FOMD were invited to do a short notice presentation (20.2.24) to the Maghull Older Persons Forum, which meets at the town hall on a monthly basis. They were a friendly group of 18 local residents, with a starved passion alongside a voracious appetite for local community news. They lamented the loss of the Champion Newspaper and welcomed the council’s quarterly magazine that strives to provide the community with a voice and focus, whilst recognising that without this last bastion of communication a community cannot be a community, because nobody knows what’s happening on their doorstep.
Prior to the presentation there were many adversarial items for discussion related to their age group, as they are reference point for these issues from various organisations, which they dealt with aplomb, demonstrating a strong cohesion and bond of mutual friendship, respect and valuable experience.
Unfortunately, I did not have a great deal of time to prepare and offered the group an evolution of our group’s development and the myriad of projects that we have galvanised the community together to produce some wonderful outcomes, since our formal inception in 2019.
On reflection, it was absolutely mind-boggling to be forced into the position to recount the multitude of achievements undertaken as a catalyst to the community which we have sketched below if anyone else has ever wondered:
FOMD are small group of volunteers who have punched above their weight since their inception in 2019, to deliver countless environmental improvements, for the health, wellness, awareness, legacy for our community. We have motivated and engaged every aspect of the community making the seemingly impossible possible:
Projects:
Parkbourn Project: galvanised the local community to transform an area with 20yrs of ASB & fly tipping into a tranquil garden oasis destination.
Stafford Moreton Way Project: transformed a large unkempt area with the towns highest footfall, by crowdfunding £6500 to create an inspirational eco-educational area, utilising bulbs, wildflowers, wildlife friendly trees, hedging, noticeboard, and crowned with a life-sized galvanised mesh steel rhinoceros which is a receptacle for 100,000 plastic bottle tops which are upcycled into community art by local schools (highlighting endangered wildlife and plastic recycling).
Our first (2019) homemade crowdfunding promotional video (Can you see this difference?) https://youtu.be/QNmTA-3jPCc
Woodend Project: during the height of the pandemic restrictions, we unbelievably raised over £30,000 to transform a neglected underused green space. We created an ‘accessible’ 230m Cotswolds style path. A‘ safe’ 230m perimeter fence and wildlife friendly hedging. Created a new 50x4m border planted with countless plant donations. Planted trees, bulbs, benches, bins, noticeboard, rockery, children’s eco-education corner, coronation picnic area, and a community kindness art installation.
Tree Planting Project: Over an 18-month period we have organised and planted an astounding 15,000 trees, receiving Royal accolades in the form of a tree from Buckingham Palace and an invitation to Windsor Castle for the coronation celebrations. FOMD have instigated research with a Prof of Ecology and other agencies to undertake research and develop strategies to reduce air pollution and flooding.
Other major projects have included:
- Warm hub £3110 and £3,500 grant achieved to run the Cosy Club.
- Book Swop scheme at Maghull North Train Station.
- Digital equipment and services (£6000 grant) obtained to support the advice centre function, to help with the cost of living crisis.
- Supported the developed a Quarterly Community Magazine
- The new ongoing NHS Wellness Dell.
Making the impossible possible has only been achieved by galvanising our community in undertaking environmental and social projects. Consequently, winning the BBC ‘Make a Difference Environmental Award’ was a massive thank you. to our whole community. Your contributions ranged from financial and in-kind donations to volunteering, to enable us to deliver countless environmental improvements, for the health, wellness, eco-educational awareness and legacy.
The BBC presentation evening (2022) was a beautiful and magical experience.
The venue was in the stunning Victorian Sefton Palm house
Facilitated by our local BBC presenters, who we have admired for years on the radio for their friendly, warm and passionate involvement in our community, particularly the make a difference slot straight after the hourly news, which is always enlightening and inspirational. Without this type of communication, it is difficult for a community to be a community.
The evening was such a great opportunity to share stories with a wide variety of volunteers, whose stories were inspiring and heartwarming in equal measure.
Winning was really beyond our expectations, as we were nominated from hundreds, and shortlisted to a final four, whom we felt were so good, that we had settled to simply enjoy the experience with no expectation of winning in the slightest.
Although, it was amazing to win the award, as a thank you to our community, we really do think that everyone that gets involved with volunteering, to make a difference for their community are amazing. We would encourage everyone out there to try and get involved with their local group or simply stop and give a volunteer a precious motivational thank you, because it does go a long way in making them feel it is all worthwhile. We are strong believers in karma. So, by making our town a better place to live, it really makes the community a happier and healthier place to be part of. Consequently, winning was like going to a card shop and getting the best thank you card for our community for all their help.
“The truth is, every one of us, no matter who we are, or where we live, can and must play a part in restoring nature.” Sir David Attenborough.
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it’. Robert Swan.
FOMD
Together Making Maghull a better place to live.
More information: www.fomd.co.uk
(website created locally by www.abbeytech.net/)
Contact: admin@fomd.co.uk