Coal-Play
Coal-Play is a project that benefits all in the community of Coalburn, South Lanarkshire. Their aim is to provide outdoor, sport and recreational activities for children and young people in Coalburn and promote social inclusion through play and learning experiences.
This gives children and young people the opportunity to learn new skills, and experience their community and environment in a supported, fun and safe way.
They hold indoor activities and outdoor activities for local children in the village – for example, litter picking, muddy walks and outdoor play. These activities mean that children can explore their environment safely.
Funding for Coal-Play has been provided by the Coalburn, Douglas & Glespin (CDG) Community Fund. The fund is a vehicle through which two different funds are administered, provided by:
- Ventient Energy Ltd, the owner and operator of the Galawhistle Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire (opened in 2017).
- Greencoat UK Wind, the owner of the Douglas West Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire (opened in late 2021).
Read more about the fund here
This funding provided the children of Coal-Play with a great deal of fun, and helped to provide activities such as crafts, art and making special pieces for the village during special occasions such Easter, Remembrance Day and Christmas. The project was also able to buy outdoor paints so that the children could paint stones that will be placed all around the village green.
They were also able to organise a trip for local families to Blair Drummond, which enabled many families to have an experience they may otherwise not have been able to afford. 144 children and adults (filling two buses!) made the trip and had a magical day out, making memories together.
This funding has also contributed to the group being able to grow and work alongside other projects and groups in the village, so that all children are welcomed and made to feel part of the community.
Coal-Play also supports vulnerable children, who may not have had the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities, like learning to play in the mud, grow vegetables and learn about life outdoors. They also made the trip to Blair Drummond safari park, which gave everyone the opportunity to make new friends and build relationships.
Coal-Play said: "Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. This funding allowed these wonderful experiences to happen.”