This is the first day of a daily blog by Rob Groves, Founding Director of Friends of Hardie Park.
Before I start typing I must state a few facts:
1. I am saying it’s a daily blog otherwise I will write today’s and not do another for 3 months (actually make that 9)
2. It was my wife, Mandie’s idea that I should blog every day (and she has all the good ideas)
3. I won’t post every day, I’m simply not that consistent.
Now that’s out of the way – Let me share a little of what’s been happening with our project lately.
Well let’s just say that too much has been happening to share all in one go.
The basic history in less than 10 bullet points.
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Newspaper article
The Council installed some brand new play equipment in 2009, a vandal scorched it to the ground, community leaders came together to talk about it, then left and forgot about it.
- I decided to do something (inspired by my little lad Ethan who was 6, who wrote a letter to our local paper.)
- I hooked up with some local mums (like you do) and we decided to start raising funds and surveying people in the park about the issues and what improvements could be made.
- We ran an Easter Egg Hunt and raised over £1500 (much to our own surprise)
- We formed as a Company in July 2012
- A few more people volunteered to get involved, namely Shane Ralph and Liz Brown (now my co-Directors)
- I shared my vision to have a building with a cafe and toilets in the park.
- Shane got fed up talking about the building and went and got one donated.
- We’re 50% of the way to opening the building – and it has all been done on a shoestring and without much support (or resistance) from Thurrock Council.
- This is bullet point number 10 and I said I’d do it in less!
So here we are six years down the line and I must take stock and reflect on all that we have achieved since 2009.
The first thing that I acknowledge is I didn’t do this on my own – in fact other than a whole lot of time spent at my computer doing admin, most of of this has been a journey that I have embarked upon with some very good people. I won’t name any here to save embarrassment (and I’m likely to forget someone and cause upset) – suffice to say that this has been a team effort – a team built entirely of local people without the help of any “experts”, consultants or advisers. We are simple folk, with a simple aim – to transform a local park and in doing so, help to transform our (already fairly) wonderful community.
Equally, as an organisation we haven’t operated alone without support or help from other organisations. Here I can confidently name a few – the local churches; St. Margaret’s, Gateway People’s Centre, Fresh Hope Community, The Salvation Army and Thurrock Christian Fellowship have all lent us stuff or helped at events, as have the Hope Committee, The Stanford Forum and both 1st Stanford-le-Hope and 1st Thors Oak Scout groups. Hassenbrook Academy and St. Clere’s School have done printing and all the local primary schools have distributed leaflets to families – and I cannot overstate the impact that these partnerships have on the work we have done – to borrow a phrase from a well known supermarket, literally “Every little helps” when it comes to community projects.
There have been some other things that have helped us on the way too (and this might be especially interesting for those who might read this blog for inspiration for their own projects) – About 4 or 5 years ago my brother-in-law, James Brabyn set up a Facebook Group for our local town, initially just to share some old photographs of his Dad’s – but with many hours of moderation and administration, this quickly grew into an invaluable community communication tool and it is talked about within our local Council often because of its’ impact – at present it has over 12,000 members. I couldn’t imagine not using the group to publicise our events, ask for help and recruit helpers – it really has helped us in our work and if your town doesn’t have one I recommend you start one.
I think that’s enough for the first day’s blog (no point wearing myself out too quickly) so I shall write again tomorrow with a little something on the vision for the park and where we have got to so far…’til tomorrow. Rob.