I’ve always been involved with the community: I was a community police officer and I’ve worked with the cubs. Being a mum of three, it’s important to be engaged with local people and issues. But in January 2016, when I took my youngest son, Hugo, three, to the park, one local issue changed my life.
It was flooded and completely inaccessible. It’s 35-years-old, but this problem was bigger than peeling paint. Hugo was so upset that, off the cuff, I said: “Don’t worry, mummy will do something”.
I rang the council from my mobile. They laughed when I asked if they’d consider installing a new playground but said I could go ahead and fundraise myself.
That same afternoon, we went to the Wharfedale Deli, owned by my friend, Jan, and over a cup of tea Jan agreed that local kids deserved somewhere on their doorstep to play. I decided to launch a Facebook page to gauge local interest and Jan said people could drop off letters of support to the deli.
The response was overwhelming. Within three days, more than 300 letters arrived at the deli. Parents and grandparents were passionate about a new playground, but one letter jumped out. It was from Sarah, a mum of four including Enid, who has profound learning difficulties. The local playground had never been suitable for Enid and, as Sarah put it in her letter: “she is excluded from the one area in the village where she could meet other children, play and make friends … where she could be part of the community.”
I was determined to make this happen. Within weeks, I’d organised an under-10s disco and a picnic in the park. To make the events inclusive, I sold tickets on a donation basis, so people paid whatever they could afford.
Since those first few fundraisers, the Burley-in-Wharfedale Playground Project has grown, with more than £36,000 raised of our £100,000 target. More events are coming up, including an open-air concert and two balls in October. I’ve also applied for £50,000 from a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects.
The sense of togetherness we’ve created takes my breath away. From local press support to 10 mums from the village – including Jan – getting fit for a sponsored Three Peaks challenge, the Playground Project has energised the community. We promote local business, and people of all ages – including my own children – are supporting the initiative.
Most of the work, organisation and publicising goes on right at my kitchen table with my cat purring round my legs and Hugo sat opposite me doing painting or drawing. My phone, emails and Facebook go off 24/7 with offers, suggestions, donations and ideas. I’ve had five people turn up at my door this evening to collect items they’ve won in our auction and I have people turn up sporadically with bags of recyclables for the messy play I’m doing in the park next week.
I see it as running a business – this is my tiny acorn that’s growing into a huge oak tree and the leaves are turning green and emerging every day. Recently someone contacted me to sponsor the live music event that meant we had no costs, which was amazing. It’s a job where I’m paid with people’s support and kind words of encouragement. But it’s not like “work” – I hate that word, it’s my life and I love it.
People think I’m a natural fundraiser – nobody knows I’m actually bricking it! In spite of my nerves, I’ll carry on once the new playground is built. One dream is to build a bandstand for young musicians; another is free WiFi in the park. The project has already done so much for the community, and I’m determined to keep improving the village. If you think your community is missing something, chances are many others feel the same. By making it happen, you can show people that with passion, hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
The Co-op Bank, believing in real people, making a real difference
