A playground for every child in the community

Lancaster MP Cat Smith and Yak Patel, Chief Executive of Lancaster District CVS are fundraising to help transform the playground on Ryelands estate!

They are taking on Morecambe 10K to help the children of Ryelands raise £150,000 for a new community playground.

Ryelands Residents’ Association is applying to grant funders to raise the majority of the £150,000. Cat and Yak’s run is one of many sponsored events to match fund and keep the momentum going.

The current playground no longer meets the needs of local children and isn't fully accessible for everyone. That's why we're working to raise £150,000 to create a safe, modern and inclusive play space where children of all abilities can play, make friends and thrive.

For the past four years, Ryelands Residents' Association has been working to make our community a better place for local families. Through events, activities and community projects, residents have come together with a shared ambition: to create a playground that every child can enjoy.

Every donation, no matter the size, will help create a lasting legacy for local children and families.

This is about much more than new play equipment. It's about giving children somewhere to laugh, play and belong, and creating a space the whole community can be proud of.

Cat said: ‘I am full of admiration for the work of the Ryelands Residents’ Association. The people of Ryelands have come together and decided that they want to improve their local area, and they’ve made their children’s health and wellbeing their first priority. I can’t wait to lace up my trainers and get running to help with their efforts!’

Chair of Ryelands Residents’ Association Jenny Armer said: ‘The new playground is our biggest plan yet, but when I look at how far we’ve come as a community in just a few years, I know we’ll be able to get there. Having somewhere really nice to go, right on their doorstep, will make our children proud of what we can achieve when we all work together.’

Yak Patel of Lancaster District CVS and a Ryeland resident said: ‘Creating a new playground has been a passion for the Ryelands Residents' Association for the last four years. During that time, local residents haven't just talked about making things better, they've been building the foundations to make it happen. Through community events, support services, activities for families and young people, and countless volunteer hours, they have brought people together and created a real sense of pride in the area.’

Ryelands Residents’ Association formed in 2022 and meets up every week in term time and is open to all local residents. They are community led and have already successfully brought together a support hub for local people with stop smoking services, a food bank, exercise club and Citizen’s Advice. They also run activities for young people who are not in education, employment or training, providing opportunities to develop life skills, build confidence and form positive social connections.

Thank you for your support. Together, we can make this happen.