Urgent Help - Repair Our Much Loved Forest School
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SAD NEWS - URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP
Unfortunately for the third time in less than 12 month period and for the 2nd time in quick succession, our recently repaired and new beloved ‘forest school’ area has been vandalised resulting in thousands of pounds worth of damage.
On Saturday 6th March 2021 at around 5pm, 10 to 15 “teenage” and young adult males were seen, congregated in the shelter of our forest, and heard after some abnormally loud noises. Bravely our landlords, the owners of Corinthians Sports Club family, went to investigate. Thankfully their presence managed to halt the vandals actions, scaring most of them away but in the process managing to apprehend two vandals from the group until the police arrived. Both were subsequently arrested and after some careful consideration we have decided that we are going to move forward with pressing charges. With the hope that it will minimise the chances of this happening again, for a 4th time, to us or any other local residents or businesses.
Having spent time risk assessing the subsequent damage to the forest resources, area plus the surrounding areas, this time the damage is significantly worst resulting in majority of our equipment being permanently damaged. We have salvaged what we can but the area that our children absolutely LOVE to use every day is no longer safe to use again until further groundwork is carried out and resources are either removed and/or replaced.
We are proactively sourcing replacements for the many, resources that have been damaged beyond repair. However, given the current financial implications COVID has bought, which we are all facing personally and in business, for the first time we are appealing for help through a GoFundMe page. Our forest school area was a project that a member of the team completed as part of her degree in Early Years Education, which as I’m sure you can appreciate took an exceptional amount of investment, fundraising, planning, effort and time from several members of the team. Any support will be greatly appreciated, and will be used to speed up the project of ensuring our forest is safe to use and well resourced again.
Both the team and children are incredibly sad that anyone would do this our pre-school, especially as we all absolutely love using this area daily. We would like to send a massive thank you to the witnesses, our landlords Sue, Bonze, Michael, Jamie and Charlotte as well as the police for their help during this difficult time.
Thank you in advance for your support.
The FMP Team
Unfortunately for the third time in less than 12 month period and for the 2nd time in quick succession, our recently repaired and new beloved ‘forest school’ area has been vandalised resulting in thousands of pounds worth of damage.
On Saturday 6th March 2021 at around 5pm, 10 to 15 “teenage” and young adult males were seen, congregated in the shelter of our forest, and heard after some abnormally loud noises. Bravely our landlords, the owners of Corinthians Sports Club family, went to investigate. Thankfully their presence managed to halt the vandals actions, scaring most of them away but in the process managing to apprehend two vandals from the group until the police arrived. Both were subsequently arrested and after some careful consideration we have decided that we are going to move forward with pressing charges. With the hope that it will minimise the chances of this happening again, for a 4th time, to us or any other local residents or businesses.
Having spent time risk assessing the subsequent damage to the forest resources, area plus the surrounding areas, this time the damage is significantly worst resulting in majority of our equipment being permanently damaged. We have salvaged what we can but the area that our children absolutely LOVE to use every day is no longer safe to use again until further groundwork is carried out and resources are either removed and/or replaced.
We are proactively sourcing replacements for the many, resources that have been damaged beyond repair. However, given the current financial implications COVID has bought, which we are all facing personally and in business, for the first time we are appealing for help through a GoFundMe page. Our forest school area was a project that a member of the team completed as part of her degree in Early Years Education, which as I’m sure you can appreciate took an exceptional amount of investment, fundraising, planning, effort and time from several members of the team. Any support will be greatly appreciated, and will be used to speed up the project of ensuring our forest is safe to use and well resourced again.
Both the team and children are incredibly sad that anyone would do this our pre-school, especially as we all absolutely love using this area daily. We would like to send a massive thank you to the witnesses, our landlords Sue, Bonze, Michael, Jamie and Charlotte as well as the police for their help during this difficult time.
Thank you in advance for your support.
The FMP Team
Fundraising team: Fawkham Montessori Pre-School (4)
Abbie Mahoney
Organizer
Sam Groombridge
Beneficiary
Katie Houlding
Team member
Laura Groombridge
Team member
