After two years of trying to raise funding to improve youth and community facilities in the village of Homewood, North East Derbyshire District Council felt that entering the project ITV’s ‘The People’s Millions’ show would see a change in their fortunes. Little did they know that as a result of their success Holmewood would have not just a brand new ball court, but one of the UK’s most visually spectacular youth shelters.
Holmewood’s prize for winning the Yorkshire Television’s region final of the show was a grant of £80,000 from the Lottery Fund. This meant the Council could provide an activity focus for the young people of the historic mining village to replace the old tennis court that had seen better times. The whole community, including the District Council, cricketers, footballers, youth groups and the local police all worked together on this project under the banner of Holmewood Youth Environmental Neighbourhood Action Zone (HYENAZ).
Cllr Graham Baxter, the Leader of N E Derbyshire District Council commented, “The ball court could be used by all groups in the village, but the young people were really keen to have something they could call their own – a teen shelter. We involved them by producing a montage of the different styles and options of teen shelters available. They chose the Monster Play shelter because it looked cool and it included automatic lighting and radio so they could use it in the evenings, and could tune into their favourite local radio station. Being solar powered, it costs nothing to run, and the lighting and radio turn off at 10.00pm so it doesn’t disturb the local residents.”
Having a teen shelter next to the ball park received the support of the local police. PC Jayne Rawlinson of the Scarsdale Safer Neighbourhood Team commented, “Teen shelters give young people the opportunity to meet up with their friends in a safe place. It also means their parents know where they are when they go out in the evenings."
Some of the drawings of teen shelters in the initial plans were illustrated with graffiti, or street art. The young people thought this was brilliant so they asked if their shelter could also be decorated in a similar style. After it was installed, the District Council invited a street artist to work with them, interpret their ideas and to create a teen shelter that would be unique. The girls illustrated one side and the boys the other, and after a day of creative street art, the young people in Holmewood now have a teen shelter they really can call their own.
PC Rawlinson added, "The shelter is designed to give the young people a sense of responsibility and ownership. They helped to come up with the design for the decoration of the shelter and it is their job to make sure it is respected and kept in a good condition."
ends
Date 1 August 2008
Editor’s Notes
High resolution photographs available on request
More about Monster Play Systems Ltd
Monster Play Systems is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most innovative provider of children’s play equipment, youth shelters, skate parks and ball courts. The innovative ‘BigToys’ range introduced in 2005, is made utilising recycled steel and plastics, and gives BigToys one of the highest percentages of recycled content available in play equipment today. In 2007, BigToys kept 1.5 million milk jugs out of landfills, and used 100 cars worth of recycled steel!
Their modern YS range of youth shelters are designed to withstand heavy use, are vandal resistant and have solar powered lighting, radio and Bluetooth connectivity as optional extras.
The company has steadily built up a reputation not only for quality products but also for the highest levels of customer service. This philosophy together with the challenge to provide a safe, positive play experience that is also fun, exciting and developmentally appropriate has resulted in Monster Play Systems becoming the UK’s fastest growing and most innovative provider of children’s play equipment.
Contact details
Marco Boi, Sales and Marketing Manager, Monster Play Systems
Tel: 01923 811591 e-mail: marco.boi@monsterplay.co.uk
Colin Caldicott, Ultimedia PR
Tel: 01767 601470 e-mail:
