A GROUP of parents from North Petherwin have come together to raise money for the next phase of improvements to children’s play facilities in the village.

North Petherwin Parish Hall is home to a popular children’s play area, but much of its equipment is reaching the end of its life and is no longer fit for purpose. Parents in the village joined forces with the Parish Hall Management Committee in 2018 to commence a three-phase project to overhaul and upgrade the equipment, improving facilities and accessibility.

The group said: “We’re so lucky to have a playground in a lovely location with lots of parking and toilet facilities, but until we began the North Petherwin Parish Hall Playground Project in 2019 the equipment at the park hadn’t been touched in over 20 years. Many parents in the village can remember playing on the current play equipment in their youth, and now their own children are using the same outdated and degraded facilities.

“The playground is a popular after-school meeting place and a vital space for children to meet, socialise and play outdoors safely, particularly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also used by North Petherwin’s brilliant Youth Club for children of eight years and over, which hopes to restart as soon as restrictions allow. We’d love to secure funding to create a modern, safe space for children and families to meet and play.”

Phase One of the project was funded by generous support from the Cornwall Community Fund, North Petherwin Parish Council and Launceston Rotary Club. It focused on the youngest children in the parish and saw the completion in April 2020 of a new pirate-ship-themed toddler climbing unit, springy toy and basket swing, complete with new bound rubber mulch surfacing and a new pathway facilitating disabled access. An award under the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme saw the addition of new baby change facilities to the disabled toilet and the replacement of a picnic bench in May 2021.

The team is now looking to push on with Phase Two, which aims to improve play provision for older children by replacing a worn and outdated roundabout with an exciting new Rota Net feature — an elevated, rotating climbing net! They have launched a Crowdfunder project as part of a competition to secure a £5,000 grant from the Calor Rural Community Fund towards the £10,000 total cost, and local people are encouraged to get behind the project by ‘liking’ and ‘sharing’ the project page at communityfund.calor.co.uk/north-petherwin-parish-hall-playground-project.

People’s ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ will win the project one point, and a donation will win the project ten points in the competition to secure as many points as possible by the close of the public supporting phase on July 7.

The fundraising team said: “We’re so thankful for all the support we’ve received so far, and for all the hard work that villagers have put in to bring Phase One to life. It takes just two minutes to visit our Crowdfunder page and log in to like and share our project — we’d love it if as many people as possible could support and promote our campaign to win Calor funding for North Petherwin Parish Hall Playground in order to make Phase Two possible. Your likes shares and donations will help get us to the final!”

There are 11 £5,000 awards on offer, and those finalists that do not secure an award will receive a £500 donation as runners-up.

Finalists in the grant competition will be announced on July 28, and the winners on August 8.

To lend support to the project before the July 7 deadline, visit communityfund.calor.co.uk/north-petherwin-parish-hall-playground-project