Record £33,000 donation to fund vital work at Lytham's Park View 4U

The biggest handout yet by a Lytham-based charity which looks to help other good causes is to bring a major boost to the town’s Park View 4U recreation site.

A record £33,000 donation by the Windmill Community Benefit Society will fund a new surface for the teenager play area at Park View as well as a number of smaller projects.

It comes a year on from the Windmill Society giving Park View £20,000 to pay for new surfacing on the toddler play area.

Julie Norman, Park View 4U’s park ranger and education manager, said: “We are overwhelmed with the support from the Windmill Community Benefit Society.

“Their generous donation will cover the cost of vital repairs, which are otherwise so difficult to fund.

“The venue has been extremely busy throughout the last year with people valuing their local green spaces more than ever and the impact of this donation to our charity will be felt by all of our park users and the local community of Lytham and the Fylde.

“With this latest fund we can now replace the safety surface beneath our teen play area too.

"We will also be able to repair equipment in the sand and water play area, make improvements to the Eco Pod community centre, replace worn items of play equipment and revitalise landscaping.

“We are extremely grateful and would like to thank them for helping us to make a difference.”

The Windmill Community Benefit Society has its origins in the Housing Association movement in the early 1970s.

A money surplus began to accumulate and eventually the decision was taken to make that available for distribution to registered charities.

The Society’s chairman Roger Franklin said: “Windmill trustees have long been admirers of the commitment of Julie Norman and all involved in maintaining Lytham’s Park View 4U and how it dovetails with one of our charity’s main objectives which is to support well-used facilities for the benefit of children and their families.

“Consequently, the trustees decided to make a grant of £33,000 to fund all of the work required to clear the list of upcoming repairs.

“It is the largest single grant the charity has made to date and reflects its support for the team at Park View.”

Lowther Pavilion and Lytham Hall have also been beneficiaries of the Windmill Society in recent years.

It is thanks to our loyal readers that we can continue to provide the trusted news, analysis and insight that matters to you. For unlimited access to our unrivalled local reporting, you can take out a subscription here and help support the work of our dedicated team of reporters.

Support us and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe