The Corby Red Kite Academy’s £ 3,000 outdoor play equipment is sponsored by Freemasons

A Corby Special School is the youngest community group in town to have received a £ 3,000 funding boost from the local Masonic Lodge.

The Red Kite Special Academy was selected by members to receive support after members of Corby’s Masonic Lodge learned of the school’s work after a site visit.

The Corby Masons have already donated money to city organizations including the Pen Green Center, Autumn Center, Home Start and the Lakelands Hospice at Home Service.

Parental Support Advisor Sam Wall receives the £ 3,000 check from Jim Spence, Steve Burton and Alex Henderson

Students and staff met with members of the lodge to thank them for the gift that will be used to develop outdoor play equipment.

Jim Spence, Corby Masons Senior Group Leader, said, “This is a belated Christmas present. We want to support the Corby community.

“We were there in 2018 and the visit made a lasting impression on the Freemasons in town when I contacted them and they saw pictures of the incredible work the school was doing.

“We made a sizeable donation back then. Last year we had a discussion about people we had previously helped on site and the conversation came back to help the Red Kite Academy.”

Donna Luck (left) Headmistress with Red Kite Academy students and Corby Freemasons staff Steve Burton, Alex Henderson and Jim Spence

Red Kite Academy’s school pitches are commissioned by the local education authority for children with education, health and care plans.

The school in Purbeck Drive on the Beanfield property will open its new sixth grade with 20 places and three classes at the end of May.

Headmistress Donna Luck said: “We would like to thank the Corby Freemasons for their continued support.

“Every penny is spent on the children and used to develop outdoor play equipment for everyone.

“We’re only three years old and donations like this make a huge difference for students to offer them these extra things.”