Northamptonshire Community Foundation community hero of the week

Crick Pre-School provides a welcoming environment where young children can learn, play and develop essential skills. Recognising that its outdoor area needed more equipment and better facilities to make the most of outdoor play throughout the year, the pre-school sought funding to create a more engaging and accessible space for children.

A £9,259 grant from the Yelvertoft Wind Farm Fund, awarded via Northamptonshire Community Foundation, has helped transform the garden with new play equipment and a covered area, allowing children to explore and play outside in a wider range of weather conditions. Improvements include a climbing structure, mud kitchen, sandpit and interactive water wall, creating more opportunities for imaginative play, sensory exploration and physical activity.

Since the improvements, staff have seen children grow in confidence and eagerly explore the garden. The changes have also helped a child with significant additional needs, who is non-verbal and visually impaired, access the outdoor space more freely. With support, they are beginning to explore the climbing equipment and practice walking using a newly installed handrail, growing in confidence with each attempt.

The improvements have been welcomed by staff, parents and the wider community, with volunteers also helping to make the garden safe and inviting. Additional donations have enabled the pre-school to improve privacy screening and accessibility at the entrance.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation is the county’s largest independent grant maker, having given more than £25 million in grants since its inception in 2001. This year marks an exciting milestone for NCF – 25 years of inspiring local giving for local needs. Building on this, NCF is also looking 25 years ahead, with bold ambition for a fairer, thriving and more connected county for generations to come. Their latest Impact Report is ready to read here.