Havant Borough Council has been working in partnership with the Friends of Staunton Country Park to improve access to the local historic estate of Staunton Country Park.
The Friends of Staunton Country Park are seeking to raise £4,261, and if this target can be reached, Sport England has pledged to fund the remaining £4,261 needed to purchase a Tramper mobility scooter, to assist residents and visitors who are currently unable to access many areas of the park.
Purchasing an all-terrain scooter will provide those with mobility difficulties the opportunity to move around the park and enjoy the environment, with the ability to cope with the inclines and uneven paths around the lake, follies, and much of the woodland.
The Tramper will also enable carers, family and friends to be active together and the importance of this is embedded in the emerging Active Wellbeing Strategy.
The Friends, a registered charity, are working relentlessly to raise the remaining amount needed to purchase the Tramper through Crowdfunder.
Improving the accessibility of the park is aligned with the mission of Sport England “to give everyone in England the chance to benefit from sport and physical activity by investing strategically and promoting active lifestyles”. Your contribution can help The Friends meet their target.
Councillor Gillian Harris, Cabinet lead for Regeneration and Communities at Havant Borough Council, said “Spending time outdoors is good for our physical and mental health which is why making green spaces more accessible to a wider range of people is crucial.
“Our community team has been working closely with The Friends, strengthening their very successful funding bid from Sport England, resulting in them being able to part-fund this vehicle.
“The assurance that Sport England will fund the remaining 50% required, provided the £4,261 target can be met, is a great opportunity. Having a Tramper will enable more visitors the ability to access this historic beauty spot that we are lucky enough to have in the borough.”
Hampshire County Council's Cabinet lead member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, Councillor Liz Fairhurst, added, “The Friends have come together and completed some great work, by promoting the preservation, assisting in the restoration, and improving the country park for the education and benefit of the public.
“Staunton Country Park is such a calm, relaxing place to visit, and being able to offer a mobility scooter will enable better accessibility in the park.”
Since the Friends of Staunton Country Park charity began they have funded a range of different projects, including resurfacing paths, restoring the coach house clock, making additions to the flower beds, and purchasing a defibrillator.
Jim Farrell, Chair of the Friends of Staunton Country Park, said “We have researched the options and spoken to staff at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, where Tramper mobility scooters are already proving to be very successful in increasing access. This is something we are really keen to provide our visitors with at Staunton.”
To donate please visit Tramper Mobility Scooter for Staunton Country Park - a Community crowdfunding project in Havant by Friends of Staunton Country Park
To find out more about the fantastic contribution of the Friends of Staunton Country Park, visit their website: Friends of Staunton Country Park