Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of a new ‘Pavilion in the Park’ is well underway at Ashbourne Recreation ground.
The enthusiasm and hard work of the Ashbourne Recreation Ground Sports and Community Partnership (ARGSCP) resulted in seven funders coming forward and a total of almost £1million being raised to build the new community hub. The final grant of £30,000 from the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund* took the campaign ‘over the line’ and into a position where they could appoint a builder – and work has now started!
The new pavilion will comprise four sports changing rooms meeting English Cricket Board and Football Foundation standards; a community café and bar; and a new community hub of around 120 square metres which will be the home for the Ashbourne Digital Learning Centre and the ARGSCP’s ‘Community Offer’. This ‘Offer’ will include a range of healthy-living and well-being community programmes managed by ARGSCP along with the District Council’s Community Activator who will be located in the Pavilion.
David Wood from the Partnership comments: “It’s extremely rewarding to see the new pavilion start to take shape. The old pavilion was over 60 years old and starting to become unsuitable for purpose or use by the community. It was high time our community had a state-of-the-art facility that could be used by the whole community.”
Darren Middleton, Tarmac’s Powders Business manager from nearby Ballidon Quarry adds: “Against the backdrop of a year in which community activities were few and far between, it is wonderful to see this facility start to take shape. We are pleased that Tarmac was able to make a contribution to top up the significant amount the Partnership had already raised. This kind of practical project which will deliver wide-reaching benefits to the local community is exactly what Tarmac’s Landfill Communities Fund aims to achieve.”
The Pavilion project has been made possible by six funders: The Football Foundation; the England and Wales Cricket Board; Derbyshire Dales District Council; Seven Trent Water; Garfield Weston Trust and Tarmac.
*The Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund (or Landfill Tax Credit Scheme as it was formerly known) enables landfill operators like Tarmac, to donate part of their annual tax liability to enrolled Environmental Bodies for a variety of approved community and environmental projects. Landfill operators can reclaim 90% of their contribution as a tax credit which means the remaining 10% must be provided either by them or an independent third party. Through the fund Tarmac donates around £1 million each year to community projects throughout the UK. The fund is open to applicants who meet the strict criteria for projects delivering community benefit. For more information, please go to www.entrust.org.uk
Picture caption: Checking out work so far – left to right: Norman Harris (ARGSCP trustee); Albert Golding (project co-ordinator); David Wood (ARGSCP secretary and trustee), Darren Middleton (Tarmac’s Powders Business manager from nearby Ballidon Quarry); and Julian Burton (ARGSCP vice-chair and trustee).