Meadow Well Estate’s community development charity, The Cedarwood Trust encourages people to make a real difference to their lives and to the tight knit community in which they live. Celebrating its 35th year, the charity has carried out a number of pioneering projects to raise confidence and aspiration in the people who live on the estate.
Previous projects have changed lives by instilling skills and hope into the community. Practical gardening skills have led to plots of land being planted with flowers to improve unsightly areas, café and restaurant skills have been used in a community café and sport has played a big part in raising aspirations.
Trust CEO, Phil McGrath has the backing of both Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell and children’s TV star and author, Kim Tserkezie who played Penny Pocket in CBeebies Balamory. Kim was officially welcomed at the AGM as one of the patrons of the Trust and she was delighted to lend her support:
“Growing up as a wheelchair user, play parks were never very accessible or particularly safe for me, but I’d plead with my parents to let me go back for more even if it meant the odd scrape or bump, because as a kid that’s what you want to do – play in the park with your friends. Apart from helping you with physical skills, it’s where you develop socially. It’s where you find fun and freedom.
“When I was introduced by Meadow Well residents to the lack of playgrounds in their area, I felt sad, but only for a moment as I know this community is determined to bring the play facilities to the area that their children deserve. It is my pleasure to be part of this campaign for change.”
The Cedarwood Trust is developing its approach to play and has developed a strategy following extensive consultation with children, young people, their parents and partner organisations. The strategy establishes the priorities, sets out to improve opportunities and to maximise the benefits of play on children’s and young people’s lives on the Meadow Well Estate.
Mr. McGrath said,
“The purpose of the Cedarwood Play Strategy is to respond to previous findings that have raised the lack of appropriate play facilities within the community. We want to increase the number of opportunities for play across the Meadow Well Estate and raise awareness of the benefits and long-term legacy of play.
“We are delighted that both Kim and Mr. Campbell are lending their support.”
Local MP Alan Campbell said “I am pleased to support the Cedarwood Trust which has made a real difference to the Meadow Well community over the last 30 years. There is a real need for appropriate play facilities in the area and hopefully the Play Strategy can help to address this”