Martin Bacon Academy unveil plaque for new Trailblazer Escape funded by £9,000 grant from Wooden Spoon – The Children’s Charity of Rugby

The students at Martin Bacon Academy have been given the green light to climb aboard their brand-new trailblazer escape which was recently unveiled thanks to a generous donation by rugby charity, Wooden Spoon.

Students at the Meridian Trust school have a new outdoor, wooden playground trail and equipment courtesy of a £9,000 grant from the UK and Ireland charity which funds life-changing projects for children through the power of the rugby community.  The trailblazer escape is an outdoor, wooden playground trail that acts as a low-level obstacle course for students to navigate from one piece of equipment to the next without touching the ground.  Designed to help children build strength, balance and coordination while encouraging teamwork and communication, it is a welcome addition to the outdoor space at the school.

Two members of the Wooden Spoon Eastern Counties Committee, Greg Hind and Stephen Crisp, attended the plaque unveiling.  The Eastern Counties regional committee raises money for organisations who work to give the best life opportunities to children and young people living with disabilities, those disadvantaged and those disenfranchised from society.  Greg Hind who attended the opening will be running the 2026 London Marathon to raise more funds and support more projects through the charity.

Principal Sarah Louise said they were delighted to see the vision come to life.

“The LINK provision is an important part of our inclusive offer.  It enables students to access specialist support alongside opportunities for social connection and shared experiences with peers, which are fundamental to wellbeing, confidence and positive engagement with learning.”

“Having access to a dedicated playground enables students to engage in regular physical activity and structured social interaction, supporting inclusion, emotional regulation, and readiness to learn.”

“It was particularly encouraging to hear students talk about how much they value this space and how they were actively involved in the design and development of this fantastic new facility”