Waterside ward residents wishing to develop and enhance community use of Saltworks Farm Playing Fields have now successfully formed a committee with a constitution, enabling them to apply for grant funding from organisations such as the Marshes Community Benefit Fund.

In recent months, a group of local residents have been encouraging members of the community – young and old – to come together around Saltworks, spending many evenings and weekends clearing litter from the site and engaging with the young people that use it.

"We should be proud of our youths who are also now engaging in litter picking," said Helen Watson, who has recently established regular Teddy Bears' Picnics and Kindness Cafés, offering free hot chocolates and snacks to local children and teenagers.

After raising nearly £6,000 for the cause last year and having recently welcomed a further donation from an anonymous donor, Helen would now like to source further funding for 'kindness benches and boards' and an outdoor vandal-proof gym.

"If one person can raise this amount on their own imagine how exciting it would be if we could get others on board!" she added.

To foster a stronger connection between older and younger park users, Helen would also like to invest in an Obie for residents who are elderly, vulnerable or living with dementia.

This device employs an interactive projector and sensor to transform floors and walls into a game or puzzle which people of all ages can enjoy. Helen hopes that this will encourage greater engagement between the different groups that frequent the playing fields area.

It is still not too late to join the Saltworks committee if you would like to get involved. Please message Helen via Wacky Watson's Waterside Kindness Board if you would like to find out more.