West Monkton Parish Council celebrates after receiving £188K of National Lottery funding to make significant improvements to Maidenbrook Country Park
West Monkton Parish Council is celebrating after being awarded almost £190K in National Lottery funding to support its work at Maidenbrook Country Park. The park in Maidenbrook Lane, Cheddon Fitzpaine will use the money to employ a Volunteer Coordinator who will help to support existing and new volunteers, manage new equipment and facilities, run activities at a newly created Volunteer Hub, as well as develop groups and activities at the park.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see additional support for existing and future volunteers through new equipment, training, a volunteer hub, new storage area, litter bins and picnic tables, CCTV and toilet facilities.
At the same time, the appointed Volunteer Coordinator will be able to develop a ‘Friends of Maidenbrook Park’ and Adult and Junior Ranger groups. This will help build a community of support for Maidenbrook Country Park moving forward and give the local community improved facilities at the park and more opportunity for events and other activities.
Stuart Haskins, Chair of West Monkton Parish Council, says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to press on with our plans to broaden the range of opportunities available to the community and to our wonderful volunteers. This significant grant enables us to move forward with our plans for the park, making it an integral and central part of our community whilst maintaining a green wedge between Taunton and West Monkton Parish”
Ian Brimacombe, volunteer at Maidenbrook Country Park, says: “I am one of many volunteers here at the park, here on a daily basis either walking my dog, mowing or checking the area. It’s great to see so many people using the open space and now we have received this grant, we can start to plan improvements to the park which will include better equipment for the volunteers. We have many fantastic projects planned, so watch this space and please continue to enjoy Maidenbrook Country Park.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.
To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk