A school girl’s fundraiser for the Hampstead Heath play area

Released:
11:47 am April 20, 2022

A school girl calls for more donors to support her bid to rejuvenate the Hampstead Heath Extension play area.

Last year, Olivia White decided it needed a refurbishment and started fundraising by selling jam made from blackberries she picked on the moors.

The 11-year-old began working on plans with the City of London Corporation (CoLC), which manages Hampstead Heath, and a target of £40,000 was set for the project.

Olivia said there is still around £13,000 to be raised.

She said: “I’m very proud of myself and I’m not even going to benefit from it, but my brother and others his age will.”

Olivia consulted with neighbors and the City of London Corporation to design a concept adventure playground with the help of a landscape architect.

Mum Elizabeth Deheza said: “She wants to redecorate the playground because it’s in a terrible state considering the area is so well maintained.”

Olivia attended meetings with the CoLC’s Hampstead Heath Committee, including making a presentation at their annual meeting.

“I was alone in front of all these people, some of them not interested, some of them willing to help, but when I stood up there and was handed the mic, the whole room went silent,” Olivia said.

Emma Howard, Chair of the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association, said: “We were delighted that Olivia White spoke so eloquently at our recent AGM on the need for a playground upgrade, to a thunderous round of applause from those present.

“The residents’ association has pledged £10,000 to the project and secured £7,500 from a special fund the city runs to support community groups. We have also received a further £4,000 from a generous local donor and another donor has pledged to match donations from local residents up to a total of £5,000 so I believe we are well on our way to helping Olivia target of £40,000 by the end of May over the next few weeks.”

Olivia has raised around £2,500 selling jam at Wildwooders and this year she added apple jam to her sustainable business: “Everybody loves it.”

The CoCL, which has been asked for comment, has set up a fundraising page for the gaming area.

Visit www.wildwooders.uk to find out how you can help Olivia.