Little Leigh youngsters raise funds for play area (From Northwich Guardian)

Little Leigh youngsters raise funds for play area

8:50am Friday 27th January 2012 in News By Beth Allcock

ENTHUSIASTIC youngsters in Little Leigh have taken responsibility for improving play facilities in their village.

Edward Esling, 11, and Weaverham High School chum Izzy Dalby, 14, organised a sponsored bike ride to raise cash for the redevelopment and modernisation of the Shutley Lane play area.

The improvement of equipment at the site is an objective listed in Little Leigh’s Parish Plan, as well as the development of recreational facilities for older children, and a community trust has been set up to raise funds for the project.

The trust estimates the Shutley Lane renovation will cost about £70,000, which includes £5,000 pledges from the parish and borough councils, but villagers have also been encouraged to raise additional cash to show community support for the scheme.

Ross Cormick, member of The Little Leigh Community Trust, praised Edward’s achievements, which raised a further £234 for the funding pot.

He said: “We in the trust were delighted when he offered to do this - it is so encouraging to find a young person taking the initiative in this way to improve the environment of the village he lives in.

“The group of children and young people have raised a further £234 in sponsorship and with this and the support of about 50 families for the scheme, the trust is now in the position to apply for funding from two identified charities whose funds are specifically for this sort of project.”

Edward’s dad, Paul Esling, 38, added: “It was all very much Edward’s idea and we had a chat about it, then he discussed it with his friend who goes to the same school.

“They went around the village drumming up support from the kids and drew up their own sponsor forms and got everyone to add Gift Aid too.

“I think he was quite chuffed with how it went.

“If the park needs more funding they might come up with some other ideas.”

Congratulate Edward and his friends on northwichguardian.co.uk.