Meriden Adventure Playground receives huge funding boost

The Meriden Adventure Playground in Chelmsley Wood has received a $63,000 (around £40,000) cheque from Alcoa to help renovate the adventure playground.

The amount received was the largest single donation by the company in the UK.

The cheque was received by the Mayor of Solihull Councillor Glenis Slater on Wednesday 14th October at the Alcoa day of service – part of their global Month of Service which sees employees volunteer to help out in their community.

The event saw 50 members of staff from the Alcoa plant in Kitts Green go to rebuild some of the apparatus at the playground, and a start was made to construct a semi-permanent camp structure that children can go and build their own new play area around. A suspension bridge was built using an old conveyer belt from the Alcoa factory and improvements to the fire pit were also made to allow it to be used for cooking.

Alcoa, a global leader in the aluminium industry, often donates materials generated from its factory for use at the playground, contributing to the further advancement of sustainable materials use.

The playground has become an important focal point for the youth of the area and over the summer they had great success in providing a place for children to enjoy themselves. – they had 459 sign in on the busiest day of the summer and many local residents have noted the positive impact on community cohesion that the playground has.

The Mayor said “It was a great day and there has been excellent work done by the volunteers and the staff from Alcoa.

“The very generous donation has allowed the playground to improve their facilities and it is a fantastic space for children to enjoy.”

Jim Wallace Plant Manager at Alcoa Kitts Green said “We at Alcoa are passionate about Meriden Adventure Play Ground and the work they do with young people.

“There’s never any difficulty to get employees to sign up for volunteering work at the Park, and we will continue to support them through 2016, and support the good works that are carried out there”

Meriden Adventure Playground opened in 2007 and operates from within Meriden Park in Chelmsley Wood.

Photo: (L-R): Jim Wallace, Plant Manager Alcoa Kitts Green; Simon Ricks, Meriden Adventure Playground; Sue Dangerfield, Alcoa; The Mayor, Cllr Glenis Slater; Beverly Hawkesford, Alcoa.

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/946/Adventure-Playground-receives-huge-funding-boost