Community Spaces is a £57.5m open grants programme funded through the Big Lottery Fund and managed by Groundwork UK. This is a place for the Community Spaces team, Facilitators, projects as well as passers-by to share their stories about transforming green open spaces.

Glastonbury guest of honour

Posted on 9th December 2011 by

Michael EavisGlastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis was the guest of honour as villagers at Stratton-on-the-Fosse in Somerset celebrated the launch of Phase 2 of their community garden.

He cut the ribbon to mark the opening of a new boules/petanque piste, a basket swing, wooden shelter, grassed mound with tunnel and slide and a seating and picnic area, all joined up with a metre-wide path.

The latest phase of the project was made possible through a £49,999 Community Spaces grant.

For more on what’s happening at Stratton-on-the-Fosse see the village website

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Search is on for outstanding green heroes

Posted on 8th December 2011 by
Pastel drawing of Octavia Hill

Octavia Hill

Do you know someone who’s worked tirelessly to protect a patch of green space near you? Have you got a favourite teacher who’s inspired you to do something for nature? Or is there a famous person who’s challenging the system to make life better that you admire?

If so, they could be a candidate for a new award named after Octavia Hill, a Victorian social reformer and a founder of the National Trust. The Octavia Hill Awards aim to find the modern-day champions and guardians of our precious outdoor spaces.

Octavia Hill died in 1912 and to mark the centenary the National Trust, in partnership with Countryfile Magazine, is offering six awards that celebrate individuals and groups that are keeping Octavia Hill’s legacy alive:

• Growing Hero – this award could be someone who’s set up a community growing scheme, or saved allotments and made a real difference.

• Natural Hero – for individuals working for community spaces that matter to people and wildlife – in woodlands, nature reserves or orchards.

• Inspirational Hero – recognising someone, perhaps a teacher, youth worker or ranger/warden, inspiring and nurturing the next generation of enthusiasts.

• The People’s Campaigner celebrates a person in the public spotlight who has done something amazing to champion an issue or cause.

• Green Space Guardians – this award is for a group or organisation, big or small, that has created a lot of noise (locally or nationally) to champion green spaces and places.

• ‘Love Places’ award – specifically for National Trust volunteers, individuals or groups who have enabled local communities to benefit from the open places that are important to them.

The awards are open to all ages and will be given for work carried out between January 1 2010 and December 31 2011. The closing date for entries is Monday January 16.

Full details of how to enter can be found here

The winners will be announced in June 2012 and profiled in Countryfile Magazine.

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Great news for Gretton

Posted on 6th December 2011 by

gretton tug o warThe village of Gretton in Northamptonshire is celebrating a £100,000 Lottery win with a new games area.

The multi-use games area was officially opened by international athlete and 2011 Corby Sports Personality of the Year Karen Harewood.

The games area has been funded principally through a £99,984 grant from Community Spaces following a successful application by the Friends of Gretton Recreation Ground.

The project was one of a number of ideas suggested as part of a Parish Plan produced by the Parish Council in 2004 and which highlighted that villagers would like to see a MUGA in the village along with better play and sports facilities.

The Friends of Gretton Recreation Ground was subsequently formed, including members of many organisations in the village, to bring these ideas to fruition. The group has already built a new Jurassic Adventure Playground and BMX track and is working on other projects, including a young children’s play area and improvements to the Changing Pavilion.

The group invited athlete Karen Harewood, the 2011 Corby Sports Personality of the Year to open the MUGA. Karen holds the English National 800m title and has represented Great Britain in the World and European athletics championships.

Tim Fox, chair of the Friends Group, said: “I hope that both young and old will enjoy this new facility.”

The afternoon included netball, basketball, football and tennis competitions, traditional games, complimentary hot food and refreshments and all serenaded by Gretton Silver Band.

The MUGA has a fencing surround with carpet surface and floodlights and Tim added: “It is a superb facility for many activities and we want to encourage as many people as possible to use it. The football and cricket clubs will be holding coaching sessions for junior players and I have been contacted by a group of ladies who would like to rekindle their netball skills.

“There is interest in forming a junior tennis group and both the Primary School and Chirpy Chicks pre-school will use the area regularly. The facility is open for all and there will be times which groups can pre-book.”

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December launches

Posted on 2nd December 2011 by

Christmas may be just around the corner, butballoons
that hasn’t stopped a fresh batch of Community
Spaces projects getting ready for their launch events.
Why not get along and – who knows – there may even be a mince pie in it for you…
As ever, please keep the photographs and event reports coming. Share the joy!

December 3
The Welfare Park Committee
Welfare Park
Garland Road
Parkeston
Harwich
Essex
CO12 4PA
Park improvements, play equipment

Hawthorn Mother and Toddler Group
Belmont Avenue
Hawthorn
Durham
SR7 8SE
Playground

Brixton Community Association
Woodland Drive
Brixton
Plymouth
Devon
PL8 2PB
Playground

December 4
Friends of Bottom Boat Playground
Bottom Boat Road
Stanley
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF3 4AU
Playground

December 8
Wildlife Habitat Protection Trust
Little Fenton
Leeds
LS25 6HG
Nature trail, community wildlife meadow

December 10
Derby Sutton Estate Tenants Association
Shalfleet Drive
Alvaston
Derby
DE24 0UR
Natural play area

December 11
Friends of Marsden Park
Manchester Road
Marsden
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD7 6EU
Playground

Friends of War Memorial Park
Leamington Road
Coventry
CV3 6JD
Playground

Blackhall Community Association
Heselden Road
Blackhall
Hartlepool
Cleveland
TS27 4LG
Community garden improvements

December 17
Wellies Action Group
Wellington Place
Hereford
HR1 1SW
Playground

Gaddesby Play Ground Group
Paske Avenue
Gaddesby
Leicestershire
LE7 4WJ
Multi-use games area

Manor Park Fund
Johnson’s Lane Play Area
Crowle
Lincolnshire
DN17 4EW
Playground

Jarvis Brook Recreation Ground
Crowborough
East Sussex
TN6 2EG
MUGA, skate facility, natural play area

December 19

Quarrendon & Meadowcroft Community Action Partnership
Meadowcroft
Aylesbury
Bucks
HP19 9LS
Playground

St Mark’s Community Association
St Mark’s Terrace
Millfield
Sunderland
SR4 7BN
Community and activity garden

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Flagging up a green opportunity

Posted on 25th November 2011 by

green flag community awardsHere at Community Spaces we think that all the hard work groups have put in to making their green space a healthier and happier place should be rewarded.

The Green Flag Award, the national standard for parks and green spaces also has a Community Award, which you may be able to apply for. It is free of charge and will recognise your achievements and bring your site into the spotlight.

This may mean more support, involvement and can even unlock sources of more funding. As an added bonus winners will get free annual membership to BTCV’s Community Network to join thousands of other groups gaining access to discounts, insurance, funding information, training opportunities and much more.

The only conditions on applying are that site must be freely accessible and managed solely by the group, although management can be supported by the landowner or local authority.

For more information visit the Green Flag Community Awards website.

There are local advocates in each region to help groups apply for the award. Katie Lowry covers the North West but can put you in contact with your local advocate – email k.lowry@btcv.org.uk for more information or support.

The applications deadline is January 31 2012 and judging will be take place next summer.

Good luck!

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Bidding for glory – how to write a successful grant application

Posted on 18th November 2011 by

pen and paperApplying for grants can be a daunting prospect even for the most experienced community group.

Iman Kouchouk, a grants officer here at Community Spaces, has produced an excellent series of guides to give your group the best chance of success when bidding for funds.

The Preparing Your Bid guides are all available via the Useful Information page on our website or you can click the links here for top tips on

Iman says: “The key words in successful funding applications are content and clarity.

“If you can provide clear and concise answers to all the questions posed by the funder it will save time and frustration as well as convincing them that you are taking a professional approach to the application.

“If you can make life easy for them, they may well be more disposed to make life a lot better for you!”

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Steering Cox and Hound

Posted on 9th November 2011 by

uk mapHere’s your chance to guide the future of British broadcasting… or at least one small part of it!

Radio One DJ Sarah Cox and comedian Rufus Hound are about to embark on a camper van tour of the UK, showcasing National Lottery-funded projects and highlighting the difference they make to their surrounding communities.

There’s a choice of two projects in each area, with Cox and Hound only visiting the project that gets the most votes. At each location they will take part in a ‘challenge’ to be featured on the National Lottery draw show on BBC1 on Saturday November 19.

Two projects that have received Community Spaces grants are in contention – Rosliston Forestry Centre in Derbyshire representing the Midlands, and Sheffield Manor Lodge in South Yorkshire representing the North.

To vote, go the Cox and Hound Facebook page then follow the instructions on screen.

Simple!

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Singing for joy in Mytholmroyd

Posted on 4th November 2011 by


A corner of Yorkshire has its own junior version of the Three Choirs Festival thanks to the team behind a Community Spaces project.

Royd Regeneration, which secured a CS grant to renovate a memorial garden in Mytholmroyd, has been using its additional Sustainability Grant to hold events in the new garden.

mytholmroyd choirThe latest was held to unveil the restored statue of a soldier on the village war memorial. Children from three local primary schools came together to sing at the event and they proved such a hit that the choir is being brought back to sing at the forthcoming Remembrance Day service on November 13 as well as carol concerts in December and a “Wake up the Garden” event planned for next March.

Jade Smith of Royd Regeneration says: “The children were absolutely marvellous. They were fascinated by the history of the war memorial as almost all the 132 men named on it were from their schools and some of them were related.”

The war memorial was originally unveiled in 1922 by local First World War veteran Gilbert Hartley. It was vandalised in 1992 and the head was stolen. A replacement proved universally unpopular with villagers, says Jade.

Once the memorial garden was built, local campaigners set about finding a new head for their statue. They commissioned West Riding Stone Carvers to make a fresh replacement, which was unveiled at the latest event by Gilbert Hartley’s daughter Barbara Jeffrey, accompanied by her great-grandchildren.

Work on the statue was funded by private donations, street collections and a grant from Calderdale Council.

Jade adds: “We had the new head in place and covered with a sheet for three weeks before it was officially launched and I am delighted to say that our local youngsters respected the site and left it well alone until the unveiling.”

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Fields of dreams

Posted on 3rd November 2011 by

There’s still a couple of weeks to nominate your favourite playing field for adoption as a Queen Elizabeth II Field, safeguarding it for future generations.
As part of the The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Fields in Trust launched the Save a Space for Me campaign with a special video message from the charity’s Patron Prince William.
Until November 18 you can vote to protect 2012 parks, playing fields and playgrounds. As well as being protected for the future, Queen Elizabeth II Fields in England and Wales can apply for a grant from the £1 million SITA Trust fund to make these spaces even better.
To vote, visit www.qe2fields.com and search by your postcode or look under the local authority list. When you find one you know and love, or even one you just like the look of, you can click to show your support. If there isn’t one in your area you can complete the form on the page, the Call to Action.
So get voting!

 

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November project launches

Posted on 1st November 2011 by

Another busy month of Community Spaces project launches… Why not get along and lend your support?
And don’t forget to send us pictures, videos and reports of your launch events.
Good luck!

November 2
Leybourne Community Group
Youth Active Play Area
Oxley Shaw Lane
Leybourne
Kent
ME19 5QL
Play area, pathways improvement, new planting

November 5
Rattlesden Community Council
Pavilion Play Area
Rattlesden Community Pavilion
Rattlesden
Suffolk
IP30 0RT
Play equipment, ball play area

East Cottingwith Outdoor Play Association
East Cottingwith Outdoor Play Area
Green Lane
East Cottingwith
York
YO42 4TT
Playground

Stoke by Nayland Recreation Ground Committee
Stoke by Nayland Play Area Project
Playing field off School Street
Stoke By Nayland
Colchester
Essex
CO6 4QY
Playground

Bidbury Mead Friends
Improved entrance to Bidbury Mead
Bedhampton Road
Havant
Hampshire
PO9 3EU
Improved access and gates for popular park

November 6
Play Area Implementation Team for Dundry Parish Plan
Dundry Village Play Area
Crabtree Lane
Dundry
Somerset
BS419LN
Playground, new seating

November 11
Stapeley Parish Action Group (SPAG)
Stapeley Playground Project
Pear Tree Field
Stapeley
Nantwich
Cheshire
CW5 7GZ
Playground

November 12
Burham Senior Youth
Burham Skate Ramp – Mark II
Burham Recreation Ground
Rochester Road
Burham
Kent
ME1 3SH
Skate ramp

Bourn Youth Project
Jubilee
The Jubilee Playing Field
Alms Hill
Bourn
Cambridgeshire
CB23 2SH
Playground

Reighton Village Hall Committee
Reighton Village Hall Community Area
St Helens Lane
Reighton
North Yorkshire
YO14 9SB
Playground, landscaping

November 19
Friends of Davyhulme Park
All to Play For, Davyhulme
Davyhulme Park
Croftsbank Road
Davyhulme
Manchester
M41 0RX
Playground

Dutton Close Residents Association
Dutton Close Play Park
Stoke Heath
Market Drayton
Shropshire
TF9 2JW
Playground

Friends of Meadowside
Meadowside Play Area
Storrington
Pulborough
West Sussex
RH20 4EG
Playground, picnic area

Bibury Play
Field on land to the south of B4425
Cirencester to Bibury Road
Arlington
Bibury
Gloucestershire
GL7 5ND
Playground

November 21
Exhibition & Brandling Parks Community Trust
The Lakeside Explorer
Exhibition Park Lake
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 4LZ
Lakeside wet area nature trail and educational experience

November 26
Godstone at Play
Godstone Green
High Street
Godstone
Surrey
RH9 8DT
Playground

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