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firs farm community hub in place after deliveryOne side of the Friends of Firs Farm's future community hub in place

firs farm community hub being lowered into position

The other half of the modular building is gently lowered into position

Following a two-day journey on a low-loader along the M6 and M1, on the last day of January the two halves of a modular building were lowered into position on a disused car park just off Firs Lane.

The Friends of Firs Farm's dream, going back to 2015, was finally coming true: a community hub offering a cafe, toilets and meeting rooms in the borderlands between Winchmore Hill, Edmonton and Palmers Green, some distance from high street shopping parades and currently with no facilities, but offering fresh air, ancient hedgerows and a wetlands scheme with flourishing flora and fauna.

Just one hitch though. The impressive new building's delivery is the result of an equally impressive campaign by the community group to raise funds.  The £300,000 which paid for building, delivering and erecting the building has come from a mixture of individual donations, contributions from charities and a grant from Enfield Council. This amount ought to have been enough to get it into operation, but unfortunately Covid delayed progress and recent rises in costs mean that it will stand there unused until the Friends can raise a further £40,000 to fit it out internally.

To raise this vital last bit of money, the Friends have a crowdfunder that individuals are contributing to, and they're also asking people to organise fundraising events. The hope is that the funding gap will be plugged in time for the community hub to be fully open by Easter.

Contribute to the crowdfunder

What the Hub will provide

  • The café will serve fresh, locally sourced hot and cold food, drinks and refreshments.
  • A welcoming place for people to meet up, with flexible community space that can be used for educational, fitness, social and other activities.
  • Essential facilities, including the changing places toilet.
  • A place to learn more about the importance of urban wetlands to our well-being and that of the planet. 
  • The facilities provided by the Hub will be pivotal in regenerating the under-used sports pitches adjacent to the wetlands and community hub. There is a shortage of playing pitches with facilities in the local area. Help us create a great space for girls and the boys to play football and other team sports!
  • We see the addition of a defibrillator at the Hub a key piece of equipment. With this in mind we need to raise additional funds this and to train all our key volunteers in First Aid appropriate for the Hub and the outdoors.  
  • We will resume and expand our educational programmes and community events at Firs Farm including a summer festival, our famous Halloween activities and National Children’s Day.

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