As can be seen from the photo of the sign at the Welcomme Space, our Sports Hall and play spaces exist thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of community volunteers, going back to 1982. We're proud that the Hall and playgrounds are still owned by the HPFA, and run by dedicated volunteers. Sadly some of the play equipment is currently looking as dilapidated as the sign after giving many years of use and fun to local children.

The playground at the Sports Hall was installed 23 years ago, and has been maintained and improved with the support of local businesses since then. It now needs refurbishing, with much equipment needing replacement as can be seen from the gallery photos. The playground at the Hall is used not only by nearby residents, but the families of the many visitors who come to the Hall to play sport or for social events.

The Welcomme Space was last upgraded in 2011 with the addition of the much loved Proludic Multiplay; toddler swings; toddler playhouse and basket swing. Some of the equipment, such as the flat swings and zip wire, has been enjoyed by the parents and grandparents of current users. Sadly, play equipment which is well used, and situated outdoors in all weathers, does not last forever. The Welcomme Space is situated at The Fields, near to HIngham School and the Doctors surgery. It's a regular stopping point for parents/carers walking home after school with children and is a popular meeting space in the summer for slightly older children playing football or enjoying the grassy site surrounded by trees.

For the last six months, HPFA volunteers have applied for grant funding and obtained quotes for the work. We've sought advice on how to extend the life of some equipment by repairs and upgrades, and clarified which items need replacement either due to improved safety standards since they were fitted or for reasons of economy.

Update 25 November 2024

The work at the Sports Hall Playground is complete, safety inspected and open for use, please take a look at the new photographs in the gallery. We've really enjoyed watching children enjoying the new equipment.

Work has begun at the Welcomme Space playground with some items removed for repair, extra seating cemented in place and the Zip Wire frame painted. Over the next few weeks we will:

*repair the roundabout and improve the safety surface surround by adding a resin bound rubber mulch surface over the existing tiles

* replace the vault bars with new safety compliant equipment

*upgrade swing seats and chains and sand/paint the frame

*add safety chains to the basket swing

* replace the cable and trolley

* Fit new roof panels/seats to the Toddler Playhouse and reposition on new safety mats

*Remove the plywood climbing panels & holds/slide sides/platform from the multiplay equipment and replace them with new made from HPPE

We have raised £61,328 so far, including grants from Hingham Town Council and the Community Action Fund; £10,000 from HPFA reserves and the remarkable £9500 raised by donations from local businesses and members of the community. Thank you all. We were also donated two new recycled plastic benches for the Sports Hall Playground.

So far we have spent £53,566 with another £4655 due to be paid on completion of the Welcomme Space works. This leaves us around £3100 which will be used to carry out some tree work at the Welcomme Space, buy new safety signage for both sites, replace a picnic bench, and carry out repairs to the outdoor gym equipment at the Sports Hall.

We recognise that much more could be done to improve these valuable community spaces. There is potential to add sensory equipment to the fences around the Sports Hall site for younger children to enjoy.

At the Welcomme Space, there is room for additional equipment and more than one request has been received for a toddler slide to be added. The tyre walks are in need of attention and given disposal costs of rubber tyres, it may be more economical to use them as a base for mounds on which to place toddler equipment.

Any funds raised beyond those needed for the planned works will be ringfenced exclusively for developing the playspaces now and in future.

Thank you for reading this....we're passionate about maintaining and improving the Hingham community spaces but we need your help. We are grateful for all donations and we'll do our best to seek out grant funding to match the sum we raise during this campaign.