South Stoke Playground

Calender of events

2011-07-15T11:06:00.001+01:00

SOUTH STOKE TEAM WIN £29k grant from SODC for the rec!

2011-06-21T18:04:00.000+01:00

Yes - sleepy South Stoke have triumphed in the SODC Community Investment fund grantsand have been awarded £29534 toward the plan to regenerate the Recreation ground.

Our plan starteed with Play build, evolved through the ORCC Village plan and has been endorsed with a grant by SODC.

We have a further bid submission in at WREN and hope to secure further funding in August.
If we are successful again we will look to start the project in November after fireworks night.

So lets spread the good news and get the momentum rolling.

Recreation Ground Bids Submitted

2011-05-17T07:59:00.000+01:00

How much will it take to update the recreation ground ?

Well play equipment and landscaping are not cheap. After negotiating with the suppliers we have estimates around £75k to £85k.

A large proportion of which is needed to sort out the access to the recreation ground, and construct a proper pathway allowing access throughout the year, for all the community.

If you are reading this and thinking that £75k is a lot of money for the village to raise? You would be right.

We have applied for two grants -
1 - SODC Capital investment fund - £30k
2 - WREN - £42k
These grants have been submitted and are available on soft copy for viewing - please email me or Roy McMillan.

We would like to thank all the people who have helped - Roy McMillan, Catherine Foley, David Allen, Diana Hathaway and Fiona Brown. Also Janet Jones and Geoff Ward who have supplied us with information.

A big thank you to Howie Watkins who has helped us form a plan, and guided us in the mysterious ways of grants funding.

We should be hearing From SODC by the mid July. A positive result from SODC, sets us up nicely for the Wren grant. Our plan is to carry out the major works in November after the fireworks display.

Kevin

Minutes from November meeting -

2010-12-14T09:24:00.000Z

SOUTH STOKE

PLAYGROUND GROUP

Meeting 24 Nov 2010

Present; Kevin Flynn, Roy Mcmillan

David Allen, Catherine Foley, Mark Hathaway

Matters Discussed

1 Progress against the plan – We have a master plan, and with the transfer of £2050 from the Amenities Committee now complete we have £2858 at our disposal. We have explored the option of splitting the project in to smaller packages. Following advice from Ed Nieburg, Grants Officer at SODC , and indications from OSCA – we need to reconsider how we approach the project.

Action – The committee agreed to proceed with the plan as a “Whole” scheme. The following actions points were agreed:

1 – To Meet with Rod Payne (Chair) of the Amenities Committee and secure the AC agreement to the project progressing as a whole vision. (Action KF, DA, RM to arrange)

2- To accept the invitation from Ed Nieburg to attend a briefing meeting, and pick up the advice SODC has to offer.

2a Offers of Help – revisit Jan Connors, David Kennedy and Garden tamers. To secure input on planting and grounds layout/maintenance.

3 Review stakeholders and collaboration. We have identified the following grant funders.

SODC – Capital investment - £42k (60% of total) deadline March.

OSCA – OCC grant funding - £15k deadline January 11th

WREN – Funding £15k May 2011

People we need onside –

Ann Ducker – Geoff Ward, Roy McMillan

OCC – David Sexton

4 Article for South Stoke magazine in Jan - CN

NEXT STEPS

• Meeting with Rod Payne to bring AC online– KF , RM, DA

• Meeting with Ed Nieburg at SODC – KF , RM

• Follow up letter to Geoff Ward – KF

• Construct Grant bid to OSCA? CF, KF

• Bids for the project – Contact contractors – RM?

• Who can we involve –

Planting - Garden club – Jan Connors. Ask for tree donations, Run an adopt a tree scheme, liaise with Graham to see if we can benefit from a tie up with Yattendon estates. action KF

Sponsorship - Pub. Local business network ?, Colliers, Peppards, Bouchiers for Posts and seats, Buffalo, Davis Tate, Warmingham, Richard Wilson etc. Lynn Jenkins would be ideal to coax cash from businesses. KF to speak to Geoff and Lynn

South Stoke Playground Group - Progress report __

2010-12-05T18:30:00.000Z

After a quiet summer - we have regrouped and recruited a couple of fresh faces.
Mark Hathaway and Roy McMillan.

The recent meeting addressed the following points

1 - Secure the backing of the Amenities Committee
2 - Engage help form within the village - ( Gardeners club )
3 - Visit South Oxon DC and take advice on proceeding with grants.
4 - secure the support of SODC and OCC councillors.

We have been advised that the Plan for the recreation ground would achieve a better chance of grant funding as a "whole" scheme. We are looking to proceed with bids (submission date March 2011).

If you feel you could help with planning, Gardening advice, Sponsorship, or Bid documents -
Please email - kflynn2512@aol.com

Thanks

kevin

Letter Writing Competition

2010-02-25T11:44:00.001Z

Letter writing competition – South Stoke village play space

All villagers are eligible to enter a letter writing competition to support South Stoke’s bid to build a new play area on the recreation ground:-

Write about: What you would like to see on the recreation ground, who you would visit a new area with, when you think you would use it, what stops you visiting and using the recreation ground at the moment…draw a picture or ask someone to help you write if you are under 8!

Include: Your name, contact details and age category

Prizes: The winner in each category will receive a small prize, and the overall winner will win a £40 high street shopping voucher … buy a Wii game, treat yourself to toiletries and chocolates, indulge in clothes, books or board games…

Categories: Under 8s 8 to 15 year olds

16 to 25 year olds 21 to 60 year olds

61 year olds and over

Your letters will be included in the portfolio of evidence submitted to Oxfordshire County Council for the PlayBuilder application. Full details are available on the playground blog on the village website at http://www.southstoke.org.uk/ . Post your letter on the site, take it along on the 27^th February to the village hall, or put it through the door of 2 Wallingford Road, 4 Deaconfield or 6 Cross Keys Road before 1pm on 27^th February.

Invitation to view our designs

2010-02-25T11:40:00.001Z

You and your family are invited to a

Public viewing of the

Designs for the new playground

Your comments and views are requested

The Village Hall

Saturday 27^th February 2010 at 2pm – 4pm

3.45 – Winners of the letter writing competition to be announced

Waitrose collection raises £275 for Play Area

2010-02-05T18:34:00.000Z

A big thank you to all those who dropped in their green tokens -

Waitrose have counted them up and have said they will send us £275 towards the new play area!

Don't forget Play deisgner - Carolyn will be at South stoke Rec to hear your views Saturday 6th feb 11 am

TOMORROW

Play Builder documents application notes

2010-02-03T18:16:00.000Z

http://portal.oxfordshire.gov.uk/content/publicnet/council_services/education_learning/early_years_childcare/working_in_early_years/funding/playbuilder/Playbuilder_Grant_Application_Notes.pdf

This link will take you through to a large document outlining the grant guidelines, and what we in South Stoke have to do to secure the funding.

6th Feb 2010 at the REC meet the landscape Designer

2010-01-30T22:46:00.000Z

We have recieved the £2000 Design grant from OCC and appointed a Landscape Deisgner to help us on our project.

Carolyn Place from Antony Stiff Asscoiates at Milton Park, comes highly recommend. carolyn has a successful record of deilvering high quality grant designs to the PlayBuilder Scheme. we hope with her input we can enhance the Proposal we submitted in Spetember and secure furtehr Funding of £40000.

We need your help - come and tell us what you wan to see on the rec. All views welcome.

6th Feb 11 am 2010. See you there.

Waitrose Wallingford selects SSPG as January cause

2010-01-06T11:20:00.000Z

Thanks to David Kennedy - We have been lucky enough to be chosen to be a partner cause for the Waitrise Checkout collection.

An excellent opportunity for us to capitalise on the free John Lewis genourosity.

So spread the word - ask for the green tokens as you stock up on porridge, hot water bottles and other winter essentials.

The more green tokens the more money we raise.

Hope to see lots of South stoke folk in Waitrose

Play Design Success £2000 grant awarded

2009-11-02T19:41:00.001Z

We are delighted to annouce that we are one of the local play schemes that has been chosen for a Play Design grant. The £2000 will enable us to engage a professional Landscape architect to help us understand the best design for the Play area, the village and most importantly for the children to have fun.

We would like to thank all the team that has helped and supported us !

See extract from the award letter

Playbuilder Design grant Submitted

2009-10-23T22:26:00.004+01:00

Well we met the deadline and submtted our Playbuilder Design grant on 23rd October -

Catherine, Fiona, Diana and Tanya held a design and play session last week for a number fo the village children and here are some of the results we have submitted as part of the form !

So what is next -

well we have the playbuilder main grant to apply for and we have the Lottery fund to explore and speak to regard funds for the community space !

Lots to do - details to come on the next meeting -

We are all off of a drink!

Children - tell us want you want in your new playground

2009-10-10T14:23:00.002+01:00

South Stoke Playground

It’s your play space… we need your ideas!

Our playground equipment is tired and unsafe.

We have the chance to apply for some money to get it designed and rebuilt.
First, we need everyone’s ideas to help us put together our bid for funding – especially the children of the village.

What do you think should be the theme of a new playground on the recreation area?
What kind of equipment would you like to play on?
Should there be a garden, benches, somewhere for adults to relax as well as for children to play?

We need a big idea for the play space that will be exciting and somewhere that children want to come and play.

Parents and children are invited to come along and let us know what you think!

Come and join us at Fiona Brown’s house at 5pm – 5.45pm on Friday 16th October to tell us your ideas:
4, Deacon Field
South Stoke

If you can’t make it, please email your ideas to fionakbrown@aol.com or pop a piece of paper through Fiona’s door! We need all ideas by 5pm on Sunday 18th October.

Help us to make the most of our village!

Agreed Constitution

2009-10-09T12:59:00.002+01:00

See attached the agreed constitution which was formally adopted in the meeting this week (8 October 2009). Copies available from Kevin Flynn 07734 335178

CONSTITUTION

South Stoke Playground Working Group - model constitution

Name:
The name of the organisation shall be the South Stoke Playground Working Group, hereafter referred to as the committee.

Purpose:
The purpose of the committee shall be to act as a limited time working group on behalf of the parish council to carry out the following tasks:
Investigate and identify support for the refurbishment of the play area.
Identify sources of funding.
Take responsibility for planning, budgeting and monitoring expenditure on the play area renewal and report back to the parish council on these matters.
Liase with relevant authorities and organisations to make the project as effective as possible.
Identify ways of involving the whole community and diverse groups in the community.
Form a plan acceptable to the Parish Council and the Amenities Committee with regard to ongoing maintenance and liability.
Identify priorities and timescales for local action in the action plan including lead organisations and potential sources of project funding.
To report back to the parish council (as title holders) on progress, issues arising and outcomes from the excercise.
Report to the amenities committee (or other responsible body) regards progress and maintenance plan.
Membership:The committee will include up to 15 members.No more than three of these members will be members of the parish council.The committee may co-opt additional members at its discretion, so long as the total number of co-opted members does no exceed the number of elected members.A person shall cease to be a member of the committee having notified the chair or secretary in writing of his or her wish to resign. Officers:At the first meeting the committee will elect: a chairperson, a secretary, a treasurer, a publicity officer and a volunteer coordinator. All other committee members should have a specific role, to be agreed by the committee. Meetings:The committee shall meet every two months as a minimum, or as may be required. At least five clear days notice of meetings shall be given to members by written notices left at, or sent by post to the member's last known address.All notices of committee meetings must detail the matters to be discussed.Every matter shall be determined by a majority of votes of the committee members present and voting. In the case of equality of votes the chair of the meeting shall have a casting vote.The committee shall keep a record of meetings in a minute book, and circulate minutes to members of the committee not more than 14 days after each meeting. Working Groups:The committee may appoint such working groups, as it considers necessary to carry out the functions specified by the committee. Each working group should have a nominated chair but this person does not have to become a member of the steering committee.Working groups do not have the power to authorise expenditure on behalf of the committee.Working groups will be bound by the terms of reference set out for them by the steering group Finance:The treasurer shall keep clear record of expenditure, where necessary, supported by receipted invoices. Changes to the constitution:This constitution may be altered an additional clauses may be added with the consent of two-thirds of the committee present. Dissolution of the committee:Upon dissolution of the committee any remaining funds shall be disposed of by the committee, in accordance with the decisions reached at an Extraordinary Meeting open to the public in the area of benefit called for that purpose. No individual member of the committee shall benefit from the dispersal.The return of any unused funding given as grants to the committee may need to be considered if this was part of the condition of the grant. Signed- Chair Officers Date
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Minutes of the September meeting

2009-10-09T12:57:00.002+01:00

Agreed minutes of the Spetember meeting - Copy on the South stoke PC notice board.

MINUTES OF MEETING FOR PLAYGROUND PROPOSAL - Wednesday 9th September
ATTENDANCE

David Kennedy, Catherine Foley, Sarah Willingham, Kevin Flynn, Phil Wortley, Tanya Rhodes, Fiona Brown, Diana Hathaway
Introductions were made

1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
TREASURER - Diana Hathaway - prosed by Kevin Flynn. seconded Fiona Brown
CHAIR - Kevin Flynn - Proposed by Diana Hathaway. seconded by Sarah Willingham
SECRETARY - Tanya Rhodes - proposed by Kevin Flynn. seconded by Diana Hathaway.
PARISH COUNCIL LIASON - Catherine Foley - Supported by Sarah Willingham
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER - Sarah Willingham – Supported by Catherine Foley

2. CONSTITUTION
Proposed constitution adopted subject to review and formal minutes at the next meeting. (below)

3. HISTORY
covered - David Kennedy

4. PLAYGROUND MEETING 20th september
ACTIONS Fliers - Kevin Flynn to print - to be distributed to local families.
Distribution to be shared locally - Fiona Brown - South Bank, Catherine and Diana - top road,
Kevin Flynn - the street
Tanya Rhodes - Cross Keys
Sarah Willingham Ferry lane (with Phil Wortley)
Refreshments Squash & biscuits - Diana, Fiona, Sarah, Tanya

5. PARISH COUNCIL
Kevin and Catherine to review the project - and focus on
No capex from the Parish Council required
No operational maintenance expenses required for years 1 to 5.
Amenities committee has approved plan
Time constraint - Initial Design funding application deadline is 26th October
February 2010 is the last year of the Playbuilder funding
Strong support in the village in 2007/9 and in 2009.
Opportunity to create a community space for young and old.
We require the Parish Council as a strategic partner for funding and audit.
We would like to work with a Parish councillor as a Group Mentor, to be confirmed at the Parish Council meeting on 14th September.
What do they require us to do to secure their support
Meeting on 20th - at 2.30pm Village Hall - we would like them to attend!

6. NEXT MEETING
Wednesday 7th October - in the pub
Kevin Flynn to circulate the project plan - the Design Funding docs, and Links to playbuilder.
Meeting Ends 9.30pm ******************************************************************************

HUGE TURNOUT AT PLAYGROUND MEETING !

2009-09-25T14:42:00.005+01:00

On Sunday 20th September, an enthusiastic group of 25 adults and 27 children met in the village hall to hear a presentation by Howie Watkins, the project manager of the Playbuilder scheme for Oxfordshire County Council. The children were soon busily discussing and drawing their ideas for what they would like to see, inspired by the images encouraging us to see the recreation ground as a potential ‘play space’ rather than solely to develop a ‘catalogue shopping list’ of standard playground equipment.

The playground group is now a formally constituted working party to the parish council, with a remit to take forward the first stage of an application to secure a design grant. This can then be used to help develop our ideas to attract further funding. We need to:

- develop an innovative idea that is exciting, challenging and engaging for children whilst ensuring that it is in keeping with the nature of our village and beautiful surrounding countryside
- get as many people involved as possible with the design, and ensure that everyone in the village is fully consulted
- come up with a ‘big idea’ to underpin the design, which will encourage children to use the play space to become active and fit all year round
- consider how we can make the area as inclusive as possible for the whole village – should we include a sensory garden? Would we like to see benches and easy access to encourage villagers from a wide range of areas to enjoy this community space?

Our first deadline to secure a design grant is October 23rd 2009. To get involved, make suggestions and have your say, please visit comment on this page ! or email Tanya Rhodes at

mailto:Tanyarhodes@live.co.uk or Kevin Flynn at mailto:Kflynn2512@aol.com.

post here to support a new Play space

2009-09-23T12:13:00.003+01:00

hi

we have tried to speak to everyone interested in the new play area - and on Sunday we had a fantastic turnout with over 50 people at the presentation in the Village Hall.

Please can you sign post your support or email us if you are not on our mailing list.

the more support we have - the more likely we are to secure grants to hlep the project progress.

Welcome

2009-09-23T11:55:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the South Stoke Playground blog. Here you will find news and views of our plans to refurbish and revitalise the playground in South Stoke, Oxfordshire.