Our anniversary tour continued this month with a trip to visit some of the groups we have supported in Haddenham and the surrounding villages. Once again, we discovered many hidden groups working hard to change lives and improve communities.
The tour started at Ashendon Playing Field where Heart of Bucks awarded a grant towards the installation of a new, accessible playground equipment for this isolated hilltop community. This grant in combination with a huge amount of hard work from the community helped install an incredible inclusive and safe playground, pavilion and multi-use games area for local families.
Next stop was Vana Trust Organic Farm. Tucked away within the village of Ludgershall the farm provides a therapeutic environment for young people and adults with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and autism. The setting helps enhance wellbeing, independence and life skills through farm-based activities. One grant from Heart of Bucks helped with the lunch club, which we saw in action, where trainees get to cook the food they grow, helping them build confidence in the kitchen as well as the farm.
Next stop was Thomley Hall – a lifelong learning and leisure centre for people with disabilities. The centre aims to enhance the lives and experiences of people with disabilities, their parents, carers and families. We saw first-hand families enjoying the facilities on offer at Thomley including a jumping pillow, splash park and sensory garden. The smiles on everyone’s faces showed how much it truly means to be able to enjoy a simple fun family day, feeling safe, supported and truly welcome.
In Haddenham we met three inspiring organisations who all operate within the village offering unique and valuable services.
Haddenham Youth Theatre is an inclusive youth theatre group which welcomes members from all backgrounds from Haddenham and the surrounding villages. The theatre provides fun, safe space for everyone, especially those young people who may otherwise be isolated from other activities and groups. A grant from Rectory Foundation went towards helping cover costs for weekly activities including talent shows, short self-directed plays, educational workshops plus an annual performance to build the confidence and create lasting friendships for the children who attend the theatre.
Meanwhile Zero Carbon Haddenham are a group of ordinary people working to make sure that Haddenham is an extraordinary community resilient to the potential impacts of climate change. The group promote initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint as individuals and a community. In 2022 Heart of Bucks funded the reLEAF project run by the group which organised treen and hedge planting including community fruit trees within the village.
Our last group of the day was the Haddenham Community Vehicle which was established in 2015 to provide a free transportation service for those in the area using a wheelchair, whether its social family gatherings or important medical appointments. Kop Hill Climb helped fund the original vehicle in 2015 and helped replace and upgrade the adapted VW Caddy (affectionately known as Carrie) in 2024.
Another day celebrating not only the achievements of the groups in their communities but also the breadth and scope of projects supported by Heart of Bucks over the last 25-years.
