friends of St Cuthbert’s, and what difference does it make to the work you’re able to deliver in the community?

EP: Funding like this from National Grid makes an enormous difference. The Friends of St Cuthbert’s work incredibly hard to raise money through events and activities, but larger projects can take a long time to fund through school fundraising alone. The grant has allowed us to bring forward plans for the climbing frame much sooner than we had expected, meaning our pupils will benefit straight away. It also gives a real boost to everyone involved, as people can see the impact of their fundraising efforts more quickly. The new equipment will enhance the facilities we already have and provide even more opportunities for active, healthy play. We are so grateful for support like this because it helps turn ideas and ambitions into reality for our children and families.

LU:  Beyond financial support, what do you think would make the biggest difference to your organisation and the communities you support?

EP: For us, strong connections within the local community are just as important as funding. We are always keen to work with local charities, organisations, businesses and volunteers who can help us provide new experiences and opportunities for our pupils. As a Catholic school, supporting others and making a positive difference in our local and global communities is an important part of who we are. Working together allows us to build meaningful relationships and helps children develop a sense of responsibility, compassion and service. Whether it's sharing expertise, volunteering time or supporting community projects, those partnerships can have a lasting impact on both our school and the wider community.

LU: Finally as always like to ask, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers, perhaps upcoming projects, events, achievements or other ways people can get involved?

EP: We're really excited about the next stage of our outdoor development projects, particularly our prayer garden and sensory area within the quad. These spaces will provide calm, welcoming environments where children can reflect, pray, relax and learn outdoors. We would love to hear from anyone who feels they could support these projects, whether through donations, sharing skills and expertise, or volunteering their time. Our Friends of St Cuthbert’s group is also always looking for new volunteers to help at events or become more involved in fundraising activities. Even a small amount of support can make a big difference. We are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive community and would love for more people to join us on our journey.

LU: Brilliant, thanks for sharing this fantastic project. Keep up the great work.

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• Community Story: Primrose Lane Primary School PTA

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• Why fundraisers are switching from ChatGPT to Localgiving

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