Former England & Chelsea star Graeme Le Saux joins local MP and youngsters at Beavers Community Primary School to launch major n

Graeme Le Saux, former England and Chelsea star will join sports-mad youngsters in Hounslow tomorrow to officially open the brand new facilities at Beavers Sports Lodge.

Graeme will declare the site’s brand new changing pavilion, Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and grass pitch facilities officially open at 11.40am on Friday 26th September Beavers Community Primary School, Salisbury Road Entrance, Hounslow, TW4 6JG. Local MP Alan Keen, who is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Football Group, and the Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Genevieve Hibbs, will also be in attendance.

These new state of the art facilities have been built on the school grounds of Beavers Community Primary School. This was brought about by the determination of head teacher Dee Scott, and a small committee of dedicated community champions whose vision it was to reenergize one of the most deprived communities in England. This wonderful new facility will be open to community groups, local teams and school groups and will go a long way in tackling obesity and promoting a healthier lifestyle in the community.

The brand new building incorporates a seminar room to be used for coach education qualifications and children’s sport education sessions. This will not only give participants the desire to play and improve in sport, health and fitness, but they will also be able to use a sports qualification to access employment.

The Football Foundation has generously supported the project with a £650,474 grant towards the staffing, building, and grass pitches. Beavers Community Primary School accessed the remaining funds through sponsorship from local businesses and fundraising.

The Football Foundation is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game, constructing modern football facilities, developing football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities throughout the country. Funded by the Premier League, The Football Association and the Government, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity with a £40m budget going straight into the heart of football.

Chelsea Ambassador Graeme Le Saux said: “These superb new facilities are going to encourage the pupils at Beavers Community Primary School to really enjoy their sport, as well as inspiring the local community to stay fit and active.”

“Community sport is an issue Chelsea take extremely seriously I’m delighted to be here today with Alan Keen to support this vital work.”

“It is great to see money from the top of the game sustaining the grass roots and I know the Football Foundation have done an enormous amount of work in this area.”

Alan Keen MP said: “The school has worked very hard for many years to get the funding for this facility. I have been delighted to support it at every step of the way and it is a great honour to be part at the launch.

“The new facilities will be a wonderful asset to the local community. This proves that the Football Foundation is a massive support to schools and local communities.”

Dee Scott, Head Teacher of Beavers Community Primary School, said: “We are extremely excited that our vision has now become a reality. This has been the result of a great deal of hard work and effort from a small team of dedicated people.

“We are very proud of the facility and pleased to have Jonny Dunn our Football Development Officer on board to take our action plan forward. We have already seen well over 300 community users benefit from the facility over the summer and hope the facility will go from strength to strength providing a fun and healthy option for all.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: “The London Borough of Hounslow, Beavers Community Primary School and the Middlesex County FA deserve immense credit for their hard work and dedication in making the Beavers Sports Lodge a reality.

“The school’s youngsters, staff and the people in the local community can now enjoy state of the art playing surfaces and changing accommodation.”