BRANTHAM
Parish Council

1

Thornfield Cottage
Windmill Road
Bradfield
CO11 2QW
01206 645111
clerk@branthamparishcouncil.gov.uk
APPLICATION FOR A GRANT OR CONTRIBUTION from CIL FUNDING
Please find below an application for funding from East Bergholt Parish Council’s CIL funding as per the letter from
Brantham Parish Council dated: 23 January 2025

ORGANISATION/GROUP DETAILS
Organisation/Group name: Brantham Parish Council

Address: Thornfield Cottage, Windmill Road, Bradfield, CO11 2QW

Contact Email: clerk@branthamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Contact Telephone: 01206 645111

Registered Charity no. (if applicable): N/A

If you are part of a larger organisation enter its name:

Aims and objectives of your organisation/group:
To provide a Skate Park for young people and their families on the Lower Playing Field in Brantham

DETAILS OF PROJECT/ACTIVITY
Provide an overview of
your project/request:

The aim of this project is to provide young people from Brantham and the
surrounding areas with an outdoor activity that promotes fitness, fresh air and
community spirit.
This project aims to resolve concerns from local residents about young people
loitering in the village with nothing to do by giving them something positive to
take part in.
This project aims to resolve complaints from families and young people in
Brantham that the village has “nothing for young people to do”
Please find below a piece from Parish Councillor Abi Edevane who is leading on
this project for Brantham Parish Council:
“I’m on a mission and I want to tell you why and how you can help me! I hope you can
find the time to read this and understand just how passionate I am about our young

BRANTHAM
Parish Council

2

Thornfield Cottage
Windmill Road
Bradfield
CO11 2QW
01206 645111
clerk@branthamparishcouncil.gov.uk
people and our responsibility to create a world that allows them to hold on to their
childhood.
We all know that young people today spend far too much time on screens, Research
suggests there was a 52% increase in children’s screen time between 2020 and 2022,
and that nearly 25% of children and young people now use their smartphones in a way
that is consistent with a behavioural addiction. Something needs to change so that we
can safeguard the mental, physical and emotional health of the next generation!
I’m a mum of 2 very energetic boys from Brantham and over the last few years I’ve
become more and more concerned about the lack of facilities for the ever-growing
youth in our area.
So, I’m heading up a campaign to get a skatepark for our area. It will be in Brantham
and my aim is that it will be used and loved by all surrounding communities.
I approached Brantham Parish Council 18 months ago to ask if a skatepark would be
something they would be interested in building for the huge amount of young people
in the area who are too old for swings and slides but still need something to do to stop
them being bored, hanging around streets and shops.
They were really positive but said they just don’t have the manpower to head up such
a massive campaign. So I decided to join the council and do it myself! We held a
village consultation and concerns for bored teenagers was a major worry for many
people and a skatepark came out top as a plan to tackle this issue.
I held a mobile skatepark event last autumn, it was attended by over 300 people, I was
blown away by such an amazing amount of support and it was a fantastic day! Around
half of those who came were from Brantham but the rest came from surrounding
villages, which shows the need in the wider area!
I’m over the moon that I have full backing of council, they’ve allocated me land and
have agreed to kick off my funds with 40k!
It turns out that skateparks are not cheap and we need to raise between 180k and
200k! I am setting up a crowd funding page and will be approaching the likes of Sport
England but I need to show I have support of the people and that’s where you come in.
I’m approaching all local councils to see if they and their parishioners would consider
contributing to the fundraising? I feel so passionately about this, I truly believe that a
decent wheeled space in our area would provide a place for people/teenagers to come
together, learn new skills and make friends.
Not everyone is into team sports but skateparks provide a place to express
individuality whilst spending time with others. Studies show that wheeled sports can
reduce stress, increase confidence and are a great way to deal with emotions.
Skateparks are also such an inclusive space. I have regularly witnessed older kids

BRANTHAM
Parish Council

3

Thornfield Cottage
Windmill Road
Bradfield
CO11 2QW
01206 645111
clerk@branthamparishcouncil.gov.uk
helping younger kids, young people being supportive, sharing skills and encouraging
others.
Kids and teenagers often get a bad “rap” from people because they’re in groups
hanging out in places that are just unsuitable or too young for them. 99.9% of the time
they are actually just great kids, wanting to be with their friends. I’ve spent time
talking to some of the groups of teenagers in Brantham and I’ve found them to be
nothing but chatty, engaging and often very entertaining and funny.
I personally feel so proud of our youth and want to give them somewhere to go,
somewhere for them that they can enjoy, express themselves and somewhere they be
proud of!

Thank you so much for reading this. I hope that this is something that some of you will
feel as excited and passionate about as I do.”
What is the likely number of
beneficiaries?
All local children, young people and their families from Brantham and the
surrounding villages and towns.
Age profile of beneficiaries 5-65
Provide details of long-term
sustainability
Brantham Parish Council will be maintaining the Skate Park in the future as
part of its usual budgeting process.

DETAILS OF EAST BERGHOLT PARISH COUNCIL CIL FUNDING REQUESTED
Contribution requested £40,000 from CIL funds (matching the CIL funding already provided by
Brantham Parish Council)
Total Cost of Project £180,000 -£200,000
Funding agreed to date £40,000 (Brantham Parish Council CIL Funding)

I certify that the responses provided are accurate to the best of my knowledge

BRANTHAM
Parish Council

4

Thornfield Cottage
Windmill Road
Bradfield
CO11 2QW
01206 645111
clerk@branthamparishcouncil.gov.uk

Signature of applicant
Office held Parish Clerk Date 02 April 2025