Proffitts CIC – Community Projects and Funding

”Community group Waterfoot Forward first recognised Trickett’s Memorial Ground as needing restoration soon after our formation in 2006, but finding funders willing to help out meant this was too complex a task for us to take on. Our main concern was that the stone and metal archway entrance had been damaged by vehicles and the memorial plaques themselves had been damaged by a previous attempt at cleaning. By 2018 and the centenary of the end of World War One, the group had installed an additional commemorative stone for ‘those in the community who had given their lives in conflict around the world’ and arranged an annual Remembrance Sunday service of commemoration, but we were still far from our aim of renovation of the entrance area, which we had hoped to complete by the centenary. After having seen other local projects worked on by Proffitts CIC we contacted them to ask for help. Martin and Rachael saw the potential of a much greater scheme and after undertaking local consultation they came up with a scheme to clear trees and undergrowth and restore paths to open up access to the wider parkland. Waterfoot Forward also identified the lack of information available to visitors on the history and original purpose of the Memorial Ground – as a commemoration of the 44 men from Gaghills Mill who lost their lives in the First World War – and we provided the information for interpretation panels which Proffitts added to the scheme. Thanks to Proffitts’ knowledge of which funders to approach the scheme has been completed to an excellent standard with the archway cleaned and restored, the bronze memorial plaques renovated back to their original standard, and new interpretation panels installed. A WWI memorial bench and replacement steps to the commemorative stone were also part of the scheme and both of these make the whole entrance area look unified and complete. Working with Proffitts and their contractors was a pleasure and their professionalism and patience was much appreciated by everyone at Waterfoot Forward.” Tim Nuttall – Waterfoot Forward – January 2025

”Civic Pride Rossendale, a charity based in the Rossendale Valley, in Lancashire, has been working in Trickett’s Memorial Ground in Waterfoot since 2016. A small team of volunteers has worked hard clearing weeds and planting shrubs, trees and perennials in an effort to bring this community space back to life. Proffitts, working with the local authority and ourselves, drew up a masterplan for tackling and improving the infrastructure in the grounds. Proffitts consulted with the public and other interested groups and then secured grants to enable the work to go ahead. The work was completed in September 2024 and has made an enormous difference, building upon, and enhancing what we had done. The paths have been improved, bases laid for picnic tables, a handrail on the steps, new steps up to the memorial stone, a memorial bench and information boards. Work has been carried out on the trees and on steps leading up to a side entrance. And then hundreds of new perennials planted. Rachael managed the project, paying attention to and acting on any concerns we had, and ensuring the work was carried out satisfactorily. A very big thank you to Proffitts.” Charlotte Hocking – Finance Officer, Civic Pride Rossendale – January 2025

”We are a small community group who manage and operate a Community Centre in Tanterton, Preston. We wanted to turn an unloved, difficult to maintain area attached to the Centre into a garden, our Garden Project, to benefit the local community and for them to enjoy. We engaged Proffitts to carry out the detail design and manage the construction phase for us as it was felt to be beyond our capacity. Rachael was their project lead. Rachael listened to us when we were in the early stages of preparing the brief particularly in respect of accessibility, planting and not least, cost. Ultimately she ensured delivery of our Garden Project on time and within our very tight budget constraints. We were kept well informed and involved by Rachael at all stages of the Project; from preparing the brief to receiving and assessing quotations from contractors, choosing the contractor, through on site construction to final valuation and invoicing. This took any potential stress out of the delivery process. We now have the garden that we envisioned when we first started fund raising some twelve months ago. It has been a pleasure working with Rachael and the team from Proffitts.” Alan Brookes – Trustee, Tanterton Village Centre – October 2024