Guildford Playground Launch 2023
A great big thank you from all of us!
#BigPlayAppeal
The campaign Launched in the summer of 2022, the aim of the Big Play Appeal was to raise the funds needed to build a new adventure playground at our Guildford Playcentre. We reached out to the Guildford community, individuals, local companies, and charitable trusts and foundations to ask for support - even Orange October that year was in aid of the appeal. After raising an incredible £300,000, we got the green light to begin building the playground at the end of January 2023. The project was finally completed, with the installation of the We-Go swing and painting of the race track and river, in October 2023. We look forward to watching the playground contribute to a more inclusive community, providing a place for disabled children and young people to play and thrive, and for their families to connect. We look forward to welcoming the wider community through our family fun days which are funded by the national lottery.
A big thank you to everyone who supported the campaign. Without you, this wouldn't have been possible!
Launch Events It was great to see so many of you at our recent events to officially open our fantastic new playground in Guildford. We were over a year in the making, and so excited to host some special celebratory events inviting supporters and children that attend Challengers, along with their siblings and families to share in the celebrations. We were delighted to reveal the first We-Go-Swing in the UK and offer such a wonderful play facility in Guildford. The We-Go-Swing, engineered in the US, is the first of its kind in the UK and marks a monumental stride forward in inclusive play. The swing allows for wheelchair and nonwheelchair users to use the swing together simultaneously, eliminating the need for a separate, wheelchair-accessible area which prevents disabled children from being included in play with non-disabled peers.
Funder Launch
We held a fantastic funder launch event at our new Guildford playground and were delighted to host many supporters to celebrate with us the launch of the new playground including the Chair of Surrey County Council, Councilor Saj Hussain and Lady Onslow. Peter Gordon compered the event and did a wonderful interview with Challenger’s patron, Rachel Morris MBE, who discussed her involvement in the design.
See more pictures from the party on our Facebook page
A family celebration
How wonderful it was to welcome so many families to celebrate the new playground opening - what an amazing day we all had! The sun was shining and the true Challengers spirit was felt by everyone.
See more pictures from the party on our Facebook page
A big Thank You to our Funders Thank you to the following trusts and foundations that helped to make the wonderful new playground possible: Your Fund Surrey Scope The Albert Hunt Trust The Beatrice Laing Trust The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation The Dorothy Pamela Smith Charity The Edward Gostling Foundation Leo Lion Foundation The Mark Benevolent Fund Matthew 25:35 Trust The Shanly Foundation The Wheelwrights’ Charity
We would like to say a massive thank you to ramsac for funding both playground events.
Thank you!
www.disability-challengers.org fundraising@disability-challengers.org
01483 230 060 Registered Charity Number: 1095134
If you would like to donate to Challengers please visit www.disability-challengers.org