Peregrin Way TARA
Peregrin Way TARA has been established for a number of years, but was not a member of Rother Fed until recently, when Ida Atkin, Secretary of the TARA was invited to the Delegate meeting at Silverwood Miner's Resource Centre to celebrate the success of the group, who undertake a wide variety of activities. She was so impressed, she asked if they could join. Alan worked with them to get an application in for the April Board meeting, which was approved. They are now eligible for the grant, and are in the process of filling in the application.
A Harthill community group for the over 60s has scooped a prestigious royal award in recognition of its success in developing a true community spirit within the rural location.The Peregrin Way Tenants and Residents Association (TARA), with support from 2010 Rotherham Ltd, has transformed the local Peregrin Way Community Centre and organised a host of activities to ensure residents living on the sheltered housing scheme at Harthill are not left isolated.
In recognition of their dedication, the TARA has been awarded a Duke of York Community Initiative Award. Most of the elderly residents living on the sheltered housing scheme in Peregrin Way have no car and many have physical disabilities. Five years ago residents came together and formed a community group then TARA and decided to take the lead themselves in reducing community isolation and fostering community spirit.
Thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of the community group they have:
- Completely refurbished the community centre with funding secured by their local 2010 Rotherham Ltd Neighbourhood Champion and through Comic Relief.
- Regular activities are held including two computer classes a week, in-door bowls, darts and dominoes, a card-making evening, bingo, digital photography lessons – and even arm-chair aerobics!
- An IT project enabling residents to access online shopping, banking, insurance etc
- Liaised with Community Transport to provide opportunities to travel to shopping centres and supermarkets in the area
- Frequent trips to places of interest such as Bakewell, York and Cleethorpes
- Regular social get-togethers including pie and pea suppers, cream teas and the very popular Christmas and New Year’s Day teas.
TARA committee member Denise Marshall, who is also the Sheltered Housing Warden, said: “We are thrilled to receive the award. It’s been hard-work getting to this point but you just need to look around at the facilities we have at the centre now and the number of residents who attend events to know all the hard work has been worth it.
“We’ve had a lot of support along the way from our local 2010 Neighbourhood Champion as well as other organisations such as RotherFed.” Over 60 local residents regularly attend events at the community centre and take part in outings.
The latest venture is the creation of a sensory garden with disabled access which all residents will be able to enjoy. The residents themselves have planned the garden, which will include scented flowers and a water feature. The majority of the grants to fund the £8,000 scheme were secured by their 2010 Neighbourhood Champion.
TARA committee member Ida Atkin said: “The garden is due to be finished towards the end of June and will be easily accessible for the disabled. We are planning to hold social events over the summer including barbeques and cream teas.”
Wayne Henshaw, 2010 Rotherham Ltd’s Neighbourhood Champion, said: “The TARA works extremely hard to make sure everyone is included and is particularly keen to prevent disabled residents from becoming isolated. They provide support to those who are wheelchair bound, taking them on days out and physically bring them along to social and training events at the centre – even though group members are elderly themselves. “The award is a fitting tribute to the hard work of the Harthill TARA members.”
The official opening of the Sensory Garden was performed by the Mayor, Cllr. Ann Russell on 18 July in front of an invited audience from 2010, Rother Fed, RMBC and Area Housing Panel members.
