Pitsmoor Adventure Playground wins community award
Story: Shuna Beckett
There was a buzz at Adventure Playground on Friday 26th February, the day after the Burngreave Community Awards.
Staff, volunteers and children trickled in, exchanging excited comments about the event, the Town Hall (“like Buckingham Palace”) and the cake they demolished afterwards (there were arguments over who had the most slices). But most notably, there was a fierce sense of pride, among children and adults alike, at having won an award for their contribution to the community.
I spoke to Monica, one of the children who attended and had graced the stage to collect the award from the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Talib Hussain, and local Councillors Jackie Drayton and Ibrar Hussain.
She admitted, “I was shy at first cos I was the first person whose name they called out.”
But as soon as her sister joined her on stage, she was excited. She said that she had won the award for litter picking around the area of the Adventure Playground and Burngreave Cemetery, and felt pleased with what she had achieved. “I love coming to the playground. People are nice and I have friends.”
Playground Manager, Patrick Meleady, says that Monica has grown in confidence over the past few years and that her name being called out at the Award Ceremony made him feel very proud.