Community Fund: Friends of Lyons Farm Open Space

As part of our Union Gardens development, we have created a fund of £36,000 to be allocated to local groups and organisations over the course of the construction period. That means there is £12,000 available each year for the next three years, to help schools, charities and other community organisations.

Our latest recipient of funding is Friends of Lyons Farm Open Space (FOLFOS). The group was formed in 2021 and meets once a month to plan works at the Open Space. They are improving the biodiversity of the area and developing the space as a therapeutic community asset. The space is currently home to Woodland Trust hedges and a mini orchard of apple and damson trees. All the money required so far for this work has been raised through small grants and donations – but there is much more to do.

FOLFOS would like to welcome more of the community to the space. Plans include scouting groups, bat surveys, summer events, and educational, environmental, heritage and sporting activities.

To support this growing programme, FOLFOS needs a secure shed to store equipment such as a gazebo, table and chairs, and gardening tools. It also needs a permanent water supply, to keep the young trees and plants watered. We are therefore delighted to donate £1000 to help Friends of Lyons Farm Open Space make these improvements.

The site itself has a rich history. This part of Worthing was once called Little Broadwater and hosted Canadian soldiers during the Second World War. Local organisation Pastfinders holds much of the historical information about the space, which formed part of the original Lyons Farm.

Apply for funding

If you are part of a group who would benefit from funding, you can apply by contacting Max Harbron at max@roffeyhomes.com.

In your message, please tell us:

Who you are and the group you’re applying for
The amount of support you would like
How our funding will make a difference

We will announce more recipients of funding here on our website and on social media – so keep a look out!

Terms and conditions

One application per group
Your group must be based in central Worthing

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