Rural Community Gateway

What's your project?

The Eoropie Dunes Park is a unique outdoor, adventure play facility that provides opportunities for every age and ability to have fun and exercise while learning about the spectacular local environment.

It offers a fully-fenced traditional playground for the younger children, a free-play area for older children with zip-wire and embankment slide, a cycle/skateboard zone, a maze, adventure trail, an illustrated nature trail and much, much more. There really is something for everyone.

We have designed the park to be in keeping with the local environment and to provide stimulation of all the senses and use natural golden sand as safer surfacing.

The four-acre site encourages children to explore, run about, make noise and gives them freedom to play with natural materials, such as water, sand, plants and stones.

It is used by many people on low incomes and provides the opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their children in a free, safe, stimulating facility that is open all year round.

Where is it?

The Eoropie Dunes Park is in the district of Ness on the Island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. It is situated on grass covered sand dunes close to a beautiful sandy beach on which Atlantic rollers break.

Who's involved?

The Eoropie Dunes Park was designed and is managed by a small user-led voluntary organisation called GAIN (Guth Airson Iarrtasan Nis is Gaelic for A Voice for the Needs of Ness).

The project was conceived by a group of mothers whose children had no local playground. The group worked hard to involve the community, liaise with statutory and voluntary organisations and local groups, secure funding and build a visionary park on an area of wasteland.

GAIN has always worked closely with local children and young people who have influenced the design, are involved with running and developing the park and were the inspiration for many heritage items.

How is it funded?

Initial funding was from The Big Lottery Fund (with a Healthy Living Centre Grant) assisted by local authority, local enterprise company, SNH and various Gaelic organisation grants.

The Eoropie Dunes Park has also benefited by way of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for heritage activities and items for the park, including display boards, a heritage pole and plaque and educational workshops. Many of the teenagers involved in this project have developed a range of new skills and have benefited from increased confidence and working with others.

When is it funded to?

Our final payment from The Big Lottery Fund is due in December 2007 and we are working hard to access further funding to develop the facility and ensure it remains safe and accessible to all.

The Heritage Lottery Grant expires in December 2007 and we are delighted to announce that we have secured a grant from The Young People’s Fund of The Big Lottery for a new four year programme of activities chosen and run by local youngsters with our support.

Biggest achievement so far?

Being voted into the final of the National Lottery Awards 2007 in the Environmental category. This demonstrates the public support for our project and recognises the hard work and dedication of the volunteers as well as celebrating the difference our project has made. The final round of public voting closes on 31st August 2007. Please support us by voting on our website http://www.eoropiedunespark.co.uk/ or phoning 0845 386 8083. See www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards for more information.

Any downsides so far?

It is difficult for a small voluntary organisation with no paid members of staff to compete with large projects for funds or in the promotion of the project for awards, in addition to the huge commitment of running a successful project while working to secure funds to sustain and develop the facility further.

Any advice needed from Rural Gateway users?

Any ideas on how we can promote the project further and encourage voters to place us Best Lottery Environmental Project 2007 would be much appreciated.

Further Information

Please see our website for further information
or contact: Gail Cunningham
37 Eoropie, Ness, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. HS2 0XH
Tel No: 01851 810 518
E-mail: gailvann@doctors.org.uk

Rural Gateway article: Rural projects make finals of lottery awards

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