New year, new funds for Burngreave
Pitsmoor Adventure Playground
The fun doesn’t stop at Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, but funding can be harder to come by. So children, volunteers and staff are thrilled that BBC Children in Need have awarded a major grant to the playground.
The £111,000 grant will fund three playworkers and sessional staff over the next three years, and pay for the refurbishment of the kitchen.
A further donation of £1000 from local resident, Mandy Boyce, has also been greatly appreciated. Mandy donated in memory of her father, Brian Giblin, who was involved in building some of the original playground equipment.
She said: “I thought about having a plaque on a bench to remember Dad, but donating the money to the playground seemed a more lasting tribute to his memory.” Mandy’s gift has already funded the installation of a tractor swing that was donated by local firm, Timberplay.
In more good news, trustees Yanina Koszalinski and Alan Hancock, and volunteers Diane Johnson, Glenda and Peter Giblin, each received a Lord Mayor’s Civic Award for their work supporting play in Burngreave.
Meanwhile the children have had plenty to keep them busy! Regular clean-ups of the area around the playground have helped to keep Burngreave tidy. At Halloween, they made shadow puppets with artists Patrick Amber and Zoe Wright and put on a spooky show. They held a big celebration for St Nicholas’ Day on 6th December, and finished off the year with a Christmas party.
The Burngreave Messenger
The Burngreave Messenger’s future has been secured for three years thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund: Reaching Communities. The £330,000 grant means there will be six issues of the Messenger in 2016, rising to eight issues in 2017 and 2018.
Chair of Trustees Fran Belbin said:
“We’re delighted to have been awarded this grant. People in Burngreave tell us that the Messenger is important for sharing what’s happening, championing local successes and supporting residents to address the issues that affect their lives.”
Steve Barnard has been appointed to the role of Project Manager/Editor. Steve has a strong background in community development roles, most recently as Enterprise Project Manager at the High Green Development Trust.
Steve told us: “This is an exciting new start for the Messenger. I am looking forward to developing the work, supporting the volunteers and ensuring that it continues to serve the Burngreave community into the future.”
A Volunteer Development Worker will be appointed to improve the experience and training of volunteers and support them to develop skills that they can use in other aspects of their lives – to gain employment, to set up a local group or campaign, or simply to become more active in their community. Recruitment is also under way for a Project Administrator.
The Messenger would like to thank everyone who has helped the project since our previous funding came to an end in 2014: the Kathleen Hannay Memorial Trust, Burngreave councillors and advertisers for financial support; and our Project Co-ordinator Amy Palmer, volunteers and partner organisations, who have worked so hard to keep the Messenger going. Want to get involved with your community newspaper?
*To apply for a job at the Messenger see https://www.burngreavemessenger.org/arc hives/january-2016-news/two-newjobs-burngreave-messenger. Contact mail@burngreavemessenger.org or phone 0114 242 0564 to discuss our volunteering opportunities.*
