If you have a local beauty spot or outdoor space, it’s easy to just presume that it is maintained by the local council or perhaps privately owned. But Quarry Park in Dunsville is maintained by a group of committed volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain their local park so it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. We spoke to Tina from The Friends of Quarry Park to find out a bit more about what they do, and how they have raised over £350 with easyfundraising.
Tell us about the Friends of Quarry Park
The Friends of Quarry Park, Dunsville, Doncaster is a local community group, formed in 1996, with a core of around 20 committed volunteers/40 members who support Doncaster Council in their vision to ‘provide a safe clean Park/Local Nature Reserve with high quality facilities to give well-being, health benefits and enjoyment for all in the local communities surrounding Quarry Park and in the wider city area of Doncaster’.
Our group of feisty volunteers was set up to help Doncaster Council maintain our beautiful local green space – Quarry Park. We meet at least once a month on the park to keep the footpaths clear of debris in the woods, clear the brambles from the play areas, litter pick, plant spring bulbs, new trees and buy and install new benches and picnic tables among other things! Our group helps to keep the park litter free, tidy and safe for all our local residents and visitors from afar to enjoy, including local ramblers, dog walkers, elderly, families and children. We also improve the parks’ wildlife. Visitors love to walk through the woods filled with daffodils and bluebells, watch the summer wildflowers bloom, use the outdoor gym and zipwire, play ball games or watch the wildlife from the numerous seats we have installed.
Our volunteers love the social side of getting together after their hard work for a cuppa and a biscuit. We also help to keep the prestigious Green Flag flying, awarded for the last 8 years running.
What do you need funding for?
We fundraise to buy equipment for our volunteers to use when maintaining the site, including hedge clippers, litter pickers, paint etc. We also need protective equipment. We also invest in promotion/recruitment to the volunteer numbers, including polo shirts, caps and beanie hats with our logos on. We also fundraise for extra spring bulbs, extra trees and more benches and storage sheds to store our equipment securely and safely.
Why did you sign up to easyfundraising?
We signed up to get free donations so we can purchase more equipment for our volunteers and more things for the park like seats and trees. It was a real no brainer. I’ve used it for another charity that I supported for years so I knew all about it and thought we should share the joy with The Friends of Quarry Park members too. We need to buy the equipment so when we can, we buy via easyfundraising therefore receiving free donations so it’s an easy win win situation and we love it. It really is free money that we can put to great use!
What has the free funding made possible?
We’ve raised over £350 in such a short time! We have bought an endless list of items; extra long litter pickers to get into the bushes, hundreds of spring bulbs like daffodils, crocuses, anemones and bluebells, secateurs, gloves, plus bulbs and bedding plants for our Community Planter on the High Street in our village which we sponsor.
Do you do any other fundraising outside of easyfundraising?
Our main source of income is applying for grants but we hold Coffee Mornings in our local library, selling cakes and do raffles and help out our local coffee shop by weeding their forecourt for a donation. We also held a 25th Anniversary Scarecrow Festival on the park in 2021 and charged a small entry fee.
What would be your top tip for someone using easyfundraising?
For those supporting a cause, my best tip would be to get the Donation Reminder so you don’t have to rely on your memory, if it’s bad like mine! For causes, I don’t think you can beat speaking about easyfundraising as much as possible. Across social channels, face to face, keep telling everyone about a recent purchase that lead to a donation, update them on the total raised so far.
We would definitely recommend easyfundraising to anyone and we thank everyone there for being so helpful.
How you can get behind the Friends of Quarry Park
The passion that Tina and the rest of the Friends of Quarry Park show for their local area is nothing short of inspiring! If you would like to support them in their mission to maintain the park for their local community, you can support them with every shop from today. Sign up here!
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