Help Fundraise for Southwell Playgrounds

Friends of Southwell Parks (FOSP) has been set up by a group of local parents, with the support of Southwell Town Council, to raise funds to improve the recreational areas around Southwell.

Local resident, Jo Harbord who came up with the original idea explains: “After spending last summer taking my 2 children to other newly refurbished parks in the area, I felt that there was no reason why Southwell couldn’t be the same. Southwell is a beautiful place to live and families should be coming here to visit our parks. After speaking to friends and other families with children from 1-15years, I realised there was a lot of support for setting up a fundraising committee”.

An initial informal meeting held last month was attended by over 25 parents, along with Town Councillor Charley Pierpoint, Town & District Councillor Peter Harris and County Councillor Bruce Laughton, who all gave their full support to the initiative.

As well as working with the Town Council, the FOSP committee is now in the process of putting together a thorough 18 month plan, where smaller project teams will focus on organising fundraising events, putting together grant applications and raising awareness amongst residents and local organisations as well as gaining local business support.

“The meeting couldn’t have gone better. It was a very positive and open discussion and it was amazing to meet lots of local people who can bring a wealth of expertise, knowledge and ideas to the team,” said Jo.

The next meeting will be planned in January where FOSP is looking to start 2015 with a bang!

If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, committee member, have experience of working on this type of project or you are a local business, who would like to support the project FOSP is keen to hear from you. Please email Jo at friendsofsouthwellparks@gmail.com or visit our facebook page ‘Friends of Southwell Parks‘.