Thanks Diane

After many years of dedicated commitment and hard work Diane Oxley has now resigned from the Thurcroft Big Local Partnership.

Her contribution to the work of the Partnership and  its legacy has been phenomenal. She has led on many events particularly through her leadership and great organisation the Annual Thurcroft Gala has been such a success over the last few years.

Diane has ensured that Thurcroft residents have been at the heart of all decision making in Big Local. She has been particularly passionate in ensuring young people’s contribution and voices have been heard.  She was also an active member of the Small Grants Panel.

Steve Ruffle from Rotherham Federation said “its not just Diana’s wonderful home made scones I will miss. She embodied what was the heart of Big Local – she cares about her own village and community and is a doer. When things need doing Diane would make them happen  and do the necessary work to make sure they did.”

 

Everyone would like to thank Diane for her fantastic contribution to Thurcoft Big Local  and we all wish her best for the future

Thankyou Cath

Cath MacCartan stood down as a member of Thurcroft Big Local Partnership at the open meeting on Monday 2nd October 2017. The Partnership would  like to thank Cath for her work and support over the last 4 years, the fantastic contribution she has made to community life in the village and the successful projects she has led on,  the biggest and most successful was the construction of the Thurcroft Sports Hub with which she will remain involved  as a Director of Thurcroft Bottom  Club.

Cath has demonstrated outstanding dedication, commitment and enthusiasm in support of the Partnership and deliver of the Thurcroft Big Local Plan.  She has organised events, supported new community activity and engaged with Local Trust events and training.  More recently she has developed and used her skills to attract additional external funding for projects to develop the Sports Hub.

Opening Thurcroft Hub

Tony Simmonds Chair of the Partnership said “everyone in the Partnership will miss Cath and the massive contribution she made to Thurcroft Big Local. In particular he work and effort to build and develop   the Thurcroft Sports Hub will provide a real legacy for generations to come”

Steve Ruffle from locally Trusted body Rotherham Federation of Communities “its been a real privilege to work with Cath. Cath is a real do-er. She has made stuff happen and taken projects forward. Thurcroft Big Local would not have got as far as it has without her vision and steadfast commitment for the good of Thurcroft”.

Alister Shaw, Local Trust representative said “Cath personifies what Big Local is all about, discovering and tapping in to local talent and passion to make things better for everyone living and working in the area.  Cath’s commitment and dedication to the people of Thurcroft is evident to everyone who has ever had the privilege of talking or working with her.  Cath has contributed and learned so much in her time on the Big Local partnership.  It’s great to know that while she will be moving on from the Big Local partnership she will continue to support and develop the new Thurcroft Hub and remain a great partner to the Big Local process in Thurcroft.”

Thurcroft Gala

There remains some vacancies on the Thurcroft Big Local Partnership for residents wishing to help continue to deliver the Local Plan and make a difference in the village. The positions are unpaid. For more details contact Rachel Cole, Rachel.cole@thurcroftbiglocal.org.uk or contact Rachel by phone on 01709 368515.

 

How We are Spending the £1 million

The chart below is a summary of how much we have spent on Thurcroft Big Local funding between August 2014 and July 2017. Funding has been spent on projects and priorities identified in the Thurcroft Big Local Plan. Before interest, we still have a minimum of £283,495 left in our funding pot and can still access this anytime over the next 7 years.

Community Pride: We have provided skips, arranged litter picks and organised numerous community events including the Summer Gala each year. We have raised £7960 which we can use for community events when the funding ends.

Regeneration: We have spent £526,624 on our biggest project which  has been the building of Thurcroft Hub on New Orchard Lane delivering sports and social activities to the local community . We have also provided advice services to residents.

Children and Young People: We have run  regular youth clubs through Youth Work Works, summer playschemes and contributed funding to the new playground near Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall

Infrastructure: We employ a member of staff Rachel Cole for 2 days a week, we have produced newsletters, rented a shop and provided £8720 in small grants to groups in the village.

Thank Yous

“Thank you to Big Local for their generous grant. It was well spent at our Good Friday event and we had a fantastic time. We had many positive comments about the activities and the organisation of the day”

Moira Leach – Monday Club

“On behalf of the  Bowling Club I would like to thankyou for the 10% of grant that Banks gave us. Your grant is truly appreciated and goes a long way to supporting our club.”

Ray Barrass – Thurcroft Bowling Club

Alan Bucknall

Alan Bucknall was a near perfect Chair of Thurcroft Big Local and an inspiration to us all. He understood the success of Thurcroft Big Local was in the hands of residents themselves and that it was all about community led action, supporting initiatives that Thurcroft residents themselves wanted to take forward. he did everything he could to make sure that happened.

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Alan had all the best qualities of a good Chair – he was a diplomat, a real team player and knew and could sensitively deal with difficult situations when they arose. He supported and facilitated the Big Local Partnership and community activity with a positive and helpful attitude supporting us to work together helping make Thurcroft a better place to live in.

alan-and-team

A gentle, thoughtful and considerate man, Alan will be missed by all of us at Thurcroft Big Local. His funeral will be at 11.30am on Thursday 6th October 2016. All our condolences go to Muriel and his family.

Steve Ruffle

Facelift to Sandy Lane Allotment Site

Problems with security and vandalism at the site will now be reduced due to the generosity of The Banks Community Fund and Thurcrof tBig Local . Other benefits have been provided by the local Parish Council and the fencing supplier Kingsforth Security Fencing Ltd.

Security fencing has been erected at vulnerable sections of the site perimeter whilst at the same time providing space for an additional garden area to be used by the local school children. The children’s area is to be located just inside the entrance to the site and will provide an immediate view to walkers accessing the adjacent open area to the old pit site which provides scenic country walks.

before

Before

after

After

 

Thurcroft residents are welcome to apply for allotments by asking for an application form at the Allotment Shed at the Brampton Road allotments. The shop is open on Saturday between 10:00am and 12:00noon. Anyone wishing to use the shop for supply of gardening supplies are also welcome. All new members are required to pay an annual subscription of just £2:00. Applications for allotments on any of our 3 sites will be added to our waiting lists. Forms must be returned to the shed or to a committee member. Applications must be updated every year in order to remain on the list.