A KINDNESS OF MAGIC

’IT’S NOT FAIR!’’ – This has been the scream of protest known to every parent since time began. Almost as soon as the terms ‘’ Mummy’’ and ‘’daddy’’ have been mastered this universal cry against injustice finds its way to children’s lips and lingers until adulthood. Children have very clear ideas about fairness, often wrong but very very clear, why should they have to go to bed before midnight anyway?

Sadly for many children the world and life itself is genuinely not fair at all. They are denied even the most basic of childhoods, health, freedom from suffering, dignity, respect and the right to play out with friends.

For some children childhood will be brief but that all they will ever know - they will not be among us for long.

These children are all around us, a part of our own community, and yet denied the right of full participation in the world, which claims to love them so.

Tragically there is no magic bullet to cure all ills, no fairy godmother to grant all wishes. All we can do is help where we can.

The families with which we work often complained about the inaccessibility and unsuitability of play areas in local parks. For diverse reasons, whilst other children played and laughed, theirs could only look on. We therefore began a new project, in addition to our caring role, to try and further address their real needs. We intend to build a play area, which could be enjoyed by all children regardless of any special difficulty they right have.

We enlisted the help of the local parks department and other professionals and began a consultation process with the children and carers. Subject to practical, safety and other restraints (including the laws of nature which seriously restricted one or two ideas from the children) we hoped to give substance to their dreams of a good place to play. It was to be an area created not by our minds but by their innocent imaginations, often the inspiration for the children’s ideas were contemporary – ‘’Harry Potter’’ or ‘’Lord of the Rings’’- but it was clear that the ideas in their heads were of course, those of children everywhere- Magic!!! It should have been no surprise.

The general theme lent itself easily to partnership with our local legend the Pendle Witches and based on these intertwined concepts plans were drawn up.

Situated in an area of Victoria Park in Nelson we plan to create a sensory garden of enchantment with more than a wink at local tradition. In an area defined by fencing, to keep the children safe, we aim to include Elements Representing Lancaster Castle, family trees, a haunted cave and a Witches coven; all within a small magical wood. The garden will be completely accessible, have many interactive features and will both entertain and challenge children of all ages and abilities. It will be a place of true magic.

Further to this, on adjoining land, we hope to add (after the garden is completed) an area of specialised play equipment, which can be utilised by disabled children.

Our children face many many barriers in their lives. In this project we have only one – finance. To date £30,000 has been raised but we need much more to fully realise the dreams of special children with their special needs. If anyone could help us with sponsorship or materials their kindness would be represented in a lasting and truly loved monument- a place of happy children.

When our garden is complete it will contain the handprints set in wet cement, of the very special children who inspired it. Now that really is Magic!