A GROUP of volunteers raising money for a modern, accessible playground at Machynlleth’s Plas grounds have broken the £10,000 barrier, and will be asking local people to help them choose a design.

Future Play Machynlleth is calling on the community to help them raise enough to make the new park a reality.

Elizabeth Greenwood-Dunn, chair of Future Play, said: “We are currently in the process of applying for designs and will be asking the local community to help us choose one.

“Once we have a final design we will know exactly how much we need to raise, and will therefore be able to apply for big funding such as the Big Lottery Fund.”

Set up 18 months ago, the group has raised just under £11,500 so far through cake stalls, Hallowe’en parties, Rotary Club events, including a boxing night that raised £1,500; the mayor’s raffle and collections at the local Co-op. They have even received large cheques out of the blue from people, Danielle said.

There are several more events in the pipeline, which the group help will be well supported by the community.

There will be a cake stall on Machynlleth Market on Wednesday, 16 March, and local mum-of-four, Tina McAuley, is running the Snowdonia Half Marathon on 22 May in aid of Future Play. Tina has set up a Just Giving page, aiming to raise £500, at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/tina-mcauley.

Amd Machynlleth chip shop Hennighan’s Top Shop is bidding to scoop £10,000 for Future Play after being shortlisted in the Heinz Heartwarming Heroes competition. To vote for them, go to their Facebook page.

Other upcoming events include a secret art auction in August, which has received many donations of art. If anyone wants to donate art, they are asked to email Danielle on [email protected].

If anybody wishes to help with the project, either volunteering, fund-raising, or donating they can e-mail: [email protected] or go to the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/futureplaymachynlleth