Young people swing into action for park

Blackpool Better Start partnership had initially provided the main renovation of the park on Dingle Avenue, which involved the installation of a new flower pavilion, along with better outdoor seating areas, patio doors and a slide at the front.

At the back of the building, a garden space has been developed with new play equipment and a sensory garden.

Then young people from The Prince’s Trust chose the children’s centre as their next project and got to work painting the outdoor walls and cleaning the area up.

Victoria Chew. Grange Park children’s centre manager, said: “The young people from The Prince’s Trust, who work in partnership with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, decided they wanted to support the children’s centre.

“Our outdoor area was looking a bit tired so we’d had it renovated by Better Start with play equipment and landscaping.

“Then The Prince’s Trust helped out with painting the outdoor walls and cleaning up.

“There were more than 20 young people from Team 68 who worked on the area for two weeks.

“The children and families at the centre were really excited to see they were being helped by other young people.

“It was a pleasure to have them and it was nice to see young people and teenagers mixing with under fives.”

The play equipment is available for families to use from 8am until 6pm Monday to Friday when the children’s centre is open. They can also use it at weekends.

The work The Prince’s Trust members had done was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress Coun Gary Coleman and Coun Debbie Coleman earlier this month.

The Better Start Blackpool investment is part of the £1.6 million Blackpool Better Start has invested into Parks and Open Spaces across Blackpool as a result of consultations with parents at local children’s centres.