The aim of the fund is to give access to culture for youth in the village but particularly those at the Primary Academy. The fund will apply to all children equally and be used to give the opportunity for all children to go on school trips each year which has relevance to their curriculum for that year. In addition, funds allowing, it will also allow for cultural activities to be brought into the village.
The fund will aim to raise a minimum of £5000 a year. Proceeds from events run by the Parish Council will go into the fund and specific events will be run to raise funds.
Cllr David Boyle, Chair of Kessingland Parish Council said “Our children are the future of the village and councillors feel that it is important that children today get both the fun and educational benefit that most of us enjoyed when we were at school. The council were unanimous in supporting this fund and agreed to start it off by putting in the initial £5000 to cover the first year of the fund and allow funds to be raised between now and September next year for the 2023-4 academic year.”
As part of the administration of the fund there will be a meeting each term between the school, the friends of the school and the parish council which will review what has happened and consider what is coming up as well as liaising about other cultural opportunities in the village. It is planned that House Captains from the school will attend and have a voice in the meeting and be able to put forward any views that they have about culture in the village.
“The council have put young people and their needs as one of our priorities in the village. We were just starting up a Youth Club when Covid hit but it has proven so successful that we have taken on a qualified leader and had to move to a larger venue,” explained Cllr Julie McLean. “We have also completely updated the Francis Road Play area to improve the range of activities available.”
Adrian Crossland, Headteacher of Kessingland Church of England Primary Academy, said “We are incredibly grateful that the Parish Council has pledged so much support for our young people, especially during the current financial climate. We will be using the fund to subsidise trips so that all of our children continue to access the widest range of opportunities possible and we are really looking forward to fund raising in partnership with the Parish Council.”
The first group of children who will benefit from this fund will be our Year 6 children, who are studying the Victorians; thanks to this support, a visit to Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse will now go ahead.”