Catton Grove

Catton Grove Big Local has been supporting improvements to Waterloo Park since 2017. It had become a bit rundown and surveys and workshops in the park demonstrated people's desire to change this. The Friends of Waterloo park was formed at an inaugural meeting in May 2018 and with financial support and expertise from Big Local, it has continued to grow. The group is keen that everyone can get involved in making the park a better space and that all members of the community can make use of it. This is their story.

Catton Grove Big Local commissioned the YMCA to run two groups each week. Here is what the young participants think about them.

Catton Grove Big Local supports children and young people's activities in the area. In these photos, junior club members took part in pumpkin decorating ready for Halloween

Oak Grove Community Church supported by Catton Grove Big Local has been providing family support, meals and activity packs during the pandemic. These photos show over 100 meals and activity packs ready to be collected by local families.

Catton Grove Big Local has been working on its community plan for the next few years.

What a great news item. Catton Grove Big Local are so pleased to be able to support the local community in this way.

A local resident has started a football group and Catton Grove Big Local has provided money for equipment and insurance. Lots of people are turning up showing just what a good idea can generate. Anyione can turn up making it as inclusive as possible.

This is the latest edition of ther Catton Grove Big Local online newsletter.

We are really pleased to be able to support this brilliant initiative and thank Oak Grove Community Church for all the valuable work they do in the Big Local area. Oak Grove Community Church commented: "We are so thankful for the support and funding to enable us to deliver boxes of food and lots of activities (hope, fun, treasures) to families that we are supporting over the summer holidays. The first of two bumper boxes was delivered last week.' Here are some photos.

Catton Grove Big Local continues to put out a newsletter during the crisis caused by Covid-19

On Thursday 14th May, volunteers from Catton Grove Big Local are hosting a 'virtual' community coffee morning. If you live in the Big Local area, join in online via the Zoom app on your laptop, tablet or smart phone. It's your chance to ask questions, get extra help if you need it, share community news and have a catch up with local residents. The Big Local coffee morning will be 'live' from 10.30 - 11.30am on Thursday - to join in click on this web-link below, anytime from 10.30am onwards. Everyone welcome, we look forward to seeing you!

Update on Friends of Waterloo Park. As you probably know we started planting the fourteen flower beds to the south of the Pavilion last Spring and we had intended to finish the project this hear. However, recent events have postoned that for the moment. We did manage to plant a lot of perennials just before the lockdown and look forward to them coming into bloom from the end of June. Other plants that had been on order are being cared for by our members ready to plant when the lockdown restrictions are lifted. Many of us are also growing plants from seeds so hopefully we will still be able to have a good show of colour later in the season. Here are some photos of our efforts.

Our latest newsletter with lots of supportive articles has gone live. Please click on the link below and it would be really useful if you could share it with others. We would love to hear what you think and if you have any other ideas tell us. Stay safe! Take care! https://cattongrovebiglocal.co.uk/index.p¦/cgbl-newsletters/

A very Big Local well done! The Friends of Waterloo Park have developed a website which went 'live' last night. You can view their new website via this link... https://www.friendsofwaterloopark.org.uk/

Catton Grove Community Centre is closed for all community activities until further notice

The community centre in Catton Grove hosted a Petting Zoo!

A real hands on experience! It is great that Catton Grove BIg Local can work with YMCA and provide these opportunities for local residents. Let us know how we can help in the future to make Catton Grove an even better place to live.

We finished off with with some fantastic face painting. Many thanks to Big Local and YMCA for a great session!

This film, made at Big Local's 'The Box' and Catton Grove Community Centre, records what's happening in Catton Grove, how people are benefiting and how the area is changing.

This short films is a follow on to a previous film (27.4.2016). It updates the progress of the allotment group which started as a Big Local project and is now independent. Here, group members discuss the challenges of community engagement and what they are trying to do.

Volunteers at the community allotment show how Catton Grove Big Local is encouraging people to get some fresh air, to grow food and to make new friends.

This film shows the opening of the Catton Grove Big Local "box' - previously a disused police office. This is the culmination of lots of work around negotiating management and refurbishment of the space.

We have commissioned ENYP to provide a programme of arts and sports activities for young people that is delivered locally, is fun, affordable and accessible to all. Every other Thursday night Download Youth Club is held at the Community Centre.

Our Big Local Allotment has been a busy place since we met for the first time back in May 2015, we now have an impressive range of fruit and vegetables growing and we also have a brand new shed to store tools and equipment.

Work has started on the Big Local Community Allotment off Woodcock Rd. It is a great plot in a lovely sunny location. The plot is overgrown with fruit trees and bushes waiting to be rescued from the brambles.