Quadron was approached by Neighbourhood Partners in The Royal Borough of Kingston (New Malden Neighbourhood) about complaints they had received from a number of residents regarding the poor condition and lack of facilities at Cromwell Avenue Open Space.
The Green Spaces Strategy, developed in partnership between The Royal Borough of Kingston and Quadron, highlighted the need to improve engagement with local people and help local groups and associations to help themselves by forming Community Associations in order to benefit from the wealth of external funding open to local interest groups nationwide.
Our partners at The Royal Borough of Kingston found 5k of pump prime funding for this area from the Neighbourhood Discretionary budget. With this in hand Quadron arranged an on-site meeting with local residents and drew up a wish list for the site from residents' comments.
Drawing up plans for the site with local residents.
Quadron arranged improved access to the site with a formal hard standing area and boot scraper, formalised and marked out a 5-a-side football pitch on site and installed a junior's adventure trail.
Work in Progress
With assistance from RBK's Voluntary Sector Services Team, Quadron helped set the residents up as a formal Community Association to enable them to bid for external funding. In December 2007 we were awarded 47.5k for playground improvements and extension of the adventure trail. A grant has subsequently been received from the Groundwork Trust for habitat improvements and security measures around the perimeter of the open space.