COMMUNITY GROUPS GET MILLIONS TO CREATE LIVING SPACES
22 Dec 2004 03:15 PM
More than 3.8 million is being awarded to community groups to help
create cleaner, safer, greener neighbourhoods, through the
Government's Living Spaces programme.
ODPM Minister Phil Hope today announced the latest allocations from
the 30 million scheme, which is providing the funds and support to
help people improve their local environment - the gardens, parks,
play areas and other public areas - near to where they live.
New projects receiving funding include a street community garden in
Manchester, a nature reserve restoration in Stanmore, a children's
play area in Preston, a 'chill out zone' in Birmingham, and a park
bandstand renovation in Wednesbury.
The impact of Living Spaces in improving people's quality of life is
illustrated in its first annual review, also launched today by Phil
Hope.
In its first year, the programme has so far helped groups create or
improve 121 play areas, 69 community gardens, 23 local parks, 30
footpaths and 20 village greens.
Phil Hope said:
"Living Spaces is all about giving people more power to improve their
quality of life. Too often local neighbourhood issues that really
matter to people - dirty streets, broken swings, neglected parks -
have been dismissed as a trivial concern but they in fact determine
how we feel about the places we live. Living Spaces has enabled
people to take control of their surroundings and improve their local
environment to create cleaner, safer, greener neighbourhoods.
"The first year of Living Spaces has been exciting and challenging.
We've been able to offer nearly 8 million to over 300 groups. And
the achievements speak for themselves, with projects ranging from an
Italian garden in Blackpool to a play area in Penzance.
"Today I am delighted to announce that a further 177 community groups
will be benefiting from awards totalling more than 3.8 million.
Through Living Spaces we hope that many people will see they have the
power to change their surroundings for the better and for good."
The ODPM is collaborating closely with Groundwork, the environmental
charity that, with support from Green Space, manages the Living
Spaces scheme.
Groundwork's Chief Executive Tony Hawkhead said:
"Getting local people involved in making their neighbourhoods better
places to live is what Groundwork is all about. We believe that the
best way to make improvements last is to give communities the tools
to improve their local environment themselves. Groundwork is
delighted to play a role in helping local people help themselves."
Groups that have received support since Living Spaces started include
the Droylsden Road Tenants' and Residents' Association, in Audenshaw,
East Manchester.
The association received a grant of 25,000 to tackle the lack of
green space on its estate, and members found the expert support
provided by Living Spaces guided them through the project
step-by-step.
Instead of a dingy wheelie bin alley, they now have a community
garden for everyone to enjoy.
Residents of Haslingfield in Cambridgeshire have also received a
Living Spaces grant towards the cost of a skate park.
Young people in the village had few facilities and their needs were
being overlooked in favour of other concerns. But thanks to Living
Spaces and a lot of hard work by the Haslingfield Skate Park Project,
youngsters now have a new purpose-built site where they can skate
safely.
Project member Karin Faruqi believes that this is just the start for
her group.
She said:
"It's not the end. Our committee will stay together to monitor how
things go but also to look at what else we can do in the village."
Successful groups are also receiving practical support and expert
advice on how to deliver their projects.
A network of trained Living Spaces advisors is on hand to help groups
think through their ideas, plan their projects and develop detailed
budgets and action plans.
They can also put groups in touch with other local organisations who
can help to ensure the projects are a success.
Notes to editors
1. Groundwork's annual review is now available on their website, at
www.living-spaces.co.uk
2. Living Spaces is funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister. It is managed by Groundwork with support from GreenSpace
and is run in association with The Civic Trust, The Experience Corps,
BTCV, The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, and The
Wildlife Trusts.
3. Living Spaces is not currently accepting new applications for
funding. This does not mean an end to the scheme. The Living Spaces
partner organisations are working with partners across Government and
elsewhere to ensure that Living Spaces, or a similar type of funding
scheme, will continue in the future. Check the Living Spaces website
regularly for updates
4. The Government's Cleaner Safer Greener Communities drive brings
together government programmes that improve the quality of parks and
public spaces and make local environments better places to live. For
more information, visit the website at www.cleanersafergreener.gov.uk
Living Spaces grants announced today:
Name of group Name of project Award Location Type of
project
Addingham Garden A. Addington 5,000 Ilkley Streetscape
Friends War Memorial B. / town
Addington
Library
Precinct
Agecroft Community Agecroft Play 40,000 Manchester Play area
Together (Act) Park
Taverham Woodland All-access' 4,500 Norwich Access
Volunteers path, Ghosthill improvement
Wood
Aller Recreation Aller 25,000 Langport Play area
Project Recreation
Field Project
Aveley Community Aveley 25,000 Grays Skate park
Forum Community
Partnership
Project
Artmarkit Balham 24,770 London Streetscape
Community Space / town
Rickmansworth Batchworth Lock 8,000 Rickmansworth Play area
Waterways Trust Canal Centre
Ltd
Bugle Youth And Beam Lane Youth 25,000 St. Austell Skate park
Sport Project Community
Project
Friends Of Bentley Bentley Priory 24,500 Stanmore Nature
Priory Nature Nature Reserve area /
Reserve Restoration Wildlife
Project area
Burton-Upon-StatherBins and 3,597 Scunthorpe Village
Playing Fields Benches green /
Association Seating
area
Rothwell In Bloom Blackburn Hall 15,585 Leeds Community
Community Park Garden
Edmondsley Village BMX 10,000 Durham Access
Partnership biodiversity improvement
scheme
Little Shelford Bradmere Pond 1,100 Cambridge Nature
Wildlife And and Hedging area /
Environmental Wildlife
Group area
The Friends Of Brooks Drive 15,000 Altrincham Access
Brooks Drive Hedgerow improvement
Improvement
Buckhurst Fields Buckhurst 92,470 Swindon Pocket
Project Group Fields Park
Development
Burnham Market Burnham Market 10,000 King's Lynn Play area
Playing Field Children's Play
Association - Area
Children's Play
Area
Cbt/ Callington Callington 22,172 Liskeard Skate park
Town Forum Skate Park
Castlemere Castlemere 25,000 Rochdale Community
Community Centre Community Garden
Centre
Landscaping
Improvements
Cathedral Roads Cathedral Roads 13,600 Chester Play area
Kids Project Kids Project
Burnley Golf Club Centenary Garen 18,000 Burnley Community
Project Garden
Central Estate Central Park 30,000 Hartlepool Local
Interim Management Re-development parks
Board /Improvement
Scheme
Ceres Court Ceres Court 25,000 Sittingbourne Community
Project Group Project Garden
Charing Playing Charing Playing 53,450 Ashford Access
Field Committee Field Alder Bed improvement
and Wetland
Meadow
Mereside Village Children 24,900 Huntingdon Local
Association Playground and parks
Multi-use Games
Area
West Winch Children's Play 24,450 King's Lynn Play area
Children's Fund Area Project
Project
Walton Le Dale Children's Play 25,000 Preston Play area
Recreational Area
Society Regeneration
Stourpaine Playing Children's Play 4,066 Blandford Play area
Fields Association Area Upgrade Forum
The Clifford Clifford Rec 19,392 Stratford-UponPlay area
Pounders
St Paul's Community 24,000 London Churchyard
Community Centre Churchyard/ improvement
(Committee) Matrimony Place
Refurbishment
Project
Second Nature Life Community 19,500 Rotherham Community
Support Garden Garden
Riverside Island Community 50,000 Salford Play area
Tenants And Garden Project
Residents
Association
Cottenham Cottenham 7,688 Cambridge Skate park
Skateboard Project Skateboard
Committee Project
Friends Of Cottons Cottons Park 25,000 Romford Play area
Park Childrens
Playground/
teenage village
Friends Of Cramper's Field 25,000 Coventry Village
Cramper's Field Recreational green /
Space Seating
area
Crown Meadow Crown Meadow 25,000 Slough Nature
United Association Wildlife area /
Heritage Wildlife
area
Bucknell Memorial Daffodil Lane 11,593 Bucknell Village
Hall Project green /
Seating
area
Morts Astley Damhouse 25,000 Manchester Woodlands
Heritage Trust Woodland and
Historic
Gardens
De Beauvoir Square De Beauvoir 24,000 London Play area
User Group Square
Playground
Project
Derby, Lune And Derby Road Play 20,000 Lancaster Play area
Park Tenants And Area
Residents
Association
Easter Compton Sk8 Easter Compton 22,000 Bristol Play area
Park Project Sk8 Park
Project
Easton Community Easton Garden 15,000 Portland Play area
Group Enhancement
Nettlestone And Eddington Road 10,000 Seaview Play area
Seaview Parish Play Area
Community
Partnership
Friends Of Edmonds Edmonds Court 17,687 Birmingham Village
Court 'Chill out green /
Zone' Seating
area
Elizabeth Park Elizabeth Park 24,577 Leamington Community
Venture Improvements Spa Garden
Spital Estate Elizabethan 6,300 Newbiggin-By-TCommunity
Community Hall Garden Garden
Association
The Ferryhill Environmental 13,572 Ferryhill Community
Station & Chiltern Improvements Garden
Lane Residents Strategy for
Association Ferryhill
Station
(priority site
1-5 piece)
Fairstead Area Fairstead 22,663 King's Lynn Community
Beighbourhood Doorstep Green Garden
Group
Friends Of Family Fitness 11,150 Worcester Trim
Ronkswood Fields & Fun' trails
'Newtown Green'
Farncombe Quiet Farncombe Quiet 10,000 Godalming Churchyard
Garden Group Garden Project improvement
Plymouth And Filham Park 30,000 Torpoint Ponds
District Course Course Angling
Angling Club and Wildlife
Project
Finsbury Park Finsbury Park 10,000 London Access
Sculpture Project Sculpture Trail improvement
Garston Adventure G.A.P. 22,500 Liverpool Play area
Playground
G.R.E.A.T. Gawsworth 100,000Macclesfield Local
(Gainsworth Recreation parks
Recreation And Ground
Environment
Actionteam)
Friends Of Gedling Gedling House 19,407 Nottingham Nature
House Woods (Fghw) Woods and area /
Meadowland - Wildlife
replacement of area
fences and
hedgerows.
Station Lane George Street 58,382 Chester Le Community
Residents Pocket Park Street Garden
Association
Great Houghton Great Houghton 1,598 Northampton Pocket
Pocket Park Group Pocket Park Park
Friends Of Green Green Oak Park 44,500 Sheffield Play area
Oak Park Youth Project
N E W T R A C Guinness Trust 34,268 Rochdale Kick-about
Field area
The Macclesfield Gurnett Towpath 4,795 Macclesfield Access
Canal Society Tree Clearance improvement
The Hadlow Society Hadlow Access 21,410 Tonbridge Access
Trail improvement
Hapton Meadow Hapton Meadow 2,860 Norwich Village
Fundraising Group green /
Seating
area
Heathpark Heathpark 12,500 Honiton Community
Community Project Community Garden
Garden Project
Green Association Henry Barber 80,000 Birmingham Play area
Park
Friends Of The Hickman Bacon 24,955 Lincoln Local
Levellings Memorial Park parks
Committee Regeneration
Doorstep User Holgate Moor 41,257 Darlington Community
Group Doorstep Green Garden
Huddersfield Huddersfield 8,734 Huddersfield Community
Chinese Community Chinese Garden
Centre Community
Centre Garden
Hundon Playarea Hundon PlayArea 10,000 Sudbury Play area
Project Project
Friends Of Improvements to 12,464 Stockton- On- Local
Victorian the War Tees parks
Eaglescliffe Memorial Park,
Eaglescliffe
The Barlow Improving Play 24,500 Bolton Play area
Management Facilities and
Committee Environment
Nurseries Estate Improving 7,000 Sale Kick-about
Homewatch safety and area
Association security of
estate main
field area
Beadnell Jubilee Improving 5,000 Chathill Village
Fund Village Green green /
(The Bull Ring) Seating
area
Nuneaton And Jubilee BMX 6,900 Nuneaton No Other
Bedworth Skate Park Types
Park Management
Committee
Kedermister Kedermister 25,000 Slough Local
Residents & Park parks
Tenants
Association
Strete Youth Club Kid's 22,887 Dartmouth Play area
playground
Mayfield Village King George's 12,962 Mayfield Play area
Community Group Field, Mayfield
- Community
Project
Kingsdown Avenue Kingsdown Youth 024,955Birmingham Play area
Residents Project
Association
Friends Of Kingsway Park 17,000 Nottingham Local
Kingsway Park parks
Kingswear Combined Kingswear Play 25,000 Dartmouth Play area
Charities, Park
Children's Social
Club
The Friends Of Ladybarn Sports 14,820 Manchester Skate park
Ladybarn Park Project (2nd
Group Phase)
Ledbury Ledbury 10,341 Ledbury Access
Greenspaces Riverside and improvement
Interpretation Town Trail
Working Party Project
Leigh Recreation Leigh 25,000 Stoke- On- Play area
Fields Management Recreation Trent
Committee Field Play Area
Little Dunham Little Dunham 15,000 King's Lynn Play area
Playground Playground
Committee
Little Wenlock Little Wenlock 7,500 Telford Play area
Village Hall And Play Area
Playing Field Improvement
Committee Scheme
Lode Playground Lode PLayground 6,000 Cambridge Play area
Group Refurbishment
Lound Village Hall Lound Doorstep 5,000 Lowestoft Village
And Recreation Green green /
Ground Trust Seating
area
Friends Of Manley Manley Park 25,000 Manchester Kick-about
Park Improvements area
(Phase 2)
Mary Ann Gardens, Mary Ann 65,000 London Community
Albury Street Gardens Garden
Tenants' And Children's
Residents' Playground
Association Redevlopment
Top Of Town Mason Road 23,825 Stroud Play area
Community Playing Fields
Association (none but
entered as...)
Scott Community Mawdsley Park 45,500 Ormskirk Kick-about
Association area
Radburn Estate Meadow Court 25,000 Doncaster Play area
Tenants And Play Area
Residents
Assocation (Tara)
Meadow Stiles Meadow Stiles 25,000 High Wycombe Play area
Parents Group Regeneration
Project
Burgh Society Memorial 9,350 Norwich Village
Reading Room Seating Area green /
Seating
area
Milton Community Milton Skate 10,791 Cambridge Skate park
Centre And Park (Phase
Recreation Grounds III)
(Mcc)
Milton Street Park Milton Street 3,666 Manchester Community
Park Garden
The South House Model Village 8,000 Chelmsford Nature
Residents Society Environment area /
Project Wildlife
area
The Calthorpe New Security, 24,528 London Community
Project New Community Garden
The Friends Of New New Street 23,000 Horsham Pocket
Street Gardens Gardens Park
North Ormesby North Ormesby 58,500 Middlesbrough Play area
Youth Group Young People's
Project
Carrbrook Bowling Our Park 24,999 Stalybridge Access
Club improvement
Blisland Mums And Overhaul of 2,965 Bodmin Play area
Toddlers Club children's play
area to meet
health and
safety regs
Methwold Parish Parish 16,906 Thetford Play area
Recreation Recreation
Association Upgrade Project
Parklands Parklands Play 24,741 Northampton Play area
Community Area
Association
Victoria Close Play Area and 25,000 Wimborne Play area
Tenants And Community
Residents Garden
Association
The Cutteslowe Playground 25,000 Oxford Play area
Sunnymead Group (5-14)
Langley Playground Playground 5,000 Saffron Play area
Committee Renovation Walden
Otley Disability Playgrounds for 10,000 Otley Play area
Advisory Group All
Friends Of Bishops Playing Field 82,575 Bishops Local
Castle Playing for C21 Castle parks
Field
Whirlow Hall Farm Project 24,850 Sheffield Access
Trust Walkwell improvement
Friends Of Quarry Quarry Bank 7,000 Altrincham Community
Bank Community Community Garden
Garden Project Garden Project
Queensway Queensway/Cobham95,000 Ipswich Local
Community Action Road Park - parks
Team Doorstep Green
The Radcliffe Radcliffe 5,000 Manchester Play area
Association Of Community
Dedicated Skaters Skatepark
Preston Bissett Recreation Area 10,000 Buckingham Play area
Leisure Facilities Project - phase
Committee 2
Reeth Community Reeth Community 21,500 Richmond Community
Orchard Group Orchard Garden
Grindleton Refurbishment 14,928 Clitheroe Play area
Recreation Ground of Grindleton
Charity Recreation
Ground
Morris Green Refurbishment 20,000 Bolton Local
Community of Morris Green parks
Association Park
Lapford Playing Regeneration of 20,000 Crediton Play area
Field Trust Playing Field
Brunswick Park Renovation of 50,000 Wednesbury Local
Friends Group Brunswick Park parks
Bandstand
S C A R A : Renovation of 20,000 Surbiton Courts &
Surbiton Centre St Andrews squares
Area Residents' Square
Association
Riccall Recreation Riccall 25,000 York Play area
Development Group Recreation
Ground
Development
Ridgeway Street Ridgeway Street 25,000 Manchester Community
Community Garden Community Garden
Project Garden
Risby Village Hall Risby Play Area 25,000 Bury St. Play area
Charity Trust Regeneration Edmunds
Winthorpe Youth Roy Teeling 40,453 Skegness Play area
And Residents Memorial Park
Association
Sheldon Playground Sheldon 23,000 Honiton Play area
Group Playground
Group
Cropthorne And Sheppey Playing 24,268 Pershore Play area
Charlton Village Field Project
Hall And Playing
Field Management
Committee
Sherwin Swingers Sherwin 6,253 Rochdale Streetscape
Swingers / town
South Brent South Brent 2,500 South Brent Skate park
Recreation Area Skate Park
Refurbishment
Project
Ventnor Botanic Southern 42,000 Ventnor Access
Gardens Friends Hemisphere improvement
Society Garden
Newtown Tenants' St Marie's 24,774 Widnes Village
And Residents' Community Park green /
Forum Project Seating
area
St Neots And St Neots and 100,000St Neots Play area
District Crime District
Prevention Panel Skatepark
Ltd Project
St Silas Church, St Silas 18,166 Newcastle Community
Byker Community Upon Tyne Garden
Development
Standlake Standlake 8,744 Witney Play area
Recreation Group Recreation
Project -
Climbing
Boulder
Staveley Village Staveley 7,000 Kendal Kick-about
Enterprises Hardplay Area area
Steppingley Steppingley 10,000 Bedford Play area
Toddler Group Play area
Stonnall And Lynn Stonnall Youth 4,950 Walsall Play area
Playing Fields Activity Area
Association
Tedburn St. Mary Tedburn St Mary 2,540 Exeter Play area
Millenium Community
Enhancement Group Orchard
Constantine The Bank 22,900 Falmouth Village
Enterprise Co. Ltd green /
Seating
area
The Chiswell The Chiswell 5,000 Portland Community
Community Trust Walled Garden Garden
(A Doorstep
Green)
Dodworth Miners The creation of 21,000 Barnsley Play area
Welfare Scheme a picnic / play
area.
The H.C.P. Friends The H.C.P. 44,853 Liverpool Village
Club Friends Club green /
Seating
area
The Friends Of The Hindle 23,500 Darwen Local
Bold Venture Park Pergola Project parks
The Matlock The Matlock 20,000 Matlock Play area
Rampage Project Rampage Project
The Millbeck The Millbeck 4,500 Cottingham Nature
Wildlife And Wildlife and area /
Recreational Group Recreational Wildlife
Wildlife area
Enhancement
Project.
New Ash Green The Orchard: 19,059 Longfield Community
Village Rejuvenation. Garden
Association Ltd Access.
Heritage
Playground The Playground 35,000 Penrith Play area
Committee at the Park
Secret Memorial The Secret 10,450 Exeter Community
Garden Gang Memorial Garden Garden
Church Warsop The Triangle 79,518 Mansfield Village
Joint Action Group green /
(J.A.G.) Seating
area
Community The Valley 25,000 Manchester Pocket
Association Fields Project Park
Partington
C.H.I.P.S. The West Weares 5,000 Portland Village
(Chiswell In Project green /
Partnership With Seating
The Sea) area
Friends Of The Winter 24,000 London Community
Battersea Park Garden, Garden
Battersea Park
Thorndon Under Thorndon Play 22,496 Eye Play area
Fives Area
Threeways Threeways Play 7,218 Chichester Play area
Residents Group Park
Tip Field Task Tip Field, 40,800 Rotherham Play area
Group Maltby
Moston Meadows Trees for 22,809 Manchester Streetscape
Residents Moston / town
Association
Upper Wharfedale Upper 16,765 Skipton Play area
Playground 2000 Wharfedale
Playground 2000
Friends Of Uppermill Park 24,950 Oldham Play area
Uppermill Park Park
Friends Of Vicarage Road 35,000 Teddington Play area
Vicarage Road Playpark
Playpark Regeneration
Project
Ramsey Heights Village Green 25,000 Huntingdon Nature
Community Trust Space area /
Wildlife
area
Fairwarp Village Village 14,500 Uckfield Play area
Hall Committee Green/Playground
Fund
Friends Of Waverley Park 57,235 Newcastle Community
Waverley Park Improvement Upon Tyne Garden
Project
Metamorphosis At Welcoming 24,800 Birmingham Community
The Martineau Visitors Garden
Gardens
Ringmore Way West Park Green 19,261 Plymouth Play area
Neighbourhood Wander
Residents Forum
Whitbourne Playing Whitbourne 22,000 Worcester Play area
Field Association Playing Field
(W.P.F.A) Development
Grangewood And Whitehorse 7,680 London Ponds
Whitehorse Meadow
Resident Regeneration
Association Project
Whitestone Whitestone 33,000 Prescot Village
Millennium Green Millennium green /
Trust Green Trust Seating
(Phase 2) area
Denshaw Community Wibsey 24,628 Oldham Play area
Association Playground
Refurbishment
Wide Open Forum Wideopen 8,500 Newcastle Streetscape
Planting Upon Tyne / town
Project
The Wilmington Wilmington 24,450 Dartford Village
Society Green Project green /
Seating
area
Withernsea And Withernsea 20,956 Withernsea Skate park
Holderness Play Skate Park and
Action Play Area
Friends Of Woods and 7,950 Middleton Access
Alkrington Woods Waterside Path improvement
Revival
Woolavington Woolavington 21,865 Highbridge Play area
Playing Fields Rural
Association Activities
Project
Neighbourhood Wycliffe Road 2,797 St. Helens Streetscape
Community Group Landscape and / town
Improvement
Project
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