With rural communities spread over relatively large distances, accessing appropriate playgrounds for children can be difficult.
In one village in north Herefordshire, the Community Development Worker had successfully worked with the community and alongside Herefordshire Council and HCVYS to install a playground for children aged 8-14 using Playbuilder funding.
However, part of the village’s wider plan was the creation of a playground for children under 8 on a different, poorly maintained playground site at the rear of a housing association estate. The housing association was keen to pass ownership and responsibility over to a committee but to whom should it go?
The Community Development Worker was there at the first meeting of enthusiastic, if apprehensive, parents and local residents to hear their hopes and concerns. Since that first meeting the committee, many of whom had never been on a committee or part of a community group before, have made significant progress. The housing association will retain ownership of the land while the parish council are now on board to maintain the land.
The committee, now flourishing and visibly more confident, are all set for the next phase of the project – consulting with the local community and the specifically, the children about what they want to see on the site. HVA’s community development worker is working closely with HCVYS on developing forms of consultation appropriate for the under 8s.
