Jarvis Brook Skatepark and Scrap store extension

Aim

To raise at least 10K to pay for the designs, surveys, searches and planning permissions etc for the skatepark and scrap store extensions.

Who are we?

Artytime CIC is a not for profit group with a mission to Build Better Communities- Creatively. Our Artytime scrap store is a community project run by volunteers with an aim to recycle, reuse, repurpose. We accept donations of paint, fabric, paper, card, wool etc. In fact anything that can be used in art and craft projects. The donations are from individuals and companies that may otherwise have gone to landfill.

We are currently helping the young people of Crowborough with their campaign to have the JB skatepark extended which is on the recreation ground next to our scrap store. We have supported the JB Skate Group by providing five boards and sets of safety equipment so they can encourage more youngsters to get into skateboarding. Our focus is very much on improving lives, environment and community spirit with a "By The Community For The Community"ethos.

Impact

Artytime was established as a CIC in 2018 and continues to design, develop and deliver various workshops and activities to promote creativity, build confidence and self esteem, promote community cohesion, improve mental health and wellbeing as well as help people back into the work place by offering free training and volunteer opportunities that enhance skills and knowledge. Pre Covid we had over 50 volunteers and we are quite proud of the fact 42 have gone on to either paid employment, back to higher education or set up their own business. 

Our current focus since Covid has been teenagers. We have helped set up a youth club in the main town of Crowborough and realise the need for a youth club in the Jarvis Brook area too. We ran various summer activities last year such as the street art workshop on the skate park. This is when the youngsters expressed their ideas of having the skatepark extended so more people on wheels can enjoy it.

Why are we crowdfunding?

 Artytime are now championing their campaign and supporting them as they come up with various fundraising ideas, a crowd fund being one of them. Other ideas include making jewellery and other items to sell.

Many of them use their bikes and scooters as well as skateboards on the skate park. In the future it is hoped the new skatepark would offer competitions and tournaments carrying on the great work and legacy that United by Birmingham 2022 did with the Common Wealth Games. 

The Jarvis Brook area of Crowborough is in need of more free facilities for young people to use. The current skate park was community funded over 10 years ago and  is in need of a revamp due to the increased number of families moving into the area and therefore more youngsters wanting to use it.  Our fund writer has found a potential capital fund that, if successful, will enable us to not only increase the skate park but also the Artytime scrap store too. This will enable us to provide a sustainable youth club venue in the evenings. It would also become an ideal venue for a holiday club in the summer and a fun way of teaching the importance of recycling, reusing and repurposing items that could end up in landfill.

How we will spend the money raised

It's exciting that both projects could be built if we are successful raising the initial funding needed to have plans drawn up and submitted for planning approval, legal cost, leases and all the other requirements needed in place before building can commence. These initial costs don't sound very exciting but are an important part of the process to enable the exciting stuff to happen. If these initial costs are not met then the project cannot move forward and the opportunity with the Capital funder will be lost.

This project successfully funded on 17th April 2023