Central Projects

ITV Central is the largest of ITV’s regions and spreads from Skegness in Lincolnshire to the Welsh border, and from Chesterfield in the north to parts of Oxford in the south.

Over the past five years of the People’s Millions competition we have seen some great projects in the region. Previous winners include a memory garden, restoration of a Victorian greenhouse, a giant climbing boulder and many more.

Inspirational Play

This project will see the development of a community garden to extend the play area of the village hall in Edwinstowe, incorporating sensory, allotment and wildlife areas. The idea is to create a natural recreational environment that will make young children comfortable with nature so that they are more liable to embrace a healthy outdoor lifestyle in the future. The facility will be open to all pre-school children and can also be enjoyed by all generations of the community. Approximately 500 individuals will benefit.

Bonington's Brilliant Outdoor Adventures

The project involves the redesign and building of an outdoor sensory environment where the children will be the driving force of the project, using their ideas and needs to inform the design of an enriched outdoor experience. The children will plant fruit and vegetables for themselves and their families within an allotment and this positive example of healthy living will also be encouraged to be transferred to the home environment. In addition a safe, supervised, outdoor adventure will be created where all children will have the opportunity to extend their motor development. This will take the form of climbing frames, tree swings, rope pulleys and den building. A water feature, therapeutic maze and contemplation/quiet area are also envisaged. the project will take place in the grounds of Bonington Infant and Nursery School in Nottingham. There will be approximately 400 beneficiaries.

Leighswood Memory Garden

The project will create a memory garden in a currently disused space adjacent to the organisation's premises, for use by tenants of the housing estate that includes sheltered housing for older and vulnerable residents, plus anyone using the services at Family Guidance. The project seeks to engage local residents as volunteers and serve over 1,000 beneficiaries.

Open Access Farm

The project aims to create a village farm adjacent to Newcastle Children's Centre, which will provide a significant attraction to engage members of the local and wider community. It will provide an opportunity to show people where food comes from, how it is raised and how it enters the food chain. Volunteers and visitors, local schools and colleges with the support of health trusts, Job centre and other statutory agencies will do this through hands-on animal husbandry. A range of formal and informal learning activities and the development of an interactive live webcam to track the progress of the project build will extend the project to a diverse range of service users. Renewable power will be generated through a range of physical activities such as the cycle machines that will be used to run audiovisual displays and interactive IT stations.

Playground Paradise

The project will convert an existing play space into a physical activity, games and learning area. It will improve play facilities for children and young people both during the school day and through extended school provision after school and during the h

Keep our School in SHAPE!

The project will transform an existing play space on a large area of tarmac and grass into a multiuse games and learning area. The area will be split into zones to include a games area, an imagination area, a covered outdoor classroom, a climbing and adventure zone and a quiet area. It will improve play facilities for children and young people both during the school day and through extended school provision after school and during the holidays. There will be 462 beneficiaries from both the school and the wider community.

Gilmorton Community Youth Project

The project will involve the construction of a multi-purpose ball court for basketball, football and cricket etc on a recreation field on the Gilmorton housing estate in Leicester. The project would be open to all children and youths and include the provision of wheel chair friendly paths and pavement ramps. The site is located adjacent to the current BMX trail and the project will make this more accessible. The project will be community led throughout and will benefit 300 individuals.

River Gardens Childrens Project

The project will renovate an existing outdated play area for children up to the age of 19 and replace it with a new facility, which will contain themed play equipment in order to promote the history of the valley site to both children and adults in a hands-on, proactive manner. The project will be community led and aims to involve one or more schools. The project will take place in the Belper River Gardens section of Derwent Valley Park in Belper. There will be 25,000 beneficiaries.

Scoutzilla The Mammoth Project

The project involves the complete renovation of a scout hut to provide existing members, new recruits and the local community with new opportunities and increase the scope of future activities. Throughout the project itself, individuals will gain valuable skills in construction techniques, DIY and enhanced social skills through community teamwork. Also included in the project is the installation of a disabled toilet and improved access for wheelchair users. There will be approximately 300 beneficiaries. The hut will also be available for use by other community groups to hold events when the scouts and guides are not using it.

Securing The Future Bentley Village Hall

The project seeks to modernise this well used village hall, providing safe access to the property. Funding will bring the facilities up to the required health and safety standards, providing a safe and warm environment in which to continue to provide services such as mother and toddler sessions and other community group meetings. A stage area will enhance the range of services offered, to include drama groups and film shows. The improved and relocated kitchen will enable the hall to continue to cater for its user groups. Disabled access will increase accessibility to the hall. The applicant states that the hall is the only local public amenity, as the village does not have a school, shop or pub, and no public transport. It is set in a rural agricultural community.