FONT: LITHOS COLOUR: C85 M22 Y71 K6 / R4 G140 B106 SUBLINE: GILL SANS REGULAR SUBLINE: BLACK AT 80% Parc Parc Parc Parc Play Area in Rottingdean Committee Play Area in Rottingdean Committee FONT: LITHOS COLOUR: C85 M22 Y71 K6 / R4 G140 B106 SUBLINE: GILL SANS REGULAR SUBLINE: BLACK AT 80% Parc Parc “Creating a better future for our communities by providing a better present for our young people” PARC – Play Area in Rottingdean Parc’s successful projects include: Committee is a local charity providing Rottingdean Play Area. Parecreational facilitiesrc for children and Built 1996 and refurbished 2008. Parc Play Area in Rottingdean Committee Play Area in Rottingdean Committee young people in Rottingdean, Saltdean Toilets at Rottingdean Recreation. and Ovingdean. Built in 2003. Since 1995 PARC has raised many Saltdean Skate Park. thousands of pounds; all invested in Built in 2005 and extended in 2011. the local infrastructure for young Ovingdean Play Area. people and children. Built in 2007. £70,000. Invested in local youth services. Rottingdean Terraces Stage. Investment and support. Owen’s Shelter. Saltdean Oval Park 2013. Rottingdean Village Fair SPLASH BACK The once popular outdoor Swimming Pool, right on Rottingdean seafront. Sadly decommissioned some 25-30 years ago but is still fondly remembered today by local people, many of whom learned to swim there. Over the intervening years the bare concrete space which replaced the pool has remained empty and public opinion has been sought about its future use with many favouring a return back to a community leisure amenity. Connor’s Court uses far less space than the original pool, so surrounding space for pedestrians and cyclists was never a concern. April 2012, Connor Saunders, a local Use-Games-Area (MUGA) which is a KICK STARTING and popular 19 year old was tragically sports court offering 5-a-side football, killed in a senseless act of violence in basketball, cricket stumps and two mini THE FUTURE Rottingdean. Brazilian football pitches for the little Some of Connor’s friends approached ones. CONNOR’S COURT PARC, asking the charity to help create Any ball game can be played on the a positive memorial to remember their court and no booking is required. friend and to provide a space where Connor was a talented amateur footballer they, and other young people could go and a keen fan of Chelsea FC. The colour at any time to kick a ball around. of the court reflects that, as well as the So began development of the Multi seaside setting. “Evidence from other parts of the country shows that these multi-court areas have substantially reduced anti- social behaviour of youths giving them a focal point in which to show some ownership and pride” Stamford and District Crime Prevention Panel “We now have three of these MUGAs and each one has been a marvellous success. In the future we have plans for further sites, as funds allow and would recommend them as a great facility for youngsters” Worthing and Adur Councils. OUR INSPIRATION Connor Charles Edward Saunders was asked to sign, but he didn’t want to born on 25th March 1993. He lived in leave his friends at Melford FC. Woodingdean with his parents, Daz Connor always played Centre Half and Shaun, sister Courtney and brother, in the school team; the Brighton Boys Callum. Connor attended the Kipling Squad, and the Sunday League Rep Lions Nursery and then Rudyard Kipling Squad drawn from across the county. School where he was regularly awarded He was also a keen Chelsea fan. Gold Stars for achievement. At Longhill Longhill’s legendary history teacher and High School Connor became a very Rugby coach, Dewi Vaughan, could see popular and enthusiastic member and Connor had tremendous promise as a captain of the football team which prop, but Connor chose the round ball reached the cup finals at Withdean instead much to Dewi’s disappointment! when Connor was in Year 7. Connor captained Melford Under 8’s, Longhill is also where he met his Whitehawk FC 10-16’s and Peacehaven girlfriend Courtney Lewis. FC’s under 18’s teams as well as In year 8 he was approached by Brighton Crawley Down in the Ryman League. and Hove Albion. After a trial, he was Connor left Longhill School at Year 11 and after taking a football coaching course at City College, went on to work for the family firm and was studying for an NVQ to become a master plasterer. Unbeknown to his family, Connor had signed up to be an Organ Donor when he was 16 and in so doing has saved the lives of five people and enhanced the life of a 10 month old baby. His mum describes Connor as a “gentle giant and friend to everyone” The Saunders family requested that rather than flowers at the celebration of his life, people donate towards a fund to buy defibrillators for football clubs. They remembered Connor wondering how long it would take his club to raise the money needed (at £1000 each). The Connor Saunders The Connor Saunders Foundation also actively promote organ donation and Foundation mum Daz, and sister Courtney are both advocates for “Live Life Give Life” and Connor had been shocked at the news With Connor’s love for football in the hold fundraising coffee mornings for in March 2012 of Bolton player, Fabrice minds of his family, they considered the charity. Muamba, collapsing on the pitch with a those children who through physical If you are inspired by Connor to become heart attack. The event highlighted the or financial disadvantage could not an organ donor please click on: need for clubs to have defibrillators. gain access to playing football. The Connors5.com The Connor Saunders Foundation now Foundation now provides professional But don’t forget to discuss your wishes raises money to provide these life saving coaching to three schools in Sussex with your family as they can override emergency kits as well as training for for children with special needs. your decision to donate. ten volunteers from a range of football clubs and schools. Connors Crystal Lunch PARC and our extended group of friends MAKING IT and supporters hosted the Crystal Lunch at St Margaret’s Cottage in Rottingdean in May 2013 in aid of Connor’s Court and A REALITY Owen’s Shelter. The 5 course lunch raised over £3,000. Pictured are the team of Our fund-raisers set their sights high and achieved all they aimed for and more. volunteers who not only gave up their Along with generous donations from local organisations and businesses, time to cook and serve the meal but also Connor’s Court has become a reality. donated the food. Included are Connor’s In all, our fundraisers, supporters and donors raised over mum, sister and grandmother and £85,000. The thanks of a community go out to all involved. Owen’s mother and aunt. Herbie Flowers and Guests Concert on the Terraces Rottingdean X Factor PARC launched the fundraising PARC teamed up with Julie Bitout from campaign for Connor’s Court in the Paul Nicholas Academy to stage a August 2012 with a brilliant concert by talent competition for local young legendary jazz musician Herbie Flowers people to raise money for Connor’s Court. and Friends on the nearby Terraces on A very high calibre of performer was Rottingdean Seafront. selected by professional judges and The audience overwhelmingly the evening itself was a terrific success supported the project and PARC raising £2,000. On the team of judges collected over £1,000 on the day! were Julie Cowell and Chris Ellison Val Patton Val Patton was a hardworking volunteer in the PARC Charity Shop who took a Sussex Talented particular interest in Connor’s Court, Young People marketing the project and CSF Young people also helped to raise wristbands to her wider group of friends money by performing in the Sussex and acquaintances. Val sadly died in Festival for Talented Young People in January 2013 but her legacy lived on Rottingdean. Actress Barbara Whatley- through her many devoted friends Webb presented prizes to the winners at including those from the Red Hat Society the Queen Victoria which kindly hosted – who between them donated over the event at short notice. £400 in Val’s name to Connor’s Court The Rottingdean Village Fair is a long established and beloved annual GOING THE EXTRA MILE event. Each year a key charity is elected Heloise Payne raised over by the committee based on various £400 by travelling to proposals submitted. In 2013 PARC’s Romania and successfully Connor’s Court won the majority vote completing the 20 mile and received £1,400 towards the build of this community site. charity trek. “I was there for six days and trekked for four of them. I went up two of the Carpathian Mountains which were extremely beautiful and I met some lovely people. It was a great and challenging experience for me while being very honoured to raise money for Connor’s Court” 5 is Alive. Exclusive Compilation This exclusive music compilation album features original tracks by GIVING GENEROUSLY local musicians and was produced by Patrick Bergin in partnership with Rottingdean Parish Council Gary Redding of Rockingdean Studio. contributed £3,000 Through inspiring and uplifting pieces, the project sought to honour the memory of Connor and raise funds for the PARC project. Rottingdean and Saltdean Lions donated £250 Argus Appeal Our local paper, the Argus, generously donated £5,000 from the Argus Appeal. In the words of Elsa Gillio Coordinator of the Appeal... “Understandably, Connor’s Court will be bitter sweet for some, but a very fitting tribute to a fine young man” PARC and the Charity Shop Lloyds Bank PARC is a charity made up of local Community Fund volunteers, mainly parents and In 2013 members of staff at Lloyds Bank grandparents who spend countless hours nominated Connor’s Court for their every year running the Charity Shop and Community Challenge where customers fundraising through other events in are asked to vote for their preferred order to make sure local children and charity.