Two Rivers' residents clinch £50k Lottery funding

The Big Lottery fund, Changing Spaces has awarded residents in Coleford just under £50,000 towards the creation of a community wildlife garden with a play area for children in the local community.

On hearing this exciting news from the Big Lottery Fund and Groundwork UK, community spirited residents took advantage of the heat wave and hosted a celebratory barbeque.

For almost a year, the Tufthorn Community Forum has been working with Two Rivers Housing to develop plans for a community wildlife garden to bring people together of all ages, to grow food, flowers and herbs, sharing skills, time and resources, as well as hosting community celebrations. 

In addition, there will be a play area specially designed for adventurous toddlers through to older children that also includes a multiple games area. Delivery of this project will help to promote a culture of caring and trust within this community.  The Forum’s efforts have been rewarded and residents can begin working towards the completion of this exciting project.

This good news follows months of regular meetings with members of the local community, supported by Two Rivers Housing. Residents were encouraged to develop communication between generations and decided together what would serve the community best.  It transpires that all the hours spent working on all aspects of the project, including layout of the new area, safety and security issues, along with forecasting associated costs, were in fact planning for real sessions.

Sandra Scotford, member of the Tufthorn Community Forum said:
‘We’re overjoyed; we have worked for so long to submit the bid and could only keep our fingers crossed that we’d be successful. This news means that we now have the money we need to really transform our area.’

Jean Birkett, Chair of the Two Rivers Initiatives Board created to fund community initiatives said:
‘The investment into new play facilities that the Big Lottery Fund grant has made possible is excellent news for children, families and the local community.  Play is vitally important for a child’s physical, emotional and social development and the  community garden will play a valuable role in outdoor recreation, providing the local community with an area to relax, interact and meet friends.’

The Forum had already made headway by installing dog foul bins and additional parking spaces to ease street congestion and improve the appearance of the area.

Since 2003, Two Rivers Initiatives has invested over £500,000 in local voluntary community projects.  Increasingly, communities are empowered to make the decisions on any improvements and changes they wish to see. Two Rivers welcomes the formation of residents groups who, by working together can be a powerful means of achieving change that benefits their community.