October Newsletter

18th October 2022

BRINGING FACILITES TO FIRS FARM

Dear Supporters of Firs Farm

It is a month since we sent you our first Friends of Firs Farm newsletter regarding our Community Hub appeal. Summer has turned to Autumn and the team have been hard at work, managing the wetlands and our biggest project ever – to bring facilities to Firs Farm.

* We are delighted that Farm Wetlands has once again been awarded a Gold medal in ‘Enfield in Bloom’

* Volunteers have been hard at work removing some of the invasive species and litter from the wetlands and stream. Looking so much better Well done guys.
The community hub will be such an asset for our army of volunteers, including companies who join us for corporate volunteering days – they pay us to don their waders and get stuck in!

Community Hub Update

“communities need to have shared space where people can gather,
plan, organise and run activities”
Matt Leach Chief Executive Local Trust
Community hubs: Understanding survival and success

Just to recap – the Friends of Firs Farm have already raised more than £200,000 to build a community hub with café, toilets and community space.

However, following the COVID pandemic, rising building costs mean that this is no longer enough to build and fit out the building which will be a massive asset to residents and help to secure the long term future of Firs Farm.

Since we began detailed discussions with our shortlisted building supplier in July, costs have risen by £20,000

This week the FOFF ‘Hub Team’ are finalising the designs with a modular building supplier and placing the order, so that work can start on erecting it before the end of the year.

Word is spreading that our Community Hub café will be run by Chi Chi’sRichie and his team will be serving up “great coffee, locally sourced food and happy park vibes”

We are delighted and hopefully this whets your appetite because we still really need your help to make this happen!

* Our crowdfunding page has raised around £8,000, 26% towards our target

* We have received a £1000 grant towards the Hub from the Chapman Charitable Trust, dedicated to promoting physical and mental wellbeing and conserving our natural environment.

* A BIG THANK YOU to the 216 people who have donated to the appeal so far
and for the lovely comments many of you left on the fundraising page.

“Good luck with the fundraising! Can’t wait until it opens”

“The project would further enhance what has already proven to be a blessing
for the community, especially during the pandemic. Toni and her amazing team deserve all the support they can get to make this cafe happen”

We know that times are hard at the moment, but if you can spare a few pounds – your contribution will help to bring facilities to Firs Farm. If you visit the crowdfunder page you will find a number of tempting rewards!

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/friends-of-firs-farm

We have a number of other funding bids submitted and more to write

THE MORE WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY
IS BEHIND THE PROJECT
– THE GREATER THE CHANCE WE HAVE OF WINNING FUNDING

Jo Hellerman has created this lovely limited edition print of Firs Farm Wetlands, which she is selling for £25, with (50%) £12.50 from each sale going towards the Community Hub fundraising.Copies of the print can be bought from Chi Chi’s or else directly from Jo Hellerman
johellerman@yahoo.co.uk

Share our appeal with your friends and family and via your local WhatsApp groups, Facebook groups and other social media.

Are you able to spare an hour to deliver leaflets?
Please email friendsoffirsfarm@gmail.com

Can you spare a little time to help us in other ways?
We always need more volunteers to maintain Firs Farm but at the moment we could do with some support with admin, website and social media, and fundraising.
Please get in touch if you would like to know more.

Finally, sadly we haven’t been able to organise a Halloween event this year – but once the community hub is built there will be scores of exciting new activities at Firs Farm.

Thank you for reading, please stay in touch and we look forward to welcoming you, your family and friends to Firs Farm Community Hub in 2023.

Friends of Firs Farm
Registered Charity 1177069

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/friends-of-firs-farm

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