IN summer 2015, a £30 million-plus funding package was announced for Campus Whitehaven, a new education campus bringing together St Benedict’s and Mayfield schools onto one site, as well as new community and sport facilities.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Sellafield provided £25.1 million of funding, making the project their largest single socio-economic investment.

This was aided by match funding from other partners including Copeland Community Fund and the then Cumbria County Council, who invested an additional £7.9 million.

“Some doubted we would be able to achieve it,” said Jamie Reed, director of socio-economics, NDA. “But the project was more than simply rebuilding two schools. It was an investment in the community, its people and its future in an area – education – that will be fundamental to the future economic success of that community.

"The project was co-created with local stakeholders and this is what our socio-economic work is about, working with local stakeholders to address economic and social priorities.

"In West Cumbria alone, working with and through Sellafield Ltd the NDA has invested approximately £50 million in recent years, leveraging significantly more millions from other funding partners.

"Moving forward, we continue to work with Cumberland Council to establish ladders of opportunity for those currently unable to access the nuclear sector, and provide economic growth in Cumberland.”

Going back a decade, schools in north Copeland had been identified as being in a state of disrepair, and educational attainment levels inconsistent. Additionally, a potential skills shortage was forecast in the west Cumbria area.

Those involved in the project saw that something had to be done in order to help bridge this gap.

They also aimed to improve the whole community’s health and wellbeing, with the inclusion of state-of-the-art sports facilities like a 4G astroturf pitch, recreational spaces and a hydrotherapy pool.

Five years after opening, the campus is now a well-known feature of the community. Pupil numbers at both schools have increased and a second site for Mayfield students has recently been acquired in Cockermouth.

Community usage has also increased year on year, with approximately £10,000 of income generated a month from bookings.