Patch the Play Area – fight poverty one square metre at a time

Wishaw families are being battered by the cost‑of‑living crisis. Every weekday from 30 June to 8 August, up to 40 children rely on MADE4U for a fresh breakfast, hot lunch and safe play while their parents work low‑paid shifts. The centre is also a daily lifeline for vulnerable children with additional support needs and for older adults seeking company, support and a hot meal. Fifteen of those youngsters stay on for the afternoon – five hours of free childcare that parents simply couldn’t afford elsewhere.

Two months ago vandals set fire to our soft‑pour play surface, gouging a deep, burnt‑out hole that forced us to fence off the garden. Unless we patch it by 28 June we can’t open the programme, the pantry can’t use the outdoor area to queue safely, and our parenting and employability sessions lose their breakout space.

Certified installers can repair the surface for £2,916 (incl. VAT). That’s:

£120 – one square metre of new, child‑safe surface

£60 – adhesive for half a metre

£25 – industrial sealant

£10 – a kilo of rubber granules to fill cracks

Every pound keeps food, childcare and support flowing for families who need it most. Chip in today or share to spread the word – and watch the progress bar climb!