07 Aug 2024
Thurrock Play Network
Thank you, Cory, for supporting us and enabling us to increase the support for our community.
Who we are
Thurrock Play Network is a charity that supports the wider community, encouraging affordable activities that are beneficial for mental, social, and physical wellbeing. The primary focus is on children and young people, although this has expanded since the Covid-19 pandemic.
We provide activities and wellbeing support and work in partnership with other groups to provide a comprehensive community resource.
The Pyramid Resource Centre is a key part of our activities, receiving donations from businesses and individuals that might otherwise go to landfill. It can also be used for wonderful creative opportunities that are affordable to all and encourage recycling, repair, and reuse.
How have we worked with Cory?
Cory have supported us in several ways over the last few years which we are extremely grateful for.
A key project, which was funded by Cory, was the refurbishment of the kitchen. We had recently received funding to refurbish the centre, but this did not stretch to the kitchen. We installed new units and worktops as well as updating all the plumbing and tiling. This has now been registered as a community kitchen and is used by our volunteers, running as a café on a Saturday morning and providing hot drinks and snacks for the community.
Recent funding has allowed a member of staff to research and contact local businesses and organisations reminding them that not everything has to go to landfill and we can make use of it! Our tonnage received has increased greatly thanks to this opportunity.
In addition, the funding has allowed us to start a repair shop. Although limited currently to mostly sewing projects, including repair of an old sewing machine, we are looking to expand this, encouraging people to repair at an affordable cost.
Through Cory’s upcycling training, we are looking to support young people who need additional support, with simple projects they can do, giving them success that they might otherwise not achieve.
What have we achieved / our outcomes?
- A larger range of affordable resources for the community, more contacts, and partnerships
- An increase in the number of volunteers
- A greater range of workshops that we can offer to all age groups
- Nearly 50 tonnes of materials diverted from landfill
- A kitchen that allows people to come and make refreshments and sit and relax
- Supporting our agenda of reuse, repair, recycle