We surpassed our goal – thanks to you!
Thanks to your incredible support, Grove Adventure Playground’s Champions for Children fundraiser not only hit its £35k target – it surpassed it. We raised an amazing £35,557!
With Gift Aid added, that total climbs to a whopping £38,841.29 in new funds for the playground. This vital support helps secure our future as we continue working hard to keep this magical space open and thriving.
Supporting local children and teenagers
As a result, we can continue supporting over 250 local children and teenagers each year — nurturing their physical and mental health while helping them develop key life skills. The Grove is a welcoming space, run by trusted adults — many of whom grew up here themselves.
Crucially, we can now reinstate our after-school sessions, which we had to pause due to our funding crisis. These sessions offer a wide range of activities – from outdoor play, cookery, and gardening to sports, arts and crafts, and digital skills – as well as specialised SEN sessions. With 80% of our young people eligible for free school meals, these sessions also provide healthy, home-cooked food.
Our 13+ group will also continue – a lifeline for local teenagers facing risks like gang grooming and other harmful influences. In our recent community safety survey, young people told us how much they value the Grove as a safe space – somewhere they feel seen, supported, and secure.
And we’ll be able to go on trips again – more than just a treat. Many Grove children rarely leave the neighbourhood. These outings are a chance to explore London’s cultural gems, enjoy nature in the countryside, and maybe even see the seaside for the first time.
Thank you for making it happen
Every donation, share, and kind word helped us reach – and beat – our goal. We are truly grateful.
Special thanks to:
- Jo Gibbs, for donating your incredible artwork.
- Fred Taggart, for rallying support through the Fawnbrake Avenue WhatsApp group.
- The Farthing Trust and Topinambour Trust, for your generous funding.
And finally, a huge thank-you to the managers of The Cambria and The Sun Camberwell, who kindly let us speak with customers in their sunny gardens. We had wonderful conversations and made some great new connections.
From all of us: THANK YOU. You made this happen. And we can’t wait to show you what comes next.
Watch this video we made for the fundraising campaign to see what the children love about Grove:
