23 Oct 2023
There are just days left in a community campaign to raise money for a new playground in part of St Albans.
Let’s Play at Bernards Heath was set up four years ago with the aim of raising £100,000 to renovate the tired old playground in the local park.
With a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis, it’s been a challenging time to raise funds since the charity’s inception in summer 2019, but the charity team has overcome a range of hurdles and is proud that there will definitely be a new playground on the Heath by next spring.
Although most of the funds are now in place, hitting the £100K target would mean the difference between basic equipment and much appreciated enhancements and more robust facilities, which would vastly benefit children’s play experiences and increase the longevity of the playground.
Pearce, chairman of Let’s Play at Bernards Heath, explained: “After so many setbacks, it feels amazing to finally be able to say Bernards Heath will have a new playground next year. With one final push, we can reach our 100K target, which will ensure it’s the very best it can be.
“Your donations will make such a difference to all the families who use the Heath, as the current equipment is more than 25 years old and is very uninspiring.
“The new design appeals to a much wider range of ages and abilities, with numerous pieces offering an opportunity for inclusive play.
“With the extended deadline of November 5 fast approaching for our highly popular Buy-a-Brick campaign, this is your last chance to show your support with a personalised message carved in stone in the playground’s path.”
The charity launched the Buy-a-Brick to offer the opportunity to donate in return for a professionally engraved paving brick.
With a nod to Bernards Heath’s brick-making past, the initiative will see engraved paving bricks placed at the entrance to the all-new playground, providing a permanent tribute to benefactors and lasting memories for local families who may wish to have their children’s names engraved.
For a suggested minimum donation of £100, single bricks can hold two lines of text and double pavers four lines, with 16 characters per line permitted. While organisations, clubs and businesses are also welcome to ‘Buy-a-Brick’, the charity would invite them to consider having their logo proudly displayed on the playground’s Benefactors’ Board.
David added: “The new playground will benefit hundreds of families nearby. It’s no longer a question of whether there’ll be a new play area; it’s all about how good we can make the new playground. With around £75,000 already raised, this really is the final countdown and one fantastic last chance for the local community and businesses to not only donate but to cement a lasting and personalised contribution.
“This final initiative will, quite literally, pave the way for a fantastic new facility on Bernards Heath. If we can secure sponsors for 250 bricks that would make a huge difference and enable us to purchase more of the equipment items requested by children in the area. To quote a local American resident who WhatsApp’d a Pink Floyd reference to encourage others – ‘There’s another brick in y’all!’”
To back the ‘Buy-a-Brick’ campaign visit www.letsplayatbernardsheath.org
