New friends wanted for Lollard Street Adventure Playground
Lollard Street Adventure Playground was created in 1954 on the site of a school that had been bombed during the war years. It provides school-aged children with opportunities to play after school, at weekends and during school holidays, which are difficult to find elsewhere in our area. Fenced and secure, the playground is an oasis where children are supervised by trained, professional playworkers who are always on hand to help out if needed, but also know when to stand back and let children work things out for themselves. LSAP has quiet indoor space where children can do homework or creative arts and outdoor space with unique play structures. Kids love it as a place where they can run about and create games, and parents know there are responsible adults at hand. But unfortunately as government purse strings are tightened, funding for these irreplaceable areas is often the first to go! LSAP is sadly in need of investment, which the council is hesitating to provide.
KA wants make sure Lollard Street Adventure Playground has a secure future and to this end is helping to launch a friends group. An inaugural meeting held at the beginning of the year to discuss a FOLSAP initiative was very fruitful. Both adults and children attended and discussions for the future focused on the children’s ideas for its development. All agreed to set about forming the Friends of Lollard Street Adventure Playground (FOLSAP) with the first public meeting to be held on Monday 10th May at 6pm in the Royal Oak PH, Fitzalan Street SE11 6QU.
Roots and Shoots have already donated a "Cellini", the 'Vauxhall Apple' tree, which was planted in the Playground with hopes it will form the centre of a tree house which the children have asked for. The tree has a special meaning for the Playground as it commemorates Paul Hendrich, a part-time worker who was knocked off his bike in January 2008 as well as two children who used the playground, Chevlyn and Kharim. Playground staff and children have done a mosaic ‘praying hands’ in memory of these three and it was dedicated along with the tree planting by Kate Hoey MP at a special ceremony in February.
Do please come along to the public meeting to show your support for the playground and help to launch the Friends of Lollard Street Adventure Playground (FOLSAP).
Best wishes
Cathy Preece
KA Administrative Assistant
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