A Waterside ward resident has started a 'Kindness Café' at Saltworks Farm Playing Fields, to help make the area a more secure and inclusive environment for all members of the community to use.

Helen Watson, who is also the force behind the ongoing Save our Skate Park petition calling for improvements to Saltworks facilities, has been visiting the playing fields regularly along with several other local residents, to talk with the young people that use it, as well as providing food and hot drinks.

This comes after repeated reports of antisocial behaviour at the site, where a swing was set alight on Monday 8 March.

"After a few weeks of engaging we now have a no swearing policy and mutual respect for each other," Helen says.

"The youths thanked me for trying to support them and we have had no antisocial behaviour at all for the past week. In fact, the young people have been chatting to me and then going home at about 9pm."

As lockdown restrictions ease further, Helen is now hoping to organise a 'Teddy Bear's Picnic' for children and families, to help use the space available at Saltworks and help promote community use of the playing fields.

"The facilities at Saltworks are not the best but at least there is running water and a kitchen with electricity, so I wouldn't have to bring all the hot food and drink all the way from my house!" Helen says.

Events like this might also help raise money for further Kindness Café activities, although Helen is also seeking funding from external organisations such as Sport England or the Marshes Community Benefit Fund.

However, to secure a grant from the latter, Saltworks will need a committee of interested residents and stakeholders behind it. If you would like to get involved with the playing fields' upkeep, or if you have ideas for Helen's Kindness Café, please contact her over Facebook.

Practical solutions for Saltworks

Both Helen and the young people she meets at Saltworks believe that the [issue of antisocial behaviour would largely be resolved if the skate park floodlights, which have been switched off for over six years, were turned on.

"The young people have all asked for lighting and CCTV as they feel it will allow more people to use the facilities safely," Helen says. "Change is needed rather than blame."

"The skate park is the only facility of its kind and should be fit for purpose for all residents of Frodsham.

"Children should be able to use a play area near their own homes instead of having to go to Castle Park or the Community Centre for organised activities.

"But in addition to this, Saltworks needs to accommodate all ages – I even want friendship benches for older people to come and enjoy."

This week, Waterside ward resident Lucy Sumner has been in contact with Cheshire West and Chester Council about the need for lighting at the play area, and it is hoped that work will soon be carried out to resolve the issue.

In a further attempt to make Saltworks' skate park more accessible for users, a group of young people recently took it upon themselves to carry out repairs and pick up litter around the site.

"When I got there I was really surprised because these young people, aged 15 to 19, had spent five hours working by torchlight to make the ramps safe and clear away the rubbish," Helen says.

"It was lovely to see them taking pride in their skate park.

"The youths are now listening and saying "we want to use it and we're going to start doing something about it.""

Helen has also been speaking with local parents and staff at Weaver Vale Primary School, who agree that a child-led approach will help to create a sense of ownership and responsibility within the young people that use Saltworks.

As a part of this, the older BMX riders and skateboarders who frequent the skate park have expressed interest in sharing their skills with younger children, so as to strengthen community ties across different age groups.

To read more about the Save our Skate Park petition, click here