On sunny days, Coram’s Fields is full of life – children playing, families gathering, and a strong sense of community. People come from all over, but what unites them is the space itself and what it offers.
Community support is at the heart of everything we do. While many people contribute in different ways, some go above and beyond to help bring projects like our Junior Play Zone to life.
Melanie Jensen and her husband, a local couple, are a perfect example, raising £18,000 to support inclusive play at Coram’s Fields.
Being local to the area, the couple frequently visit the park with their young children. Like many in the area, Coram’s Fields has become an integral part of their everyday life.
“It’s where our kids run around, where we meet friends, where a normal afternoon can feel a bit brighter,” Melanie says.
The couple also have a personal connection to the Play Zone’s accessibility offering, which played a big part in their motivation. As a child, Melanie saw just how difficult it was for her disabled sister to use the playgrounds that herself and other able-bodied children found joy in. Like many playgrounds, they simply weren’t designed with her in mind. Unfortunately, this continues to be the case, causing thousands of children with various needs to miss out on play – a vital right for every child.
Now a doctor, Melanie sees daily how important play is for children, particularly those with additional needs or illness, from building their confidence to providing the opportunity for social interaction. Play is where childhood flourishes.
It started with an idea
Like many success stories, the beginning of the couple’s fundraiser was a simple, but rather random idea: for Melanie’s husband to dress up as Santa Claus and sing on the trading floor of his workplace, asking his colleagues to donate.
Once the idea was agreed upon, the couple spent a few weeks organising the logistics behind the fundraising event. This involved coordinating timings, sourcing prizes for larger donations (kindly contributed by friends and family of the couple), reaching out to people and spreading the word, and keeping track of donations. What began as a small idea quickly grew into a wider effort; friends, family, and colleagues all played a part in Singing Santa’s success, whether by donating, sharing the message, or encouragement along the way.
As these elements carefully came together, so did the support.
Different stories, same cause
The couple knew someone dressing up as Santa and going around an office singing was something unexpected. They knew it would cause people to stop and pay attention. It sparked conversations about the Junior Play Zone and the reasons behind it, to share personal stories and find common ground. Whether or not someone knew of Coram’s Fields, the couple were able to create a story about the Play Zone that went beyond discussions of square meters and cutting-edge play equipment. It tapped into the human aspect – the very reason this project exists.
The conversations generated from the couple’s fundraising event gave them an insight into the reasons behind the donations. Each was unique and personal to the donor. Some donations were linked to disability and wanting better accessibility, others were driven by the fact they themselves had children, and many simply because they knew Coram’s Fields.
“…it felt like people genuinely cared about what the space could become,” Melanie says.
Driven by meaning
Looking back, Melanie and her husband demonstrated how a simple idea, made personal, can turn into a meaningful cause that many people can identify with.
“Mostly, if you care about something, it comes across. And people are often much more willing to support than you expect,” Melanie says.
Their story is a reminder that when something truly matters, people come together – and that even the simplest ideas can create lasting change.