Cara Junior School need a new playground

A school in Mayfield has begun to fundraise for a new playground for its pupils with autism and mild to moderate intellectual disabilities.

Their current playground is 27 years old and it plays a crucial role in helping students regulate emotions when they need to.

Cara Junior School is a special school dedicated to supporting wonderful pupils with additional needs.

The school was built 12 years ago, but the playground—already 15 years old at that time—has now reached the end of its life and needs to be replaced.

The playground is now falling apart according to the school. A safe, accessible, and engaging playground is essential for Cara’s students. It offers a secure space to regulate emotions, exercise, and take a break when the day feels overwhelming. Many of the school’s children and their families find it difficult to access community playgrounds safely due to various challenges. That’s why having an appropriate, well-supervised playground within the school is so important—it provides pupils with a rare sense of freedom and joy that can be hard to find elsewhere.

Research has consistently shown the positive effects of outdoor play and physical activity on children’s wellbeing.

The students of Cara Junior School need a safe, stimulating, and inclusive outdoor environment that supports their physical and emotional development every day.

Every euro donated will go directly toward creating this much-needed outdoor space for students. The scholl provides a learning environment in which each child can develop according to their individual needs.

Go to idonate.ie/fundraiser/JumpstartJoy to help!