Meridian (East) Projects

Meridian East transmits to 2.8 million people living in towns and villages across Kent and parts of East and West Sussex.

Over the past five years of the People’s Millions competition we have seen some great projects in the region, new community gardens come into being, facilities at village halls upgraded, new play facilities installed and even a toboggan slope!

New Village Hall Development

The project is to demolish and replace the old Parish Hall with a new larger and fully accessible building.

Community Garden Club

The project is to implement a group design for a community garden and develop a community garden club.

S.H.R.E.C. School Hall Refurbishment Committee

The project will refurbish the school hall to include servery overhaul and refit as a working kitchen. In addition they plan to install a disabled toilet and kitchen garden. The community and school population will both benefit as the facilities will be open to local organisations outside school hours.

Goodbye Red Gra, Hello Tarmac!

The project will re-surface the current recreation ground to make the area safer for use in sports and other activities. It will also replace the existing boundary fencing making the area safer and more secure. The ground is owned by the local authority and no special permissions are required. The aim is to provide a facility that is safe for the whole community to use.

Pelham Community Play Project

The project will create a three zoned play area for three different age ranges of children. Each designed to have something of interest for the particular age range to provide a comprehensive play facility for the community and surrounding areas where non

Cool 2B Fit

The project will encourage young people to be more active, through fun exercise. The grant will be used to create a fully inclusive dedicated toboggan slope and a young people's gym . The group will also start an after school club for children who do not take part in school sports. The main target groups are under 16's who are overweight: at risk of offending or who have special needs. The number of beneficiaries are estimated at 500.

Herne Bay Little Theatre

The project will make improvements to the local theatre by refurbishing the site and installing a disabled toilet block and improve access for those in wheelchairs. An induction loop system and air conditioning will also be installed. These changes will provide much more comfort to service users, especially the elderly, the visually and hearing impaired. A total of 3,000 people will benefit.

Access for Everyone at Bearsted Woodland Trust

The project will create a pathway and mobility scooter for use through a newly acquired area of land. The footpath will allow access for the whole community including those with mobility difficulties. Currently the area is unsuitable for wheelchair users, those with restricted mobility and families with pushchairs. The organisation have stated that 8,000 local people will benefit.

The Herne Bay Cultural Trail

The project will create a cultural trail in Herne Bay, linking the town, park, and sea front. The trail will have murals and statues, and will be supported by a brochure, website, and signage. The group have estimated the number of beneficiaries as 62,000.

Sunlight Development Trust

The project will aim to transform a poorly used room in the local community centre to a resource that can be used as a pain clinic, youth drop in and community advice centre. the project will benefit approximately 700 people.

Youth Training Project

This project aims to provide wider access for 50 local disadvantaged people to enjoy the facilities and activities provided. It will also provide better training and equipment so that young volunteers can progress further with their riding qualifications and teach their skills to others. Currently the organisation has to impose weight restrictions due to the size of their horses, by purchasing two larger horses more people will be able to join and trained volunteers will be able to gain higher qualifications.

Function Room Upgrade

This project aims to refurbish and upgrade a function room in The Royal British Legion Club in Hawkhurst. The refurbishment will include, new flooring, new wall and ceiling lighting and a small bar area. There will be 1000 new beneficiaries.

Community Wildlife and Nature Project

The aim of this project is to construct a wildlife cabin in local woodland adjacent to Spinnens Acre Community Junior School. The cabin will be used as a base for local people to take part in wildlife projects, clubs and activities as well as nature, conservation and recycling initiatives. The 'community wildlife centre' is a project that will include the whole community with a particular emphasis on inclusion. Planned activities to be led by volunteers include, bug hunting, woodland walks, family activity days, researching and studying specific wildlife and talks and presentations from experts. There will be at least 1000 beneficiaries.

Disabled Access to Our Little Theatre

The project aims to increase access to Sheppey Little Theatre by installing a lift from ground level up to the auditorium. The lift will allow easier access for existing users and attract new users who in the past have been unable to attend performances due to physical disabilities.

Public Footpath Through Loose Valley

This project aims to provide safe access to the Loose Valley by improving existing footpaths in order to make them easier to use in all weathers. Improvements to the footpath will make disabled access possible and encourage an estimated 100 new people from the Loose Valley and wider South Maidstone area to visit. The footpath has deteriorated throughout the years and has become inaccessible to pushchairs/wheelchairs and those with mobility problems.

Training and Safety Boat

The project will provide a safety boat to facilitate the training of cadets in Margate. Participants will learn more about sailing, power boating, sea safety and life saving skills. Sessions will be led by qualified instructors and volunteers. The vessel will be utilised in the event of sea emergencies and inland flooding and will also be available to local sea scouts, sailing clubs and schools.

Dennes Lane sport and Play Project

The project will install an adventure playground, build a five-a-side football facility and restore an existing tennis court. These facilities will be used by the local community for sporting and recreational activities. The aim of the project is to enhance community well being by upgrading local facilities and increasing opportunities.

Floodlight Fund

The project will enable floodlighting to be installed at the club's pitch, increasing opportunities for training and football matches. The project will upgrade the current club house facilities and improve disabled access to encourage more people to utilise the club amenities. The organisation will also establish a youth club, providing a venue for young people to meet and socialise. Bexhill United Football Club offers football to all and currently has a well established youth section, with over 14 teams of various age groups. this then follows into senior football, where the club has three senior teams and a ladies team.

Frontline Eastbourne

This project will raise awareness of World War 2 in Eastbourne through a series of events including a contemporary play, a 1940s themed evening and a street party to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The play will involve people of all ages and will develop their performance skills and teamwork. For the spectators it will be entertaining and educational. The local community will come together to celebrate and commemorate World War 2.

Vintage Carriage 51 Restoration

THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY WISHES TO THANK EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR THIS PROJECT which will fully restore a Victorian railway carriage to provide access and space for wheelchair users. Bluebell Railway operates steam trains along its heritage line in Sussex. Their set of Victorian carriages currently has no provision for wheelchair users. This project will make the set fully accessible to all. Once restored the carriage will be in service for many years giving pleasure both now and in the future to people with severe mobility problems, plus their friends and families. In a normal year the Victorian set of coaches can be expected to make 250 journeys and thus this project this will provide 1,500 spaces for wheelchair users. By Christmas 2010 there will be capacity for 60+ wheelchairs users on the special Victorian Christmas trains. The space will be flexible such that fewer wheelchair users on a particular journey will permit more of their friends to be accommodated. For more details and pictures go to http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/funding/2009/pm_project.html ---

Growing Together

This project will transform an unused piece of land into a vibrant community garden, allotment and recreational space available to the whole community. People will be learn how to grow food, flowers and herbs and learn about healthy eating. The garden will be situated in a central, residential position and will also be used for recreational activities such as community barbeques and picnics. The produce we grow will be donated to the Hillcrest Community Cafe.