Last Saturday night, something really disheartening happened in Aveley. The bench at Aveley’s Hidden Gem in the Rec was stolen and damage was caused to the brand new fencing around the space, where they also stole some of the posts.

This wasn’t just any bench. It had been carefully put in place by Keith, Terry, The Aveley Hub and a group of dedicated volunteers who have worked tirelessly to transform what was once a neglected corner of the park into something truly special for the community. The space had already been enjoyed by the Little Explorers nursery and the local Beavers group have been dedicated putting in their efforts to make the space lovely. The bench stood in place for just a week and had only just received a plaque sharing the story of Aveley.

The area was almost ready for its official opening during the St George’s Day celebrations, a moment everyone had been working towards. Instead, they’ve been left needing to repair and rebuild.

The total needed is around £1,500 to replace the bench, restore the fencing, and introduce some security so this can’t happen again. The community came together so well last year raising funds and we’d really hope that we can do the same again.

The bench itself was very large, seating around 20 people, made from recycled materials, designed to be durable and environmentally friendly, and we’d love to bring that back for everyone to enjoy.

This space means a lot to local families. There’s a beautiful mural covering what once was an unloved concrete wall, showing scenes from Aveley’s history, and volunteers are even building a small den for children. We’d love to have everything restored in time for the summer holidays so families, children, and grandparents can once again enjoy picnics and time together there.

Any support you can give really does make a difference. Even £5, the price of a pint helps us get closer to our goal. It would be lovely for local businesses to donate also. If we’re lucky enough to raise more than we need, any extra funds will go towards improving another local area in Kenningtons as part of a second Hidden Gem project for those local to the other side of Aveley too.

Thank you to everyone who has already helped bring this space to life, and to anyone who is able to support us now. When the community comes together it really is something special. Funds will be forwarded to Keith and the Aveley Hub to purchase the new bench. Let’s get our Hidden Gem back.